The role of the Kenya National Library Service in the provision of information for youth empowerment in Nairobi County, Kenya

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Betty A. Kalugho
Keyword(s):  
Service Provision ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Library Service ◽  
National Library ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Kenya National Library Service

This paper is developed from a study that investigated the role of the Kenya National Library Service in provision of information to empower the youth with the view of identifying gaps that may be addressed in order to enhance effectiveness of service provision. The study was informed by the uses and gratification theory which focuses on what people do with the media and also Wilson’s general model of information-seeking behaviour. Case study research method was used. The study population was the library users of Buruburu Knls library in Nairobi County aged between 15 and 30 years. Non-probability sampling method through quota sampling was used to get the required sample. The study population was categorized into three and the samples picked purposively. The main data collection method was face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions. Data collected was analyzed using thematic analysis and presented in descriptive and narrative forms. The study established that the public library played a significant role in empowering the youth through the information it made available to them. Young people, however, face various challenges in accessing information in the library which showed that there were gaps that public libraries needed to fill to enhance their information services to youth. This study recommends that public libraries aim for youth-friendly programmes/services, provide information literacy, strengthen online information service provision, non-book materials and provide space for group discussions. It proposes a framework that can be followed to enhance the effectiveness of service provision.

scholarly journals The importance of legislation in the provision of national and public library services in Zambia

2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Zulu ◽  
Mpho Ngoepe ◽  
Nampombe Saurombe
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Library Service ◽  
National Library ◽  
The Past ◽  
Service Legislation ◽  
National Libraries ◽  
Made In

Legislation plays an important role in the provision of national and public library services. In Zambia, however, libraries that perform the functions of national and public libraries are operating without a legislative mandate. As a result, there is fragmentation of library services as there is no single institution which performs all the functions of a national library service. Although several efforts have been made in the past to enact national library service legislation, no Act of Parliament has been passed to date (2015). This study provides empirical evidence depicting the benefits of having legislation in the provision of national and public library services. The study identifies institutions that perform functions of national and public library services in Zambia. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaires administered to public library staff and interviews with senior government officials and executive members of the Zambia Library Association and Zambia Library Consortium. The study recommends that appropriate legislation that puts together the functions of public and national libraries under one institution be enacted in Zambia as soon as possible. Failure to transform this pattern will jeopardise the preservation of the country’s cultural heritage.

Public Libraries as National Libraries – The Caribbean Experience

1997 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl Peltier-Davis
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Dual Function ◽  
Library Services ◽  
National Library ◽  
National Heritage ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
National Libraries

While it is essential that national library functions and services are carried out, within the English-speaking Caribbean these functions can be provided by extending the role of the country's main public library. A questionnaire was administered in 1994 to 14 public libraries and one national library in the region to ascertain if public libraries performed any national library functions and if so to assess how effectively, with a view to formulating proposals as to how best this dual role could be achieved. The survey, in which 13 libraries participated, revealed that a majority of the libraries did in fact act as de facto national libraries, performing many of the functions of traditional national libraries, though there were major deficiencies (e.g. only seven had legal deposit, and only four produced national bibliographies). A structure for a dual-function Public/National Library is proposed, with three functional divisions (Public Library Services, Technical Services, and National Heritage) and a powerful National Library Services Board.

scholarly journals Public libraries as public sphere institutions

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
pp. 1396-1415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ragnar Audunson ◽  
Svanhild Aabø ◽  
Roger Blomgren ◽  
Hans-Christoph Hobohm ◽  
Henrik Jochumsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Sphere ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Library Service ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Actual Use ◽  
Representative Samples

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of public libraries as institutions underpinning a democratic public sphere as reasons legitimizing libraries compared to reasons that are more traditional and the actual use of libraries as public sphere arenas. Design/methodology/approach A survey of representative samples of the adult population in six countries – Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Hungary and Switzerland – was undertaken. Findings Legitimations related to the libraries role as a meeting place and arena for public debate are ranked as the 3 least important out of 12 possible legitimations for upholding a public library service. Libraries are, however, used extensively by the users to access citizenship information and to participate in public sphere relevant meetings. Originality/value Few studies have empirically analyzed the role of libraries in upholding a democratic and sustainable public sphere. This study contributes in filling that gap.

Document supply and resource sharing in Portuguese libraries: the role of the National Library

2010 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Maria Gaudêncio Soares
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Resource Sharing ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Supply System ◽  
National Library ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Long Period ◽  
Recent Developments

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to describe the development of the Portuguese document supply system with particular emphasis on the role of the National Library but also in its academic and public library sectors.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is descriptive in nature.FindingsPortugal emerged from a long period of monarchy and dictatorship, profited from being a EU member, and libraries are now exploiting the advantages of information technology particularly for the benefit of remote users.Originality/valueThis is probably the first overview of historical and recent developments in document supply in Portugal.

