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The purpose of this paper is to discuss how implementing a public access to ICT project, Sesigo, at Botswana public libraries can help contribute to the achievement of the national goal of an informed, educated nation by 2016. It further shares ICT training experiences, achievements and challenges as the project evolves.

The paper combines results from two sources of information, contracted studies (needs assessment, baseline and impact studies) as well as Sesigo project implementation data captured at public libraries. Analysis of this data forms the basis for the paper as it outlines the project's experiences and progress made in ICT training at Botswana public libraries.

Deploying technology in Botswana's public libraries is changing people's perceptions about libraries especially their perceived value; that they are not just for students. It is becoming clear that even people with low literacy levels are able to learn and be proficient in using technology. Training librarians on ICTs has a ripple effect since they then train and/or assist users on ICTs, who are then able to search for information autonomously.

This paper is amongst the first formal documentation of the Sesigo project. It shows the potential impact that public libraries equipped with ICTs can have on the overall desire to provide equitable access to ICT's. It also shows libraries as the natural platform for accessing e‐government information, and thus should be supported by governments to provide access to those who would otherwise not afford it.

This paper aims to draw together the evidence‐based advocacy experience of five national programs focused on developing public access information and communications technologies (ICT) via public libraries as grantees of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Global Libraries Initiative.

The authors describe a common approach to strategic advocacy and to impact planning and assessment. They then outline the experience of each program in using a range of evidence to help meet specific advocacy objectives. They give particular attention to how each program is using specific evidence to convince key players of the importance of public access ICT provided by public libraries in meeting the objectives of the key players.

This collective experience shows that when advocating at the national level, statistical data and empirical evidence can demonstrate that public libraries contribute to stakeholders' goals. Such data can include technology skills that users have gained as well as how users improve their businesses, become better educated, and access government services. Common denominators from the programs include a disproportionate positive impact achieved (or anticipated) in rural communities and on relatively disadvantaged groups such as older workers, old people and unemployed people.

Both the general approach to evidence‐based advocacy described and the specific messages about targeting advocacy efforts on key players and on the service users who are most likely to benefit from public access ICT are of potential value to anyone planning a national, regional or local advocacy program focused on public libraries and their services.

As the paper deals with global library advocacy issues, and impact planning, it is hoped it is a step towards more measurable social impact for libraries.

This is the first full public report of the Global Libraries approach to evidence‐based advocacy as conducted in the five countries represented in the paper. It is part of a steadily growing body of knowledge being amassed by Global Libraries about effective provision of public access ICT via public libraries in a range of countries.