Apologies for cross-posting. Please find a Call for Chapters and looking forward to your ardent contributions.

Sincerely yours,
Hakikur Rahman.


Introduction
Developing information and communications technology (ICT) is one of the driving forces of globalization in the privileged congregation, commercial exploitation, and sharing of new knowledge and information. In many people and nations, especially among the poorest, access to the new knowledge dynamics is denied by the absence of scientific and technological capacity. In this context, bridging the digital divide has become a social, technical, educational and moral challenge, particularly bringing affordable ICT access and content to the un-reached and ensuring that they have the capacity and skills to participate equally.

The Overall Objective of the Book
ICTs for reaching the un-reached, need to focus on developing sustainable operational models for the under privileged groups in providing easy access to knowledge resources. The main focus of the book is to provide ICT policies and strategies for improved access, and quality education for the marginalized groups, including education orientation to the needs of the society. The book covers chapters in supporting development of national information and communication policies, and act as a resource kit for information and communication policy formulation leading to a knowledge society. The book also covers any comprehensive guidelines on the policy development process for human resource development including development of interactive self-learning to increase the skills of local participants by increasing access to knowledge repositories.

The Target Audience
Professionals and researchers working in the field of information networking and knowledge management in various disciplines, e.g. community centres, library, information and communication sciences, education, adult education, computer science, and information technology. Moreover, the book will provide insights and support management executives with the expertise, knowledge, information and organizational development in different sectors of communities and environments.

Recommended topics include but are not limited to the following:
Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before September 15, 2004, a 2-5 page manuscript proposal clearly explaining the mission and concerns of the proposed chapter. Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by October 01, 2004 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter organizational guidelines. Full chapters are expected to be submitted by December 01, 2004. All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a blind review basis. The book is scheduled to be published by Idea Group, Inc., publisher of the “Idea Group Publishing,” “Information Science Publishing,” and “IRM Press” imprints in 2005.

Inquiries and Submissions can be forwarded electronically (Word document) or by mail to:
Dr. Hakikur Rahman
SDNP Bangladesh
BIDS, E-17 AGARGAON, DHAKA-1207, BANGLADESH.
Tel.: +880 2 8126204  •  FAX: +880 2 9118543   •  GSM: +880 189 228939
e-mail: hakik@...
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