By Julius T. Tweve

THE ROLE OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN TANZANIA: INFORMATION INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION

IntroductionIntroduction Public libraries are inclusive institutions Public libraries are inclusive institutions

created for everyone to equally and freely created for everyone to equally and freely access information for educational, social and access information for educational, social and cultural development; indeed that is the cultural development; indeed that is the essence of inclusionessence of inclusion

The major function of a public library is to meet The major function of a public library is to meet the information needs of all community the information needs of all community members without discrimination. members without discrimination.

Cont…Cont… Librarians usually draw two conclusions Librarians usually draw two conclusions

about exclusion factors: first, it is users’ about exclusion factors: first, it is users’ personal preference when they do not personal preference when they do not use library services; and secondly, use library services; and secondly, inadequate marketing inadequate marketing

This paper examines the issue of This paper examines the issue of exclusion, inclusive society, and how the exclusion, inclusive society, and how the librarians can use their professional librarians can use their professional capacity combat the exclusion in the capacity combat the exclusion in the society in turn enhance development.society in turn enhance development.

Public library and Public library and Information AccessInformation Access The right of access to information is The right of access to information is

considered as a crucial human right and considered as a crucial human right and useful tool for individual, societal prosperity, useful tool for individual, societal prosperity, freedom and development.freedom and development.

The effective implementation of freedom of The effective implementation of freedom of expression requires citizens’ access to expression requires citizens’ access to express opinions and to seek information in express opinions and to seek information in the public sphere. the public sphere.

Cont…Cont… Unequal access to information leads to Unequal access to information leads to

unequal distribution of wealth and resources unequal distribution of wealth and resources in the world at all levels, for example, health in the world at all levels, for example, health and educationand education

Public Libraries thus form a basic Public Libraries thus form a basic information delivery infrastructure and information delivery infrastructure and act as repositories of knowledge to act as repositories of knowledge to peoplepeople

Aspects of exclusion Aspects of exclusion Literacy levels and language of Literacy levels and language of

publicationspublications Physical Access to librariesPhysical Access to libraries Challenged PersonsChallenged Persons ICT skills ICT skills ConnectivityConnectivity FundingFunding

Social Information Social Information Exclusion Exclusion

Social information exclusion offends human Social information exclusion offends human dignity, denies information seekers their dignity, denies information seekers their fundamental human rights which threatens the fundamental human rights which threatens the democracy of any nation.democracy of any nation.

UK government, social exclusion is “a shorthand UK government, social exclusion is “a shorthand term for what can happen when people or areas term for what can happen when people or areas suffer from a combination of linked problems such suffer from a combination of linked problems such as unemployment, poor skills, low income, poor as unemployment, poor skills, low income, poor housing, high crime, bad health and family housing, high crime, bad health and family breakdown.breakdown.

Cont… Cont… lsocial exclusion is “a shorthand term for lsocial exclusion is “a shorthand term for

what can happen when people or areas what can happen when people or areas suffer from a combination of linked problems suffer from a combination of linked problems such as unemployment, poor skills, low such as unemployment, poor skills, low income, poor housing, high crime, bad health income, poor housing, high crime, bad health and family breakdown.and family breakdown.

llThe prevailing discourse concerning social The prevailing discourse concerning social exclusion reflects a set of views about those exclusion reflects a set of views about those who are disadvantagedwho are disadvantaged

Social Information Social Information InclusionInclusion

social information inclusion refers to social information inclusion refers to

- giving all people access to the information giving all people access to the information services and facilities that they have a right services and facilities that they have a right to, and to, and

- making sure that they are fully aware of and making sure that they are fully aware of and know how to take up their entitlement to know how to take up their entitlement to these servicesthese services

Benefit of inclusion Benefit of inclusion Democratic participation and Democratic participation and

understandingunderstanding Improved decision making processImproved decision making process Reduce danger of human rights Reduce danger of human rights

violationsviolations

Bridging the Information Bridging the Information Gap and the Way Gap and the Way Forward Forward

Librarians as Information providers can Librarians as Information providers can make available a variety of information make available a variety of information collections which can be used from various collections which can be used from various physical public library location.physical public library location.

Librarians Librarians shouldshould build a well-balanced build a well-balanced collection to meet social, political and collection to meet social, political and economic interests of the societyeconomic interests of the society

Librarians need to shift focus on documents Librarians need to shift focus on documents and focus on information seekersand focus on information seekers

Cont…Cont… Repackaging the product of orality is Repackaging the product of orality is

essential considering that communities are essential considering that communities are rich with information that is in oral form that rich with information that is in oral form that needs to be captured and repackagedneeds to be captured and repackaged

Librarians should become researchers to Librarians should become researchers to enable them to frequently interact with library enable them to frequently interact with library users and prompt them to define their users and prompt them to define their information needsinformation needs

Librarians should effectively play the role of Librarians should effectively play the role of a reference and referral information managera reference and referral information manager

Cont…Cont… Librarians through their professional Librarians through their professional

Associations such as Tanzania Library Associations such as Tanzania Library Association (TLA) should establish a Council Association (TLA) should establish a Council Committee on social information exclusionCommittee on social information exclusion

The image and identity of a public library is The image and identity of a public library is also an important factor when discussing also an important factor when discussing social inclusion matters.social inclusion matters.

Librarians need to be careful when planning Librarians need to be careful when planning for new public libraries. Priority should be for new public libraries. Priority should be given to those libraries serving communities given to those libraries serving communities in greatest needin greatest need

Cont…Cont…

To remain relevant, Librarians should draw To remain relevant, Librarians should draw up ICT plans outlining how the needs of up ICT plans outlining how the needs of those excluded communities and individuals those excluded communities and individuals are to be prioritizedare to be prioritized

””. It is therefore the responsibility of . It is therefore the responsibility of librarians to improve connectivity, increase librarians to improve connectivity, increase access, through use of multiple competing access, through use of multiple competing technologiestechnologies

conclusionconclusion

The social information exclusion in public The social information exclusion in public libraries in Tanzania is reallibraries in Tanzania is real

Therefore along term effort to meet the Therefore along term effort to meet the needs of the excluded and vulnerable needs of the excluded and vulnerable society.society.

Librarians in Tanzania therefore have a Librarians in Tanzania therefore have a greater opportunity to make meaningful greater opportunity to make meaningful contribution to the realization of contribution to the realization of comprehensive information inclusioncomprehensive information inclusion

Ethical PrinciplesEthical Principles++

Professional Practice Professional Practice = =

Professionalism & Public Professionalism & Public TrustTrust

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