About the eGranary

The eGranary Digital Library -- "The Internet in a Box" -- is an off-line information store that provides instant access to over 30 million Internet resources to institutions lacking adequate Internet access. Through a process of copying web sites (with permission) and delivering them to partner institutions in developing countries, this digital library delivers instant access to a wide variety of educational resources including video, audio, books, journals, and Web sites. 

There are two major types of eGranaries: Web servers connected to wireless networks or local area networks (LANs) that can serve thousands of patrons; and stand-alone USB drives that connect to a single computer. Both have a built-in proxy and search engine that emulates the Internet experience. Both include built-in tools for subscribers to upload local materials as well as create and edit unlimited Web sites.

The eGranary Digital Library was founded in 2001 at the University of Iowa and is developed by the WiderNet Project, a nonprofit based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

The eGranary is installed in more than 590 schools, clinics, and universities in Africa, India, Bangladesh, Haiti and other locations. The project aims to expand its installations to thousands of schools, hospitals and universities in underserved areas around the globe.

A succinct description of the eGranary Digital Library can be found at:
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/eGranary

More information about the project can be found at:
  http://www.egranary.org

eGranary Brochures and Flyers can be found at:
  http://www.widernet.org/egranary/about/brochures

A Google Map of eGranary installations can be found at:
  http://www.widernet.org/map