Digital Learning System

Most digital libraries in developing world if analyzed to  see how far is used,  there is only  very minimal usage. If you see money involved in running and maintaining the system it doesn't give the bang required for the bucks spent. Most of them fail eventually because there is no grass root level involvement in these efforts. Even my own state Kerala, back in India had such network. Kerala governments IT@school was great portal. But when it comes to usage you will see that these are more like show pieces than anything else. Embracing free software is good, provided it is usable. Most of the time free software is good to hear but not good enough for usage or is not serviced or well kept for usage.

I would say in India and countries like India with large land mass to cover there is a huge potential for such a digital system if implemented properly. My vision around this is different and I think my vision could be better if implemented.

How my digital library\Digital learning library system would look like ?

1) I believe current digital systems work only when connected thru regional and sub-regional nodes through-out the country. This ensures more involvement from the learners and not only from content creators. All major schools libraries should be subscribed to the network as sub-regional nodes . All libraries should be connected to this as sub-regional nodes. In US there are regional library systems working together, which is really beneficial for kids, but I think thats not enough, it should be more than that with a wide network.

2) All library catalogs should be digitized so that any village boy\girl sitting in remotest part of India should be able to access the book\cd\dvd he\she wants.  Any person in the remotest village should be able to check-out\check-in a book and thru Indian postal(or any regional postal) system they should be able to get books checked out and checked in for a nominal cost. The cost of which should be taken by sub-regional node. The cost should be covered by sponsorships.  This will reinvent the otherwise dying postal system, which has lost its glam and sham due to modern medium of communication like email and social chat engines etc . All content should be made trackable thru barcode systems.

3) All subregional node should be connected to a major library in a district which is the main regional node. The regional node should act as the liaison office for a region coordinating all literary and scientific contests which should be conducted nationwide.

4) Library books to the maximum possible extent should be converted to  digital formats. Anyone should be able to make content for the system and any other person anywhere in India should be able to access it, provided the educational content developed had gone thru prior checks for valid content.

5) All children below 18 years should be given accounts thru subregional nodes. All above 18 if unemployed to be given free access. If employed should be charged based on the income level.

6) Content should be made available in multiple screens ( mobile apps, desktop access thru browsers etc)