Abstract
Public libraries exist to serve the information needs of communities, meaning their services need to be reflective of those served communities. However, the literature points to under-usage of libraries among indigenous communities in South Africa, and suggests that the perceived irrelevance of libraries could be a contributing factor. The argument made in this article is for the involvement of communities in planning and implementing services, to enhance awareness, relevance and use of libraries. Such involvement would also provide a space for communities to contribute content based on their indigenous knowledge. In this qualitative multiple case study of purposively selected provincial library services in South Africa, data were collected using semi-structured interviews with library heads. The data were coded and categorised according to themes derived from the stated research questions. The findings show a disjuncture between the interpretation and application of the concept of community involvement – a misalignment that has a negative impact on the ability of libraries to provide inclusive services. A framework for community involvement is suggested as a way of enhancing the synergy between community information needs and public library service provision. The proposed framework identifies indigenous communities, libraries and archival institutions as key stakeholders in harnessing indigenous knowledge. It is recommended that a similar study be conducted with community librarians where the nuances of communities can be unveiled, given that the current participants were heads of library services.
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Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Best Student Research Paper Award
- Translational Challenges in Cross-Cultural Digitization Ethics: The Case of Chinese Marriage Documents, 1909–1997
- Articles
- Research on the Factors Influencing the Reading Motivation of Social Media Users from the Perspective of Reading Promotion in China
- Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge through Community Involvement in Public Libraries in South Africa
- Mapping the Topics and Evolutions of Chinese Children’s Bestsellers
- Dimensions of E-Readiness in University Libraries: Identification and Prioritization Using AHP Technique
- We’ve been Offering It for Years, But Why Do They Come? The Reasons Why Adults Bring Young Children to Public Library Storytimes
- Beyond Providing Information: An Analysis on the Perceived Service Quality, Satisfaction, and Loyalty of Public Library Customers
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Best Student Research Paper Award
- Translational Challenges in Cross-Cultural Digitization Ethics: The Case of Chinese Marriage Documents, 1909–1997
- Articles
- Research on the Factors Influencing the Reading Motivation of Social Media Users from the Perspective of Reading Promotion in China
- Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge through Community Involvement in Public Libraries in South Africa
- Mapping the Topics and Evolutions of Chinese Children’s Bestsellers
- Dimensions of E-Readiness in University Libraries: Identification and Prioritization Using AHP Technique
- We’ve been Offering It for Years, But Why Do They Come? The Reasons Why Adults Bring Young Children to Public Library Storytimes
- Beyond Providing Information: An Analysis on the Perceived Service Quality, Satisfaction, and Loyalty of Public Library Customers