This study investigates information inequality and poverty in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Its purpose is to explore and elucidate strategies for public libraries to support the alleviation of this type of inequality and poverty within their communities. In Chapters 1 and 2, in-depth discussions of information inequality and poverty are presented. An historical perspective of libraries in South Africa is presented in Chapter 3. The theoretical framework used for this study is explained in Chapter 4. This research is based mainly on the critical theories of Pierre Bourdieu, Paolo Freire, Martha Nussbaum, and Shiraz Durrani. In addition, a new integrative approach to information inequality and poverty based on this critical theoretical framework is presented. Chapter 5 will explain the qualitative research design and methodology of this study. A rationale for choosing to conduct two case studies is provided. The choice of constructivist, critical paradigms are explained as is the decision to use a quantitative survey to supplement the design. In Chapter 6, uMhlathuze municipality and the case study libraries is discussed in depth. The findings of the data collection are presented, collated under five main themes based on the main research questions. Chapter 7 interprets and discusses the research findings in three primary analytic categories. An explanation of the steps to apply the new integrative approach to information inequality and poverty is provided. Final conclusions for addressing the problem is presented in Chapter 8 along with recommendations for libraries wishing to alleviate information inequality and poverty. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Information Science / PhD / Unrestricted

Submitted by Valdinei Souza (neisouza@hotmail.com) on 2016-03-21T21:49:53Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Mardochée.pdf: 1205293 bytes, checksum: 41084b51daf8b9086ed59a8908c86642 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Urania Araujo (urania@ufba.br) on 2016-03-23T18:51:52Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Mardochée.pdf: 1205293 bytes, checksum: 41084b51daf8b9086ed59a8908c86642 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-23T18:51:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Mardochée.pdf: 1205293 bytes, checksum: 41084b51daf8b9086ed59a8908c86642 (MD5) / Este texto dissertativo aborda as dimensões das políticas de informação na sociedade contemporânea. O objetivo desta pesquisa consiste em descrever e analisar as políticas de informação existentes tanto global como regional em diversas direções: programas, resoluções, projetos do setor informacional, Políticas de Informação Cientifica e Técnica, ações de infraestrutura e acesso às tecnologias da Informação e comunicação e ações a favor da política cultural com atenção à promoção e estimulo ao domínio eficiente das Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação. Mediante uma analise documental da literatura relacionada com o tema à escala mundial como regional, esta pesquisa se fundamenta em revisão de literatura específica e em uma descrição das políticas internacionais, regionais existentes, suas procedências, especialmente as suas aplicações, e, assim, conhecer seus impactos sobre a sociedade contemporânea. / ABSTRACT This dissertation discusses the dimensions of Information Policies in the contemporary society. The objective of this research is to describe and analyze the currents Information’s Policies at global and regional level in many directions: programs, resolutions, projects of the information sector, scientific and technical information’s policies, actions of infrastructure and accessibility of information and communication technologies, actions in favor of the cultural policy with particular attention given to promoting and stimulating the efficient uses of Information and Communication Technologies. By a documentary analysis of the literatures references to the topic related on global and regional scales, this research is based on literature review, and a description of the currents international and regional policies, their origins, especially, theirs applications, and therefore, know their impacts on the contemporary society.