Public libraries constitute an important part of social life and are crucial for supporting the educational system in any society. However, in many African countries, awareness of the role that public libraries can play in strengthening the social contract is largely unrecognized. This may be partly due to the social background that was/is based…

Purpose: Public libraries play a pivotal role in supporting education and literacy. They provide numerous services, activities, collections and resources for education and leisure. Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) is an international renowned public library that provides numerous services for different users worldwide. E-learning is an emergent and…

This study investigates 'partnership' as a key discursive tool for extending neoliberalism in the field of international development. As a case study, it examines the language-in-use among development organizations when discussing public libraries as potential partners in Africa. Critical discourse analysis of 20 interviews with development…

A seminar on standards for libraries in West Africa was held in April 1967. This proceedings volume presents the papers given by each of the participants. Discussed are the standards for collections, facilities, staff, technical processes and services for public, school, university and special libraries. The purpose was to focus upon the nature,…

Describes 13 libraries in the Kingdom of Swaziland. (PF)

The beginning and development of libraries in Nigeria are reviewed. Particular areas discussed include: libraries before mid-century, librarians before mid-century, the difficulties of birth, libraries as instruments of power, early library men, the Lagos Library, the Carnegie Corporation, World War II, Elliot Commission, Lagos Public Library,…

Papers on the management of African library associations and services which were presented at the 1984 IFLA general conference include: (1) "The Contribution: The Zimbabwe Library Association" (Stanley M. Made); (2) "Libraries and Information Services in the Third World in Danger: The Case of Tanzania" (E. Kaungamno); (3)…

Reviews 10 years of library and information developments in East, Central, and Southern Africa. Topics include school libraries; public libraries and rural information services; academic libraries; education and training; and professional library and information associations. (AEF)

This paper outlines the rationale for, and functions of, national library policies within African countries; discusses some of the issues raised concerning national library policies at the 1970 meeting at Kampala of the Experts on the National Planning of Documentation and Library Services in Africa and at other similar conferences; reviews the…

Services provided by the National Central Library in Dar es Salaam are: a fully organized public reference and lending service for both adults and children, a central book processing and supply unit, and a central advisory service. The Tanganyika Library Service also provides: branch libraries, rural mobile library services, loan of collections to…

The statistics which form the basis of this paper were compiled from the result of a questionnaire supplemented by correspondence and information from annual reports and the "Nigerian Libraries," and the "Ghana Library Journal." The data obtained from the questionnaire are presented in the appendices, and are followed by a list…

Developed with the support of the German Foundation for International Development (DSE) and the University of Botswana (Africa), this five-week "long vacation" training program includes four modules designed to provide refresher and in-service training for those library assistants who have work experience but have not been able to attend…

A seminar on Education for Librarianship on the Grassroots Level was held as a pre-session before the IFLA general conference in 1984. Papers presented include: (1) "Personnel Required to Deliver Services to Meet General Information Needs of the SADCC (Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference) Region: Schemes of…

Papers on government libraries, public libraries, and research libraries presented at the 1984 IFLA general conference include: (1) "Library Services for Research" (Maria S. Pla de Menendez, Colombia); (2) "Interlibrary Loans, Present and Future: A Consideration for Academic Library Management" (Geoffrey G. Allen, Australia);…

This description of the Botswana National Library Service (B.N.L.S.) with its central headquarters and 13 branches provides insights into communication problems, development of services, and clientele in an area where books and reading are still a new exciting idea. (MBR)