Morula Community Library

Esther Retief, Unisa Library

Johanna Mogale, Morula Community Library

ContentsContents

A.A. Morula Community Library, Morula Community Library, MabopaneMabopane

B.B. Success factors Success factors

Morula Community Library Morula Community Library

MabopaneMabopane

Section ASection A

Morula Community LibraryMorula Community Library

The library was launched on 11 June The library was launched on 11 June 20052005

Main reason for Main reason for developing developing

a community librarya community library

Morula Community LibraryMorula Community Library Situated on the premises of Situated on the premises of Morula Morula

Sun Casino & Hotel Sun Casino & Hotel North West of North West of Pretoria in Mabopane Pretoria in Mabopane

Library staffLibrary staff

1 Professional Librarian1 Professional Librarian 1 Relief staff member (a trained 1 Relief staff member (a trained

librarian)librarian) 2 Volunteers helping during peak 2 Volunteers helping during peak

timestimes

The libraryThe library The floor area of the library is 115 The floor area of the library is 115

mm2.2.

The libraryThe library The library has a reception area, The library has a reception area,

Librarian’s office, a library room Librarian’s office, a library room divided by bookshelves, and a divided by bookshelves, and a separate reading section.separate reading section.

Information resourcesInformation resources About 10,000 items About 10,000 items 5 computers, 5 computers, 4 Printers4 Printers 3 scanners3 scanners 1 fax1 fax Study tablesStudy tables

Number of Number of regularregular clients clients

About 250 clients About 250 clients

per monthper month

AgeAge

1%

32%

44%

6%

12%5%

Under 10 10-17 years 18-24 25-29 30-39 40+

Reasons for visiting the Reasons for visiting the librarylibrary

Clients mainly visit the library for Clients mainly visit the library for study (38%) and research purposes study (38%) and research purposes (33%).(33%).

Bulletin boardBulletin board

Information literacyInformation literacy

Basic library skills (indexes, Basic library skills (indexes, encyclopaedias, dictionaries)encyclopaedias, dictionaries)

Mouse and keyboard skillsMouse and keyboard skills Introduction to the InternetIntroduction to the Internet Research on the InternetResearch on the Internet

New developmentsNew developments

Accommodate Unisa studentAccommodate Unisa student (MyUnisa; Electronic databases; (MyUnisa; Electronic databases; Courier service between Morula Courier service between Morula Community Library and Unisa Community Library and Unisa Muckleneuk campus; Interlibrary Muckleneuk campus; Interlibrary loans; Unisa assignment box)loans; Unisa assignment box)

Immediate needsImmediate needs

Children’s literature (primary and Children’s literature (primary and secondary school learners)secondary school learners)

CD-ROMs: encyclopaedias, specific CD-ROMs: encyclopaedias, specific topics (e.g. geography, biology and topics (e.g. geography, biology and science)science)

Grades 11 and 12 text books and Grades 11 and 12 text books and study guidesstudy guides

Success factorsSuccess factors

Section BSection B

Be enthusiasticBe enthusiastic

One highly motivated professional One highly motivated professional librarianlibrarian

A librarian who is a trusted and A librarian who is a trusted and valued member of the communityvalued member of the community

Have a vision and share itHave a vision and share it

See the needSee the need Decide that you can meet the needDecide that you can meet the need Be willing to seek help from the Be willing to seek help from the

outsideoutside Know that, in the long run, you have Know that, in the long run, you have

to do it yourself to do it yourself A community’s future is in the hands A community’s future is in the hands

of those who live thereof those who live there

PlanPlan

Have a development plan and review Have a development plan and review it annuallyit annually

The plan should determine the The plan should determine the budgetbudget

The plan reflects your beliefs – share The plan reflects your beliefs – share it with appropriate personsit with appropriate persons

Accessible libraryAccessible library BussesBusses TaxisTaxis Train station Train station

(6.5 km)  (6.5 km) 

RelationshipsRelationships

Build personal relationships (clients, Build personal relationships (clients, community leaders)community leaders)

Involve the local community in the Involve the local community in the development of the library from its development of the library from its earliest stageearliest stage

Partner with appropriate libraries, Partner with appropriate libraries, institutions/organisationsinstitutions/organisations

Meet the needMeet the need

Know your community and their Know your community and their information needsinformation needs

Provide reference and other Provide reference and other information resources in demandinformation resources in demand

Meet the needMeet the need

Provide study facilities as the Provide study facilities as the majority of the users do not have majority of the users do not have space, electricity or privacy at homespace, electricity or privacy at home

Know your communityKnow your community

Residential population of Mabopane: Residential population of Mabopane: 210,399 (Census 2001)210,399 (Census 2001)

51% of these people are 51% of these people are unemployed.unemployed.

50,2% of the Mabopane residents are 50,2% of the Mabopane residents are younger than 25 years old.younger than 25 years old.

MabopaneMabopane 10,5% have brick houses, while the 10,5% have brick houses, while the

rest (89,5%) have mostly traditional rest (89,5%) have mostly traditional structures or informal housing. Only structures or informal housing. Only 10,2% of dwellings have electricity.10,2% of dwellings have electricity.

Meet the needMeet the need

Provide information technology, e.g. Provide information technology, e.g. Internet, word processing facilities, Internet, word processing facilities, etc.etc.

Provide trainingProvide training

Make use of volunteersMake use of volunteers

Train volunteers to help in the libraryTrain volunteers to help in the library Treat them with respectTreat them with respect Give them a special position and Give them a special position and

responsibilityresponsibility

The endThe end