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LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

"Leaving no one behind" : a study of public libraries and community work in southern Zimbabwe

Jeppsson, Karolina LU (2024) ABMM54 20241
Division of ALM and Digital Cultures
Abstract
This Master’s thesis concerns librarians and community work in Zimbabwe, and investigates the ways in which librarians may be seen as agents of change. The focus areas are five public and community libraries in Matabeleland, southern Zimbabwe, where the first language is Ndebele. The libraries are situated in the city of Bulawayo, in suburbs, in a town and at rural sites. The study investigates what strategies librarians use to meet and engage community members in different learning activities, for corresponding to information needs of the communities. In the thesis three main challenges are identified for library and community work in the context. These are economy and funds, local language and literature services, and digital access. To... (More)
This Master’s thesis concerns librarians and community work in Zimbabwe, and investigates the ways in which librarians may be seen as agents of change. The focus areas are five public and community libraries in Matabeleland, southern Zimbabwe, where the first language is Ndebele. The libraries are situated in the city of Bulawayo, in suburbs, in a town and at rural sites. The study investigates what strategies librarians use to meet and engage community members in different learning activities, for corresponding to information needs of the communities. In the thesis three main challenges are identified for library and community work in the context. These are economy and funds, local language and literature services, and digital access. To enable change through literacy in the communities, the librarians tackle the challenges using strategies such as networking, learning by doing, facilitating activities and access to information, and mobility. The study discusses librarians as facilitators and reflects upon the creation of knowledge by the librarians and the community members, in terms of the Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu. Stories of change are seen in the lives of community members, due to library work on literacy and innovation. However, there are still strategies to be developed to be able to overcome digital challenges and to create structures for access to local literature. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Jeppsson, Karolina LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
"Låt ingen lämnas bakom" : en studie om folkbibliotekens samarbeten med närsamhället i södra Zimbabwe
course
ABMM54 20241
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Agency, Community work, Creativity, Facilitation, Information, Innovation, Knowledge, Language, Literacy, Postcolonialism, Public library, Strategy, Ubuntu, Zimbabwe
language
English
id
9156798
date added to LUP
2024-06-18 15:49:51
date last changed
2024-06-18 15:49:51
@misc{9156798,
  abstract     = {{This Master’s thesis concerns librarians and community work in Zimbabwe, and investigates the ways in which librarians may be seen as agents of change. The focus areas are five public and community libraries in Matabeleland, southern Zimbabwe, where the first language is Ndebele. The libraries are situated in the city of Bulawayo, in suburbs, in a town and at rural sites. The study investigates what strategies librarians use to meet and engage community members in different learning activities, for corresponding to information needs of the communities. In the thesis three main challenges are identified for library and community work in the context. These are economy and funds, local language and literature services, and digital access. To enable change through literacy in the communities, the librarians tackle the challenges using strategies such as networking, learning by doing, facilitating activities and access to information, and mobility. The study discusses librarians as facilitators and reflects upon the creation of knowledge by the librarians and the community members, in terms of the Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu. Stories of change are seen in the lives of community members, due to library work on literacy and innovation. However, there are still strategies to be developed to be able to overcome digital challenges and to create structures for access to local literature.}},
  author       = {{Jeppsson, Karolina}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{"Leaving no one behind" : a study of public libraries and community work in southern Zimbabwe}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}