This document outlines a proposed framework for creating a cultural heritage digital library in Morocco to provide access to non-textual information for non-literate people. The author conducted a literature review on digital libraries in developing countries and on the culture of Morocco. An ethnographic study was also performed including informal observation, conversations, and content analysis. The findings from this research could inform the creation of a cooperative digital library between the US and Morocco called CAMEL, which would provide audio-visual cultural heritage documents in a way that is accessible to non-literate users based on the cultural context.

1. A Framework for Cultural Heritage Digital
Libraries in the Developing World:
Access to Non-Textual Information for
Non-Literate People in Morocco
Dr. Heather Lea Moulaison
School of Communication and Information
Rutgers University
December 4, 2009
Michael E. Lesk, Chair
Committee members:
Daniel O’Connor
Nina Wacholder
Michèle V. Cloonan (Simmons)

2. School of Communication & Information
Why this topic?
• Background to interest in:
– Morocco
– Fulbright Scholar grants
– Comparative librarianship
Samira Hassa
2
June 2001

3. School of Communication & Information
Focusing inquiry
• August 2007: application to Fulbright as Scholar (teaching)
• September 2007: visit to the Ecole des Sciences de
l’Information (ESI) in Rabat
• April 2008: acceptance as Fulbright Senior Scholar
• September 2008: flight to Casablanca
• October 2008: identification of a project
3

4. School of Communication & Information
Outline
• Introduction
• Rationale and literature review
• Methodology
• Results and Implications
4

5. School of Communication & Information
Rationale
Observations about the environment:
1. Fulbright grantee research
– Making A/V documents as part of fieldwork
2. New national library (BNRM)
– In general, libraries often not computerized
– Digital libraries less studied in LIS curriculum
3. Curious, active people interested in new technology
– Half illiterate
• Half unable to contribute to or access recorded history
The research problem identified in October 2008:
Can cultural heritage information be made available to non-literate people
from oral cultures through digital libraries?
Began the systematic exploration of what would be needed for the creation
of a digital library (DL) of AV cultural heritage documents that could be
used by non-literate people, focusing on Morocco. 5

6. School of Communication & Information
Literature review
What would be needed to create a digital library of AV materials
for users who do not read?
– Theoretical exercise
– Interdisciplinary approach to the problem
• Human side of the problem
– National culture (Hofstede, 1980)
– Universal usability (Shneiderman, 2000)
» Ties in to Human Computer Interaction (HCI) studies
• Machine side of the problem
– Information organization
» Purpose
» Structure
– Information retrieval
» Browsing
– Read/write Web
6
» Participatory elements

7. School of Communication & Information
Literature review: West v. developing world
IN THE WEST: findings and recommendations
• Preferences: Different cultures will have different “cultural markers” on
the Web
• Research for the blind
– Have as little spoken word as possible (people read faster than they listen)
– Too much noise is annoying
• Icons and words together work best
– Icons should be simple
IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD: findings and recommendations
• People from collectivist cultures
– Are curious and willing to use new technologies (ATMs, mobile phones, etc.)
• Are using devices creatively in development
– May not be “mentally programmed” to want to partake in solo ventures such as
computing, library use
• Accordingly, may not understand the metaphors in use
– Are loathe to criticize
• Answer in the affirmative any questions about use
• Users should remain close to their comfort zones
7

8. School of Communication & Information
Literature review: environmental scan of Morocco
• As African country
• As Francophone country
• As Muslim/Arab country
• As developing country (Global South)
Relevant topics
• Education
– Problems of access to education (esp. rural, esp. girls)
• Libraries and information
– Importance (sacredness) of books
– Democratic access not valued as in the West
– Importance for development acknowledged
• Information and Communication Technologies
– Broadband penetration high
– Cyber cafes doing well
– Lots of cell phones
– USB modem Internet access.
8

9. School of Communication & Information
Methodology
1. Literature-based study
2. Ethnographic methods
– Informal observation
– Informal conversation
– Content analysis project
• Additional practical elements informed reflection
– Collection and analysis of source documents
– Metadata assignment in Geenstone
– Contact with US Embassy, in-country libraries
9

10. School of Communication & Information
Refunds at the RU cashier’s office?
10

11. School of Communication & Information
Smoking in the West
http://www.rostolan.com/images/nonfumeur.jpg
http://users.i.com.ua/~and_i/pages/funny%
20image/images/gros_fumeur.jpg 11
http://www.drug3k.com/img2/nicorette_10494_4_(big)_.jpg

12. School of Communication & Information
Pre-election tracts (Morocco)
12
Images of politicians and the symbols of their parties.

13. School of Communication & Information
Close-up: the “scales” party and candidate
13

14. School of Communication & Information
Close-up: the “bird” party
American-style negative tactics? 14
Or instructions for non-literate citizens?

15. School of Communication & Information
Hofstede’s pyramid model of culture (1980)
Specific to Inherited and
individual learned
PERSONALITY
Specific to
Learned
group or
category CULTURE
Universal Inherited
HUMAN NATURE
15

16. Usability focus in INTERFACE Preliminary Usability
Western cultures: focus in CHDL:
•Navigation
Layers 1 & 3 of Layers 1 & 2 of
•Visual Elements
Hofstede’s pyramid Hofstede’s pyramid
3. USER: Individual
Third
•Traits
Layer
•Personality
2. CULTURE: Learned
Second •Thoughts
Layer •Feelings
•Actions
First 1. UNIVERSAL: Human
Layer • Cognition
• Physical limitations

17. SYSTEM
•Organizational mechanisms
•Retrieval mechanisms Specific to
Machine •Content group or
Culture as foundation to
category
CULTURE
interface and system
HUMAN NATURE
INTERFACE
•Navigation
Intermediary •Visual elements Specific to
•Auditory elements group or
category
CULTURE
HUMAN NATURE
USER
•Unique
personality Specific to
Human
group or
CULTURE category
HUMAN NATURE

18. School of Communication & Information
Future (potential) application: Cooperative American
Moroccan Electronic Library (CAMEL)
1912
1956
18
2009 2000 1990 1980 1970 1960 1956-1912

19. School of Communication & Information
CHOUKRANE
MERCI
THANK YOU 19