Gekombineerde skool- en openbare biblioteke : 'n moontlike oplossing vir plattelandse gebiede

Date
1993-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY: The possible combination of school and public libraries in rural areas is the main theme of the dissertation. Both the school and public libraries serve the community; the school library solely for use by the school and the public library for the use of the broader community. Although there are two functioning libraries in country towns there are still underprivileged communities who have unsatisfactory or even no library facilities. Research on the needs of these areas is essential, community development being the most important contribution which can be provided by the library, to the underprivileged. The research centres on the main problem: whether there is any justification for two libraries with roughly the same objectives in any small town. Possible negative factors, such as a poor economic climate, a decline in the number of school pupils, the depopulation of rural areas and insufficient library facilities must be taken into account for the efficient functioning of both libraries. Combined libraries can be a solution. Reasons for the establishment of combined libraries are amongst others; rationalization, financial saving, sufficient library facilities and the provision of improved services. Combined libraries could function in the rural areas in existing library buildings or newly-erected structures and provide a service to both the uninformed user in a strange, new environment, as well as to the more experienced seeker of knowledge. Country towns and districts in the Western Cape were defined as the chosen area for research. The circle is drawn closer with the specific target being combined schools, for example, the combination of both a primary school and high school component on the same site. The custom of combined institutions has thus already been accepted in these towns. The dissertation initially reviews the role of existing schObl and public libraries in rural areas. The aims and functions of both types of libraries are discussed and compared and similarities and differences are noted. Each existing school and public library is evaluated to on its own standards. Both the libraries must therefore meet these requirements to be successful. The criteria whereby these libraries are judged are: [i] management and control, [ii] stock, [iii] staff, [iv] library hours and [v] accommodation. All aspects of both types of libraries are discussed thoroughly and all advantages and disadvantages are investigated. A schoolpublic library must, therefore, meet certain standards to succeed in the role of a combined library. Following on an in-depth discussion of two existing libraries in a rural area, the research shifts to combined libraries in certain foreign countries, namely Australia, Canada, the United States of America and Sweden. The African State, Malawi, is also used as an example of a country with a developing community. Comparisons are made between factors in local and foreign countries and conclusions are drawn. The emphasis moves on to a new situation where a newly-planned, combined library on the school grounds is proposed. Such a library, known as Model A, should serve .a community where no school or public library exists. The highest priority is afforded to the pupil and facilities for studying, as well as an instruction area are provided. Model A, is compared to Model B, which represents the school library as a combined library and Model C, which represents the public library as a combined library. Combined libraries in the rural areas will provide the communities and schools with these advantages: [iJ more effective accommodation, [iiJ a larger stock, [iiiJ professional staff and [ivJ longer library hours. Together, these advantages should successfully provide rural areas with an effective community service.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Moontlike gekombineerde skool- en openbare biblioteke in plattelandse gebiede is die hooftema van die verhandeling. Die skool- en openbare biblioteek staan in diens van die gemeenskap; die skoolbiblioteek slegs in diens van die skool en die openbare biblioteek in diens van die he Ie gemeenskap. Nieteenstaande die feit dat daar twee biblioteke op plattelandse dorpe bestaan, is daar ook minderbevoorregte gemeenskappe waar daar onvoldoende of geen bibiioteekfasiliteite is nie. Navorsing oor die behoeftes van die gebied is noodsaaklik en gemeenskapsontwikkeling is die grootste bydrae wat die biblioteek aan die agterblewenes kan lewer. Die navorsing sentreer rondom die kernprobleem of daar enige regverdiging bestaan vir twee biblioteke met min of meer dieselfde doelstellings op 'n klein plattelandse dorp. Om die pligte en funksies van albei biblioteke na te kom is daar faktore soos swak ekonomiese toestand, dalende leerlingtalle, ontvolking van die platteland of onvoldoende biblioteekfasiliteite wat 'n stremmende invloed mag he. Gekombineerde biblioteke kan 'n oplossing wees. Redes vir die totstandkoming van 'n gekombineerde biblioteek is onder andere rasionalisering, besparing, voldoende biblioteekfasiliteite en beter dienslewering. Gekombineerde biblioteke kan funksioneer op die platteland in bestaande biblioteekgeboue en in nuutbeplande geboue en kan diens lewer aan die oningeligte gebruiker wat die biblioteek nog vreemd vind asook aan die ervare inligtingsoeker. , As afgebakende terrein vir die navorsing is plattelandse dorpe en distrikte van Wes- Kaapland gekies. Die kring is nog nouer getrek deur kleiner dorpe met gekombineerde skole, dit wi! se, een skool wat 'n laerskool- en 'n hoerskoolafdeling op dieselfde gronde akkommodeer, uit te sonder. Die idee van gekombineerdheid het dus al op hierdie dorpe posgevat. Hierdie verhandeling bespreek eerstens die rol van die bestaande skool- en openbare biblioteke in plattelandse gebiede. Die doelstellings en funksies van albei tipes biblioteke word bespreek en vergelyk. Ooreenkomste en verskille word xviiaangetoon. Elke bestaande skool- en openbare biblioteek is ook aan die hand van standaarde ge-evalueer. Albei biblioteke moet daarin slaag om hul rol sinvol te vervul. Aspekte waaraan die twee biblioteke gemeet word is [i) bestuur en beheer, [ii] voorraad, [iii] personeel, [iv] biblioteekure en [v] akkommodasie. Die faktore is deeglik bespreek en daar word gekyk na die voor- en nadele van albei biblioteektipes. Die skool- en openbare biblioteek moet dus aan bepaalde voorvereistes voldoen om in sy rol as gekombineerde biblioteek te voldoen. Na die volledige bespreking van twee bestaande biblioteke op die platteland is ondersoek ingestel na gekombineerde biblioteke in enkele lande oorsee; dit is Australie, Kanada, Verenigde State van Amerika en Swede. Die Afrika-staat, Malawi, word ook as voorbeeld gebruik van 'n land met 'n ontwikkelende gemeenskap. Plaaslike omstandighede is met die van oorsee vergelyk en afleidings is gemaak. Die klem word verskuif na 'n nuwe situasie waar 'n nuutbeplande gekombineerde biblioteek op die skoolgronde voorgestel word. Die nuwe voorstelling, bekend as Model A, sal 'n gemeenskap bedien waar geen skool- of openbare biblioteek bestaan nie. Die hoogste prioriteit word verleen aan die skoolgaande kind en studiefasiliteite en 'n onderrigarea word voorsien. Model A word vergelyk met Model 8, wat die skoolbiblioteek as gekombineerde biblioteek voorstel en Model C, wat die openbare biblioteek as gekombineerde biblioteek voorstel. Die voordele van gekombineerde biblioteke in hierdie plattelandse gebiede sal aan die gemeenskap en die skool die volgende pertinente voordele bied: beter akkommodasie, 'n groter voorraad, professionele personeel en langer diensure. Met hierdie voordele behoort doeltreffende gemeenskapsdiens op die platteland suksesvol te wees.
Description
Proefskrif (Ph. D.) -- Universiteit van Stellenbosch, 1994.
Keywords
Public libraries, School libraries, Community-school libraries, Dissertations -- Library and information science
Citation