ABSTRACT
The lens for examining the literacy and library connections is rooted in the Western view of the library as a primary means of the democratization of knowledge. The first incarnation of this vision in 1883 by Andrew Carnegie was emblazoned with the motto “Let there be light” at the entrance. As proclaimed by the UNESCO Manifesto for Public Libraries, this institution, serving as
Rather than being defined by formal curriculum associated with schools and/or support for disciplinary research, knowledge in this view is extended to what is important to individuals in the community. Public libraries were originally designed to serve those who had little or no access to reading materials and information, but who aspired to better themselves and society through learning. As aptly stated by the New York Public Library (2012), “the Library has but one criterion for admission: curiosity” (n.p.). Free and convenient access to the collections and services is essential for libraries to operate as community learning centers. This means not only convenient hours of opening, but also central and sometimes multiple locations throughout the community. In large urban centers, the central library is located in the heart of the community, but the institution also provides branch locations to as many neighborhoods as possible. Like the learning commons, community learning centers feature easy access to information and communication technologies, multimedia collections, and increasingly large portions of digitized materials, thus making their collections accessible to their users from personal computers at home or in any place in the world where there is internet access.