The role of libraries in the dissemination of health information in Botswana

2016 ◽  
Vol 65 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 320-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuelo Ntlotlang ◽  
Balulwami Grand
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Acquisition ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Library Users ◽  
Health Information Sources

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the role of public libraries in the dissemination of health information in the southern part of Botswana, namely, Kgatleng and Kweneng districts. It also explored how these libraries market health information services to the community they serve. The study also used health information acquisition model to get an understanding on how public library users seek health information. Design/methodology/approach The survey research design was chosen for the study and purposive sampling procedure was used to obtain the sample size of the population. The sample size consisted of 120 respondents and six interviewees. Data were collected from both library staff and users using questionnaires and interviews. Findings The results of the study showed that public libraries are striving to provide accurate and useful health information to members of the community by collecting and availing both print and electronic health information sources. The findings further indicated that public libraries have marketing programmes that they use on raising awareness of health information to their clientele. The marketing programmes include outreach, library brochures/leaflets, newsletters and library exhibitions. The results of the study also showed that there were some challenges that hindered the library users to access and use health information (e.g. lack of appropriateness of information resources and limited number of health information sources). Originality/value For a better dissemination of health information, public libraries should establish working relationships with health agencies and communication organisations or media houses with the objective of cooperative developments of collections, referrals and shared training.

scholarly journals The Role of Malawi National Library in Promoting Reading Culture among Children

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ezra Kapachika
Keyword(s):  
Civic Education ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Library Service ◽  
National Library ◽  
Quantitative Research Methods ◽  
Service Staff ◽  
Reading Culture ◽  
Teacher Librarians

Malawi as a developing country where people are striving for new technologies, it has been observed that reading culture is being left aside as people are turning their minds away from books. This is so despite the presence of the Malawi National Library Service which has the promotion of reading culture amongst children as one of their fundamental aims. Therefore, this has prompted the researcher to conduct a study aiming at finding the role of the Malawi National Library service (MNLS) in their work of promoting reading culture. The objectives of the study are to find out services that are used by MNLS to promote reading culture amongst Malawian children, to find out strategies that are used by MNLS to motivate children to read books and to identify the challenges that are met by the MNLS in the process of promoting reading culture. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods and the targeted population was the Malawi National Library Service Staff, library users especially children and teacher librarians from schools that are beneficiaries of MNLS services. The study recommends that The Malawi National Library Service should consider including more varying services that aim at promoting reading culture, MNLS should also make sure that storytelling, reading aloud and other strategies should be conducted by staff or hired personnel who is well conversant with the way children can be motivated, the MNLS should consider having a civic education with parents through meetings, workshops or seminars to assist the parents to understand the benefit of allowing their children to visit the library.

Democracy, digitisation and public libraries

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Skøtt
Keyword(s):  
Digital Media ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
National Library ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Media Types

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate what democratic challenges the digitisation of the public libraries in Denmark has entailed. Using the concepts from a national library professional strategy from 2012, an analysis of 9 librarians’ experiences with digital dissemination in practice is conducted. Design/methodology/approach The paper is a part of a larger research project called “If digitisation is the answer, then what was the question?”. This sub study builds on the semi-structured interviews with library staff members, case-descriptions of two central providers of digital public library materials, as well as literature studies of missions, vision and strategies from different public library policy institutions. To frame the study, a literature review has been conducted. Findings The author detects the presence of several incompatible conditions in digital dissemination. These conditions are predominantly of an organisational nature, potentially containing major consequences for citizens’ free and equal access to information, knowledge and culture. Among other things, the Danish public libraries risk substantiating an already existing and problematic polarisation between technologically capable and incapacitated groups of people. Originality/value The digital transformation of society has only just begun. Therefore, it is important to examine the consequences of the transition to digital media types for central cultural institution such as the public libraries. The present study is an early and minor contribution to the illumination of a process requiring many more and large-scale studies.

The Public Library in an Aging Society

2014 ◽  
pp. 266-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saori Donkai ◽  
Chieko Mizoue
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Library Service ◽  
The Public ◽  
Aging Society ◽  
Service Category ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Recent Government ◽  
Individual Service

This chapter describes the present conditions of our aging society, with a particular focus on Japan as a typical example of such a society. In Japan, one in every four individuals is over 65 years of age, and one in eight is over 75 years of age. Further, based on this demographic change to an older population, this chapter discusses a new library service designed to enhance the lives of elderly citizens. The authors explore this new service from the viewpoint of lifelong learning, utilizing the results of recent government surveys and some case studies, such as those done at the Izumo City Hikawa Library and the Akita Prefectural Library in Japan. Although the elderly have been placed within the category of “disabled library patrons,” in recent years, it has become more common to consider the elderly, as a whole, as an individual service category. We should, in the near future, pay more attention to supporting elderly citizens at public libraries to engage them in the development and maintenance of their own communities.

Towards an Assessment of Public Library Value

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 42-51
Author(s):  
Kristine Paberza
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Development Project ◽  
Free Access ◽  
The Public ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Other Information ◽  
Library Development ◽  
The Impact

This paper presents methodology, early findings, possible applications of results and lessons learnt from the research study “Public libraries: value, trust and satisfaction”. The study was conducted in Latvia as the part of the impact assessment plan within the public library development project “Third Father’s Son”. The project’s goal was to improve people’s quality of life by strengthening the capacities of public libraries to facilitate better and proactive use of resources offered by free access to information technology and the Internet. In this paper, the author introduces practical results from the measurement of use-oriented value of public libraries by using information from the ecology approach and identifying the role of the public library within a context of other information sources used by the public.

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