Library Development Program

The Library Development Program supports public libraries across Poland in acting as local civic-activity centres; its 'Tablets in Your Library' strand equips libraries — particularly in small localities — with mobile technology so residents can create, learn and share, run by the Foundation for the Development of the Information Society as part of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation's library programme.

To extend access to mobile technology through libraries, train librarians as technology coordinators, and strengthen libraries' role in building local digital skills and community engagement.

A pilot in 7 libraries testing Apple iPad Air tablets and assessing community needs preceded a nationwide competition that selected 318 libraries, each receiving 3–6 tablets with accessories and two-year insurance and appointing a trained 'Tablet Master' coordinator; over 12,000 pieces of equipment were delivered in total and 11,200 librarians and library collaborators were trained.

The promoter's own figures report 1.1 million users gaining computer and internet skills, 1.5 million young people with improved academic performance, and 2.2 million adults better prepared for work, alongside 14,500 media mentions and around 2,000 participants at national library congresses; these are self-reported organisational figures and the page states no formal evaluation was conducted.

The programme describes libraries becoming hubs of local social capital and skills-building, funded in part by a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation contribution reported at 101.8 million (currency as stated in source, not specified) — but since 'Evaluation: No' is stated on the page, these outcome claims should be read as self-reported rather than independently verified.