Bibliography: leaves 360-395. / Current methods of book selection in provincial library services in South Africa are examined with a view to establish whether they are the most effective possible from the point of view of the affiliated public libraries throughout the country. This involved tracing the history and development of the four provincial library services and examining their current selection practices. A well-organised network of affiliated public libraries making provision for white, and to a lesser extent coloured, South Africans has been established since World War II, with the strongly centralised provincial services providing the book stock. It appeared from the study that relatively little change had occurred in either the organisational structures or the book selection methods of these services since their inception, and that the involvement of local librarians in book selection was negligible. Instead of their role increasing as more public libraries were staffed by qualified librarians, financial pressures had resulted in even less initiative being permitted and an increase in centralised control. To establish the ideal model against which the performance of the provincial library services could be evaluated, contemporary professional opinion on public library objectives, management and book selection, as also the developments in rural systems in selected countries was surveyed. Compared to the static local picture of service which emerged from the empirical investigation, overseas advances in goals and management as reported in the literature had seen exciting professional advances, with librarians accepting, and going out to meet, the challenge of the changes in society. Strong communication links between users and selectors were emphasised. Rural networks in the foreign countries surveyed had grown to improve in efficiency and in economic terms, but in all cases the local librarian selected his own book stock, which seems more satisfactory than the current South African practice. To further test this hypothesis an empirical investigation by means of a questionnaire was circulated to all affiliated public libraries circulating more than 60 000 books annually. The findings confirmed the surmised lack of interaction in book selection between provincial and public librarians, and there was dissatisfaction, particularly among the very biggest libraries with experienced qualified staff, at the present system. The thesis concludes with recommendations made towards remedying this situation.

The purpose of the study was to identify the types of library services available in rural areas of Thohoyandou in order to recommend appropriate library services to disadvantaged children in rural areas of the Limpopo Province. Data were collected by means of structured questionnaires in a survey. The problems experienced in rendering library services to children, the factors influencing rural children's information use, and the role that school libraries play in meeting the needs of rural children were investigated. The findings show that rural children's information needs are primarily related to homework assignments. Teachers and learners approach people for information rather than making use of library resources for this purpose. This is due to the fact that most rural schools do not have libraries. Materials are stored in classrooms and storerooms. The existing book stock seems to be outdated, disorganised and inaccessible. Library service rendering is neglected. Most teacher-librarians are not professionally trained to render user services and to teach children information skills. Teachers, teacher-librarians, policy makers and administrators in rural schools seem to be indifferent to providing these services to children. / Information Science / M.A. (Information Science)

<p>In virtually any field of endeavour today, access to information is a prerequisite for success. Library services are affected by financial considerations and staffing problems. This work evaluated library performance with the aim of improving service management. Its targets are UWC, and others such as the Stellenbosch University and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. The application of selected service management techniques and measures used in business will be explored. The study also touched on transformation and change management.</p>

<p>In virtually any field of endeavour today, access to information is a prerequisite for success. Libraries form the repositories with user-friendliness their mission. This has lead to the need for new ways to evaluate library performance. Astute library managers will plan for such developments, taking into account current and future trends that impact on library services. Library services are also affected, for example, by financial considerations and staffing problems. Further complicating matters are the demands of their clients who have developed increased expectations of improved service, and also a desire for more self-service opportunities. Such changes raise the question: &ldquo / to what extent can libraries apply business performance management techniques to assess their performance.&rdquo / This, then, is the research question for this study.</p> <p><br /> This work will evaluate library performance with the aim of improving service management. Its targets are the UWC library, and others, such as the Stellenbosch University, and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. The application of selected service management techniques and measures used in business will be explored. These techniques include The Balanced Scorecard, critical success factors and service quality. The study also touches on transformation and change management. An obvious source of information about library management is the corps of managers. The secondary source of information is the community of library users.</p>

