Perceptions of Public Libraries in Africa
Transcript of Perceptions of Public Libraries in Africa
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Knowledge without
boundaries
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Public libraries in Africa
Perceptions of stakeholders
http://www.eifl.net/perception-study
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EIFL• EIFL enables access to knowledge through
libraries in developing and transition countries to contribute to sustainable economic and social development
• EIFL currently works with national library consortia in close to 50 developing and transition countries in Africa, Asia and Europe
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Research context• EIFL Public Library
Innovation Programme PLIP supports innovative use of technologies for public library services
• PLIP is funded by BMGF
• Gap in knowledge about perceptions of public libraries in African countries
Source: Sesigo project, Source: Sesigo project, Botswana
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Why do the study?• To understand the perceptions of
different stakeholders on public libraries in Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and Uganda about the potential of public libraries so as to understand how these stakeholders could best be positively influenced to create/fund/support or use public libraries.
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Other motivations for the work
• To inform a communications’ campaign in one or more of these countries
• To provide a basis for possible local awareness raising and advocacy activities by librarians in these countries
• To provide local library managers with facts to help strengthen evidence based management
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Study on the Perceptions of Public Libraries
• General state of public libraries
• Current awareness, perceptions and attitudes towards public libraries
• Role of librarians in local community development
Source: Flickr, Book Aid International
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Methodology• A call for expression of interest was sent
to market research firms active in the region
• Technical specifications were developed and sent to those firms that responded suitably to the EoI – TNS and Harris Int.
• Proposals were evaluated and negotiations entered into with the firm that provided the most competitive offer
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Perceptions study• Carried out by a local market research
company –TNS RMS with offices in many countries, including African countries.
• Led by TNS Nairobi office. Kick off meeting November 2010. Final report accepted July 2011
• Budget just under $200k. Initial quote by TNS over $400, by Harris over 1 m
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Methods• Personally administered questionnaires
and in depth interviews
• Questionnaires provided by EIFL based on existing good practice in public library research
• Instruments were slightly adapted by TNS. Translated as needed and piloted locally. African demographic classification used in all countries [LSM]
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Target groups 1• A survey of users of public libraries
[2000]-500 in each of 4 countries• A survey of non users of public
libraries [1200] -300 in each of 4 countries.
• A survey of public librarians and library officials [283 in all].
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Target Groups 2• A survey of local stakeholders. The target population was experts [officials or elected members] related to local authorities/municipalities.
• Detailed structured interviews with open ended questions, with the stakeholders from the ministries, national agencies and national media
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Planned Samples Users Non-users Librarians Stakeholders Qualitative Kenya 500 300 60 50 20 Uganda 500 300 50 50 20 Tanzania 500 300 50 50 20 Ghana 500 300 60 50 20 Ethiopia - - 20 50 20 Zimbabwe
- - 35 50 20
Total 2,000 1,200 275 300 120
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Actual Samples Users Total number
of libraries sampled
Non-users
Librarians Stakeholders Qualitative
Kenya 500 20 300 63 51 18
Uganda 500 22 300 50 50 20
Tanzania 500 17 301 48 38 14
Ghana 500 15 300 67 40 20
Ethiopia 35 49 20
Zimbabwe 20 50 20
Total 2, 000 1,201 283 278 112
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Lessons Learned• It is very important to give the contractor
very clear technical specifications
• Contract negotiations can significantly influence the price and the details such as sampling
• It all takes longer than planned!
• Having local EIFL library coordinators was helpful to the market research firm
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Lessons Learned• Although the structure and content of
the final reports must be specified clearly at the start, the client has to get involved in drafting the report to be sure of sensible messages
• Senior stakeholders can be hard for librarians to identify and hard for interviewers to reach
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Use of the findings• Broad dissemination to the library
community nationally and internationally
• Articles and presentations (IFLA, Ariadne, African Library Summit, IGF)
• Presentations of findings to media and stakeholders in Ghana, Kenya, Uganda
• Regional workshop on how to use the findings for awareness raising in 3 countries and 1 year activity planning
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Evaluating perception change
• There will be a communications’ campaign targeting policy makers at local, regional and national level – those that do and those that could fund libraries
• We plan to do an evaluation of any perception change following the communications’ campaign
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Overall findings• Awareness of libraries is high even
among those not using them• General perception about libraries is
positive across all groups surveyed• Libraries are largely perceived as
offering academic related information and therefore seen as an extension of academic study
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Overall findings• Librarians are competent in
traditional roles but have limitations in ICT, and in advocacy and fund-raising
• Libraries need to engage with the community at a more tangible level that goes beyond passively providing books information only
• Local stakeholders need to evaluate and build on the findings
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Reports are at
http://www.eifl.net/perception-study
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Some key findings
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Associations• Libraries are associated with books as well
as places for storing and accessing knowledge/information
Source: Survey of library users, non users and local officials, EIFL and TNS Research International, 2011
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Importance• Libraries are valued and are seen as
important• The degree of individual importance of
library among non users is slightly lower
Source: Survey of library users, non users and local officials, EIFL and TNS Research International, 2011
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Awareness• 53% of library non users
are aware of local library
• 64% of non users claim “being too busy”
• 37% could be motivated with more books, more convenience and more technologies
Source: Flickr, Book Aid International
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Purposes• The key reason for using libraries is
educational• There is a gap between reality and
expectations
Source: Survey of library users and non users, EIFL and TNS Research International, 2011
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Satisfaction• Users’ satisfaction levels with the library
services are fairly high• Satisfaction of local officials is slightly
lower
Source: Survey of library users and local officials, EIFL and TNS Research International, 2011
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Funding• There is almost unanimous agreement that
libraries deserve more funding
Source: Survey of library users, non users and local officials, EIFL and TNS Research International, 2011
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Education• Libraries’ potential contribution to
learning, literacy and employment is widely accepted
Source: Survey of local officials, EIFL and TNS Research International, 2011
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Economic development• Libraries’ potential contributions to various
aspects of economic development are recognized by the vast majority
Source: Survey of local officials, EIFL and TNS Research International, 2011
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Health• Libraries’ potential contributions to various
aspects of health improvement are recognized by the vast majority but there are some doubts about their ability to act as venues for health related events
Source: Survey of local officials, EIFL and TNS Research International, 2011
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Communication• It is widely recognized that libraries
provide a forum for meeting and building relationships even online
Source: Survey of local officials, EIFL and TNS Research International, 2011
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Culture• Whilst libraries’ contribution to culture is
widely recognized, there is skepticism about their potential to act as a venue for local cultural events
Source: Survey of local officials, EIFL and TNS Research International, 2011
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Social Inclusion and Community Development
• Potential to contribute to social inclusion and community development is recognized but there is some skepticism regarding providing event venues and helping the disadvantaged
Source: Survey of local officials, EIFL and TNS Research International, 2011
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Citizen Empowerment, Democracy and E-Government
• The idea that libraries could disseminate government information is accepted, but the minority disagreement expressed could be an indication that the some governments don’t have such services
Source: Survey of local officials, EIFL and TNS Research International, 2011
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Agriculture• About three quarters of respondents can
see a potential role for libraries in supporting agriculture
Source: Survey of local officials, EIFL and TNS Research International, 2011