PUBLIC ACCESS TO INFORMATION & ICTs PHASE II REPORT Indonesia
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Date
Authors
Kushchu, Ibrahim
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Technology & Social Change Group, University of Washington Information School
Abstract
This report presents the research on public access to information and communication
landscape in Indonesia. During recent years, a significant effort is being made to decrease
the digital divide in Indonesian society. In other words, to improve access to information in
entire Indonesian society especially for the underserved people.
With support from the government, various Community Access Points (CAP) have been
established in Indonesia. First in the group is Warintek (Information Technology Café)
ansd was launched in 2001. Warintek is an effort to empower units of information,
documentation, and library that is funded by the Department of Research and Technology
(The Government of Indonesia). Many Warinteks have been funded by local government
or by itself. When this report was written, 84 Warinteks had been opened.
Second is the Warmasif (Information Society Café) that was launched in 2005. Every
Warmasif was founded by collaboration between The Department of Communication and
Information (Indonesian Government), PT, Indonesian Post Office, and local governments
in every city. Up to now, there are 63 Warmasif venues established and each providing 3
primary services:
1) e-commerce for small-to-medium businesses,
2) e-library for students, teachers, and all society,
3) e-health information for all society.
There are various underserved groups in Indonesia who would benefit directly from these
venues. Some of these groups include housewives, the unemployed, those who have little
or no formal education, and who have low income.
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This study aims to explore existing and prospective Community Access Points (CAPs) in
Indonesia and it evaluates them in terms of their potential and effectiveness to better serve
the underserved. The first part of the report presents an overview and the methodology
used to collect the data that makes up the core of the research. Following a general country
assessment, the report offers a detailed analysis of the each of the venues chosen. In the
final part are the concluding remarks and further recommendations.
Description
This research focuses on the public access to information and communication landscapes
in 24 countries, with specific focus on public libraries; to understand the information needs
of underserved communities, public access to information and communication venues, and
the role of ICT.
Through field research in 24 countries, conducted by local research partners, and crosscountry
comparative analyses based on common research design elements (see list of
countries and research design overview in Appendix), the project aims to contribute to the
knowledge in the field of information and ICT for development. Of particular interest and
value are: the comparative look at the key venues (libraries and others), and the mix of
depth of in-country knowledge with breadth of global comparison to elicit success factors
and scenarios to understand how diverse populations can and do access and use ICT to
improve their lives. All outputs of this research will be broadly disseminated to interested
stakeholders and placed in the public domain.
Citation
Kushchu, I. (2008). Public access to information & ICTs: Indonesia. Public Access Landscape Study final report, presented to University of Washington Center for Information & Society (CIS), Seattle.