This study surveyed Compact Disc-Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) technology in South African university libraries. The survey instrument used to elicit data was a questionnaire which was distributed via electronic mail (e-mail). CD-ROMs have been in the marketplace for over a decade and the extent to which South African university libraries have embraced CD-ROM technology was surveyed. Libraries offer CD-ROM services to internal staff and end-users, who in this study were students and academic staff. The study highlighted some of the CD-ROM related management issues such as budgeting, networking, resource sharing and end-user training. Survey results from the respondents indicated that they had all adopted CD-ROM technology. However, the level of CD-ROM technology and services in Historically White Institutions (HWI) and Historically Black Institutions (HBI) differed. This was evident in areas such as the year in which CD-ROMs were acquired, collection sizes and network access. The results showed that all libraries offered some form of enduser training to academic staff and students. The evolving nature of CD-ROM . technology presents a great challenge for libraries trying to keep up-to-date with the technology. This was highlighted in the open-ended questions about CD-ROM development plans and comments in general about CD-ROM technology in the different libraries. All libraries had access to the Internet and were working towards providing electronic information resources via the Web. Resource sharing and the establishment of consortiums can address the exorbitant costs of providing electronic information resources. Recommendations for further research on different aspects of CD-ROM technology were made. The development of the Internet as an information delivery system for the distribution of on-line information will emphasize the extent to which librarians and end-users are using the Internet for on-line information, as compared with CD-ROM services. Increasingly, aggregators are publishing information on the Internet and South African university libraries are already seeing this as an alternative to maintaining CD-ROM technology and services. / Thesis (M.I.S.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.

The purpose of the dissertation was to evaluate the Russell High School library collection in meeting the curricula needs of learners. A study population consisting of 150 learners, 13 teachers, the librarian and Principal was surveyed by means of questionnaire and interview. Three types of questionnaires were used, one each for the learners, the teachers and the librarian. The Principal's interview was based on a checklist. Results were discussed in terms of frequencies and cross-tabulations of responses were made. Results are graphically displayed in the form of tables, pie charts and bar charts. The present situation of the library and its problems are discussed with regard to resources, the availability and suitability of the present collection, types of materials used, and satisfaction with the library by users as well as encouragement from teachers and the librarian to learners in the use of the library. The discussion was situated within the current requirements of Outcomes-Based Education as guided by Curriculum 2005 and 21. The study findings indicated that learners and teachers were satisfied with the library stock although a need for books, especially new titles, was identified. Learners and teachers felt that more books and better infrastructure for example, computers, television sets, and more space were needed. It was also revealed, however, that the budget was severely limited. These findings are discussed within the framework provided by a review of international, African and local school libraries. Recommendations for possible future services are made in the light of this discussion. / Thesis (M.I.S.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

<p>In virtually any field of endeavour today, access to information is a prerequisite for success. Libraries form the repositories with user-friendliness their mission. This has lead to the need for new ways to evaluate library performance. Astute library managers will plan for such developments, taking into account current and future trends that impact on library services. Library services are also affected, for example, by financial considerations and staffing problems. Further complicating matters are the demands of their clients who have developed increased expectations of improved service, and also a desire for more self-service opportunities. Such changes raise the question: &ldquo / to what extent can libraries apply business performance management techniques to assess their performance.&rdquo / This, then, is the research question for this study.</p> <p><br /> This work will evaluate library performance with the aim of improving service management. Its targets are the UWC library, and others, such as the Stellenbosch University, and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. The application of selected service management techniques and measures used in business will be explored. These techniques include The Balanced Scorecard, critical success factors and service quality. The study also touches on transformation and change management. An obvious source of information about library management is the corps of managers. The secondary source of information is the community of library users.</p>

<p>In virtually any field of endeavour today, access to information is a prerequisite for success. Library services are affected by financial considerations and staffing problems. This work evaluated library performance with the aim of improving service management. Its targets are UWC, and others such as the Stellenbosch University and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. The application of selected service management techniques and measures used in business will be explored. The study also touched on transformation and change management.</p>

The purpose of the study was to identify the types of library services available in rural areas of Thohoyandou in order to recommend appropriate library services to disadvantaged children in rural areas of the Limpopo Province. Data were collected by means of structured questionnaires in a survey. The problems experienced in rendering library services to children, the factors influencing rural children's information use, and the role that school libraries play in meeting the needs of rural children were investigated. The findings show that rural children's information needs are primarily related to homework assignments. Teachers and learners approach people for information rather than making use of library resources for this purpose. This is due to the fact that most rural schools do not have libraries. Materials are stored in classrooms and storerooms. The existing book stock seems to be outdated, disorganised and inaccessible. Library service rendering is neglected. Most teacher-librarians are not professionally trained to render user services and to teach children information skills. Teachers, teacher-librarians, policy makers and administrators in rural schools seem to be indifferent to providing these services to children. / Information Science / M.A. (Information Science)

M.Bibl. (Information Studies) / Please refer to full text to view abstract