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Child rights action with informed and engaged societies
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After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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BibloRed Capital Network of Public Libraries

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BibloRed is a network of 20 public libraries in the city of Bogota that is based on the concept of libraries as centres of learning, information and creativity.

The Network will ultimately be comprised of four large libraries strategically situated and surrounded by parks, 5 smaller local public libraries and 11 library centres. All will have an open collection, with services including the loan of on-hand books, interlibrary loan, and multimedia and internet technologies and services, among others.

One of the main aims of this project is to make information accessible to youth and children from Bogota through books, mass media, a multimedia system, digital technology, and cultural, artistic, and scientific activities, all integrated into the ecological and environmental wealth of four large parks that surround the four libraries.
Communication Strategies
This project aims to encourage the habits of reading and research within children and youth in Bogotá. Each one of the metropolitan libraries aims to be capable of serving 600 users and will include:
  • An open collection
  • A catalogue on the internet
  • A formal and informal reading room for young people and adults
  • A reading room specifically designed for children
  • A newspaper library
  • A music room
  • Audio and video equipment
  • An auditorium and multiple-use rooms
  • A "Bogota Room" which will house the history of the city and an interactive information service that will detail the programmes and activities of the Capital Network of Public Libraries.
Development Issues
Children, Education, Technology, Youth.
Key Points
The project is managed by a Foundation that - with contributions/donations from the private sector, the National Government, international cooperation agencies as well as from income generated from the services - guarantees its continuance and sustainability over time.

Upcoming plans include building, endowing and opening four additional large libraries, and linking them to the other public libraries of the District of Bogotá, the Library Luis Angel Arango (the biggest library in Latin America), the libraries within the Colombian Worker's Compensation system (Cajas de Compensación), school libraries and national public libraries.
Partners

Secretaría de Educación del Distrito - Bogotá (Secretary of Education), Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá, Alcaldía Mayor de Bogotá, Asociación de Amigos de la Biblored (Association of Library Friends).

Sources

BibloRed website [in Spanish]; translated from the Spanish summary on La Iniciativa de Comunicaci