Ani Duzdabanyan

IREX and UNDP programs  

Since the mid-1990s, the sharp increase in the use of computers in various fields and the expansion of the Internet in Armenia have necessitated the creation of new services and the acquisition of new knowledge and skills. Since traditional educational institutions have been unable to meet these requirements, numerous private training courses in computer education have emerged. At the same time, however, opportunities for learning about and using the Internet have remained limited. Only in the last few years have Internet cafés and other paid Internet services multiplied in Yerevan - before that, Internet services were practically inaccessible to the general public. Of course, in the beginning, the demand wasn't great, either.

In these circumstances, the first consistent projects aimed at filling this gap were implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the American International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX), which initiated the Freenet and the Internet Access & Training Program (IATP), respectively. The IREX project set up centers for public access to the Internet, the first of which opened in 1997-1998. These centers train people in the use of the Internet, Web-design, etc. IREX's main objectives are to ensure free access to the Internet, develop Armenian Internet resources, and organize training courses free-of-charge.

The IATP started with establishing Internet access centers in the National Library of Armenia, Yerevan State University of Engineering, American University of Armenia , and the Public Library of Gyumri. Today, eleven such centers are operating, with seven to ten computers each, up from three or four at the beginning. But, of course, it is not only the number of computers that has increased in the past few years. As computers have been periodically replaced, accessories have been added - printers, web-cameras, digital cameras, scanners, etc. This has enlarged the range services provided by the centers and given users hands-on experience with the latest technology.

The Internet in the National Library of Armenia

The marriage of the Internet center and the library is a good example of combining ancient and modern cultures. Thus far, it looks more like a peaceful coexistence then a competition. The Websites created with the assistance of the IATP feature different types of material -both world literature and the press have been placed on the Internet. But mightn't the new technology result in the loss of book-reading library clients? National Library director Sargisyan isn't worried-he believes that readers will remain loyal to paper. "Also, it is impossible to place the entire body of Armenian literature on the Internet, so naturally, people will come to the library to read."

That's today, but what about tomorrow? After all, those loyal to paper are from the older generation, but what will the new generation choose? According to the 2003 IREX report, the number of free services it provides has increased 15 times between 1997 and 2003. Its largest center in Yerevan , which has serviced 4,000 customers over the past six years, is at the National Library. According to the agreement signed between the National Library and IREX, the library provides the premises and IREX organizes computer courses for librarians, provides computers, and pays Internet charges.

As in all other centers, Internet users here are mostly students. But unlike the other centers, there are no minors here, since only library members can use the center.

In the other centers, one must provide identification and some basic information - address, telephone number, e-mail address - to become a user. Each user gets one hour of Internet access per week, at his or her convenience. Naturally, there are certain rules to be followed, which are clearly posted in some of the centers.

Internet users have access to a huge quantity of information that is not always suitable to minors. In such cases, there are blocking programs or preventive warnings that can be used. But IREX centers don't use them-the staff prefers to monitor users' activity to prevent them from visiting such sites. This may raise some privacy issues, as does the fact that computers are so closely placed that users can look over each other's shoulders as they surf the net.

To be continued