Public libraries in South Africa have largely failed to address the information needs of developi... more Public libraries in South Africa have largely failed to address the information needs of developing communities. As a result the establishment of alternative library services, notably resource centres and community libraries, have gathered momentum since the 1980s. The concept of community libraries, currently embraced by an increasing number of public libraries, is explored, and the community library system implemented by the Pinetown Public Library is evaluated against norms derived from the literature on the development of public libraries in Africa and South Africa. Openbare biblioteke in Suid-Afrika het nie noemenswaardig daarin geslaag om dienste te voorsien wat die wesentlike behoeftes van ontwikkelende gemeenskappe aanspreek nie. Gevolglik het alternatiewe dienste soos byvoorbeeld bronnesentrums en gemeenskapsbiblioteke ontstaan, veral vanaf die vroee tagtiger jare. Die konsep van gemeen-skapsbiblioteke wat besig is om in openbare biblioteke veld te wen, word ontleed en die stelsel wat deur Pinetown se Open bare Biblioteek in werking gestel is, word geevalueer aan die hand van norme gebaseer op die literatuur oor die ontwikkeling van open bare biblioteke in Afrika en Suid-Afrika.
Agriculture plays an important role in the economies of many developing countries, contributing c... more Agriculture plays an important role in the economies of many developing countries, contributing considerably to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), labour and exports. In Zimbabwe, agriculture provides an income to 75 per cent of the country's population. The role of researchers and extension workers is thus important in this process. This article reports on a pilot study that examined the information needs and challenges of veterinary researchers in Zimbabwe. Purposive sampling was used to identify and select respondents around Harare. Although Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland East were initially selected, the study was able to capture respondents from across other provinces and districts from part-time students attending Mazowe Veterinary School. A questionnaire was used to collect data, most of which was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study revealed that there were varying information needs among the respondents, with the need for information on animal health and production being the lowest, despite the majority of respondents being veterinary extension workers. Lack of resources – especially transport and information sources – was cited as a factor affecting research and extension services. The study also showed that there was poor dissemination of agricultural information between researchers and extension workers and the farmers, and this was done through various channels, traditional and modern information and communications technologies (ICTs).
Public libraries in South Africa have largely failed to address the information needs of developi... more Public libraries in South Africa have largely failed to address the information needs of developing communities. As a result the establishment of alternative library services, notably resource centres and community libraries, have gathered momentum since the 1980s. The concept of community libraries, currently embraced by an increasing number of public libraries, is explored, and the community library system implemented by the Pinetown Public Library is evaluated against norms derived from the literature on the development of public libraries in Africa and South Africa. Openbare biblioteke in Suid-Afrika het nie noemenswaardig daarin geslaag om dienste te voorsien wat die wesentlike behoeftes van ontwikkelende gemeenskappe aanspreek nie. Gevolglik het alternatiewe dienste soos byvoorbeeld bronnesentrums en gemeenskapsbiblioteke ontstaan, veral vanaf die vroee tagtiger jare. Die konsep van gemeen-skapsbiblioteke wat besig is om in openbare biblioteke veld te wen, word ontleed en die stelsel wat deur Pinetown se Open bare Biblioteek in werking gestel is, word geevalueer aan die hand van norme gebaseer op die literatuur oor die ontwikkeling van open bare biblioteke in Afrika en Suid-Afrika.
Agriculture plays an important role in the economies of many developing countries, contributing c... more Agriculture plays an important role in the economies of many developing countries, contributing considerably to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), labour and exports. In Zimbabwe, agriculture provides an income to 75 per cent of the country's population. The role of researchers and extension workers is thus important in this process. This article reports on a pilot study that examined the information needs and challenges of veterinary researchers in Zimbabwe. Purposive sampling was used to identify and select respondents around Harare. Although Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland East were initially selected, the study was able to capture respondents from across other provinces and districts from part-time students attending Mazowe Veterinary School. A questionnaire was used to collect data, most of which was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study revealed that there were varying information needs among the respondents, with the need for information on animal health and production being the lowest, despite the majority of respondents being veterinary extension workers. Lack of resources – especially transport and information sources – was cited as a factor affecting research and extension services. The study also showed that there was poor dissemination of agricultural information between researchers and extension workers and the farmers, and this was done through various channels, traditional and modern information and communications technologies (ICTs).
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