This study explores how libraries mediated interactions between black readers and texts in twentieth century South Africa. By situating libraries as vital infrastructures of reading, I critically examine how librarians tried to build the habit of reading within black communities. Beginning in the 1930s with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's…

This article traces the historical development of Digital Libraries (DLs), examines some DL initiatives in developed and developing countries and uses 5S Theory as a lens for analyzing the focused DLs. The analysis shows that present-day systems, in both developed and developing nations, are essentially content and user centric, with low level…

This article examines the management of microdata collections in a university context. It is a cross-country analysis: Collection management at data services in Canada and South Africa are considered. The case studies are of two university sub-contexts: One collection is located in a library; the other at a Faculty-based Data Service. Stages in…

There is no national policy for school libraries which compels school governing bodies and principals to have a library in their schools. It is thus not surprising that in 2011, only 21% of state schools had libraries, only 7% had stocked libraries and 79% of schools had no library at all (Department of Basic Education (DBE) Republic of South…

Before 1994 education in South Africa was divided along racial lines. There were separate departments of education for whites, coloureds (people of mixed decent), Indians (people of East Indian decent), and blacks (black Africans). Education for white children was much better funded than any of the others. The quality of the education that white…

The purpose of this study was to determine norms against which the characteristics of community library services could be tested. The five oldest community libraries in the Pinetown (South Africa) public library system were examined. Results showed that certain public library systems, like Pinetown, have made significant progress toward becoming…

Purpose: To tell the story of a particular digitisation project with which the author has been closely involved, illustrating the problems and scope of the project and focusing especially on the issues relating to the selection of appropriate content. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is based largely on personal involvement in the project…

The question of the provision of libraries to support primary and secondary education in South Africa has been overlooked by most education departments and educators and is not a focal point of current education planning. The present provision of library services by the different education authorities is generally poor; school libraries have long…

The South African Library of Parliament and Research unit has devoted considerable time and money to improving its research and library services for members, committees, and management of Parliament. The Library and Research Units have recently re-structured and re-designed services and information products, engaging in collection development…

The role of the teacher-librarian and the school library at black secondary schools in South Africa is investigated, with a focus on the Cape Peninsula, in the context of political, social and economic change. Recommendations are made, and it is concluded that funds are needed for additional librarians, libraries, collections, and training.…

This collection contains 13 selected papers presented at the 1992 conference of the International Association of School Librarianship. Titles are as follows: (1) "The Difference of Literature: Writing for the Future of Young Adults" (Aidan Chambers); (2) "Managing School Library Change" (Peggy Heeks); (3) "The Power of…

This paper identifies obstacles to physical and intellectual access and effective use of books and media by South African children and suggests some possible solutions. It also includes a description of a study of the attitudes of first-year student teachers at colleges of education and universities in the Transvaal towards school libraries. The…

This annual report defines three broad areas in which the Southern Education Foundation supports research. The first looks to what kinds of teachers will be needed in the future; the second asks how our best thinking can be translated into effective action; and the third asks how seamless education can be. Programs subsumed under education and…