Development through arts, culture and tourism. Masithuthuke ngobuciko, amasiko nezokuvakasha...

Development through arts, culture and tourism . Masithuthuke ngobuciko, amasiko nezokuvakasha

TRANSFORMATION IMPERATIVES AND THE CONDITIONAL GRANT.

KZN Provincial Library Services


Overview of the Library Service

• Render library services to 170 affiliated public libraries in 58 municipalities throughout the province.

• Increase library access by building new libraries and renovating and extending existing libraries.

• Provide library material in all formats on a continuous basis.

• Provide a centralised reference and information service to all library users.


Overview continued…

• Design and provide promotional material and projects to enhance library usage and to promote a culture of reading and improve literacy skills.

• Provide professional support and training.• Provide a networked computerised library

management system to libraries.• Staffing and operational costs funded by local

municipalities.


The Conditional Grant

• In 2006/7 all Provincial Library Services were allocated conditional grant funding to recapitalise and transform community libraries.

• To address needs for which there was no funding on normal budget.

• Funding allocation based on status of services in different provinces.

• KZN received lowest grant: 2007/8 R13 950m. 2008/9 R26 195 m. 2009/10 R37 195.


Provincial Allocation for Library Material 2006/7

Limpopo R500 000

Northern Cape R3 million

Mpumalanga R4 million

Free State R4 million

Eastern Cape R5 million(entire budget)

North West Province R6.2 million

Gauteng R13 million

KwaZulu-Natal R20 million

Western Cape R30 million


Transformation in library usage.

• Millions of new users with different needs and expectations.

• Buildings built for one race group.• Stress on central services seen to be better than

suburb/township libraries.• Need to rationalise services.• Focus on education.


Effect on services and projects.

• Change in design of new libraries.• Extension of existing services for study space.• Need to address changes in Education system

(OBE).• Type of library material purchased.• The role of the librarian.• Open hours and access.• Promotional needs changed.


Conditional Grant Projects

• Tertiary texts for distance learners.• Permanent project collections to support the

school curriculum.• Improved ICT infrastructure through providing

free public access to computers and the internet.• Skills training and additional staff – cybercadets.• Improved reading promotion initiatives.• Improved professional support and training.


Internet@your library project

• 45 libraries provided with 6 computers, networked printer and furnishing.

• Linked by wireless connectivity.• Uncapped fast internet access free to public via

satellite or ADSL.• WebSense software protecting access to undesirable

sites.• Anti-virus protection• Time management software for fair usage.• CleanSlate software to prevent abuse.


Training and Support

• Each café staffed by a “cybercadet”.• Skills training of the public.• Email facilities for all library members.• Usage policy developed and implemented.• Monthly reporting of usage, trends and

challenges.• Cybercadet Forum established.


Promotion Initiatives

• Mobile Library BusBooks, toys, computers.Story telling.Audio-visual shows.• User EducationDVDCharts, signage.


Professional Support and Training

• New Library Depot at Mbazwana.

• Annual Conference for stakeholders.

• Stock assessments.

• Monitoring and evaluation.


OVERVIEW OF THE UNFUNDED MANDATE

Public Libraries are an “exclusive provincial legislative competence” [SA Constitution 1996].

Provinces must therefore “assign” the function of administering libraries, with the necessary funding, to local government and/or render the service themselves directly to the public.


IMPLICATION

Either way, the Provinces are legally responsible for funding what local municipalities are already funding

that is…..

THE FULL COSTS OF ADMINISTERING SERVICES DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC.

Staffing – operational costs – maintenance of buildings


STATUS QUO

Local municipalities in KZN spend over R200m per annum on this part of the service. This includes staffing costs of over 1500 library personnel at 216 libraries.


CHALLENGES

Local municipality spending on public libraries is “irregular expenditure” in terms of the MFMA.

Libraries are non-profit making institutions. Municipalities have scarce funding. Staffing levels in libraries and maintenance of

assets are deteriorating. The Province is in a weakened position to impose

standards and set guidelines for improving services.


Challenges continued..

The conditional grant does not address this mandate.

For true transformation to take place – with respect to standardisation of services, staffing levels and opening hours funding needs to be sourced to address this serious issue which will determine the future of libraries in South Africa.


Thank you

Development through arts, culture and tourism. Masithuthuke ngobuciko, amasiko nezokuvakasha...

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