Digital library stalled for lack of funds

October 29: The creation of a national digital library, designed to use ICT (information communications technology) to preserve and promote Bhutan’s cultural heritage, has come to a halt because of a lack of government funding.

The national digital library project began in 2007 with the goals of digitalising all available Bhutanese content and making it accessible online at no cost to the user. The content available would generally be text, images, audio and video, and other kinds of media, including a navigation capable countrywide map similar to Google street maps. The digital library will be offered in both Dzongkha and English.

Although possessing elements similar to a search engine, a portal, or an online encyclopedia, DIT’s director Tenzin Chhoeda, whose organisation is developing the digital library, said the difference is that it is a “repository” to preserve Bhutanese information, particularly the country’s cultural heritage. The library would also be maintained by the government, which means the content is officially verified for its authenticity and stored indefinitely. “There are a lot of sites on Bhutan today but most of these, like tourist sites, are commercially oriented, and sometimes the validity of their information is questionable.”

“The target group will be wide,” said the director, “from students and tourists, to researchers at the highest level.” The director also said, “Today, we’re talking about joining the information age, and one way is through creating our own information and getting it out there.”

But three years into the project, the national digital library is still at a rudimentary stage.

“This project is now contingent on funding,” said the project manager, Pema Choejey. “Technically we’re ready, but we have no money.” The project manager said DIT had asked the government for more money to finish the project but that the request was denied.

Asked why the government should invest in such a project when it is already involved in preserving the country’s culture, the project manager said, “The conventional way of preservation is not sustainable.”

He pointed out that conventional methods of preservation are subject to physical damage, for instance, natural calamities. He also explained that, because of the physical aspect of current preservation efforts, like the fixed location of the national library, limited access to the information available in it. “Our goal is not only to preserve the information but also to make it available to everyone, especially our students.”

The project manager estimated that Nu 20m would be required for the project to be completed.

Other obstacles are also hampering the completion of the national digital library. Unwillingness by other government agencies to share information with DIT, explained the project manager, “is one big hurdle.” He provided one example. Detailed maps are required to providing a complete navigational map for users to locate places of interest in Bhutan, but the national land commission was not sharing any maps with the department on the grounds that it is sensitive information. The project manager said such information is already available on Google maps. “Government agencies want to withhold information instead of sharing,” he said.

DIT is currently exploring collaboration with an American university to not only fund but also provide technical expertise to develop Bhutan’s national digital library.

“We need a dedicated group to complete this project,” said Tenzin Chhoeda.

The partially completed national digital library is currently available at www.e-Bhutan.net.bt

source: kuensel