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

The purpose of this paper is to study the variation of library visits and reading habits in different Swedish residential areas (e.g., countryside, towns, cities, and large cities). Furthermore, the paper aims to map out which residential areas that are less covered by library services in order to determine which resources need to be instated. The research questions touched onto the residential areas impact on library visits and reading habits, as well as whether the demography could explain the differences. The paper was based on the national SOM survey of 2015-2019. The results show that people from less populated areas visit the library and read books less frequently than those from more highly populated areas. It also became clear that both gender and education played a part in how often people read and visited the library. Women and those with a higher education were more likely to read and visit the library more often, although the residential area continued to have a clear impact on those habits, particularly amongst those with a lower education. In conclusion these results could help pinpoint where more library resources are necessary.

Bibliotekslagens ändamålsparagraf anger att bibliotek i det allmänna väsendet ska arbeta med att främja intresset för bildning. Det gäller således alla typ av offentligt finansierade bibliotek och uppdraget tar ingen hänsyn till resurser eller ekonomiska faktorer. Såväl bokbussar som biblioteksverksamhet på landsbygden kan ha begränsade resurser i förhållande till större städer och tätorter. Lagen har inte heller någon tydlig beskrivning av hur arbetet med att främja intresset för bildning ska gå till. Denna uppsats ämnar därför att undersöka hur personal på bokbussar på landsbygden ser på begreppet bildning, bokbussens betydelse på landsbygden samt hur de arbetar med bildning i den dagliga verksamheten. Den insamlade empirin består av samtalsintervjuer med sju bokbussmedarbetare. Uppsatsen har ett praktikteoretiskt perspektiv där bokbusspersonalens berättelser och dagliga arbete används för att synliggöra och fördjupa förståelsen för och arbetet med bildning. Som teoretiskt verktyg för att belysa skillnader och utmaningar med att arbeta på en bokbuss på landsbygden används Stein Rokkan och Derek Urwins teori om centrum och periferi. Studiens resultat visar att personalen på bokbussar på landsbygden arbetar med bildning genom att erbjuda låntagarna tillgång till ett brett utbud litteratur men även genom programverksamhet och det sociala mötet. Bokbussens funktion på landsbygden beskrivs som viktig, framförallt som en social mötesplats men även som en brygga för att överbygga den isolering som landsbygdens periferi kan uppleva i relation till centralorternas centrum. / The Swedish library act states that the public libraries should promote the interest for bildung. The act regulates all public libraries and does not consider how different libraries vary in resources or economic factors. Both bookmobiles and rural libraries could have limited recourses and funds in relation to larger libraries and libraries in larger cities and the library act does not describe how the libraries should promote the interest for bildung. This study therefore aims to investigate how staff working on rural bookmobiles consider the concept of bildung, the rural bookmobiles importance and how the staff implements bildung in their daily work. The study consists of seven interviews with library staff from four different rural municipalities. To gain a deeper understanding of how the rural bookmobile staff consider and work with the concept of bildung a practice theory perspective is used. Stein Rokkans’ and Derek Urwins’ theory of center and periphery is used as a theoretical frame intending to illustrate possible differences and challenges that may occur on rural bookmobiles. The result of the study shows that the rural bookmobile staff work with bildung by offering a wide assortment of literature but also by library activities and by being a social gathering point. The function of the rural bookmobiles is described by the staff as important, especially as a gathering point but also as a bridge to reduce the isolation that can occur between the rural periphery and the central centers.

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)

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)

近年來，推廣終身學習與培養資訊素養日益受到重視，國內外政府均將推廣閱讀視為重要的課題。由於文化建設成果，台灣各鄉鎮普設圖書館，由於鄉鎮圖書館直接接觸鄉鎮居民，成為推廣閱讀活動第一線角色。 本論文旨在探討台灣地區鄉鎮圖書館推動閱讀活動之現況。首先就閱讀與閱讀活動之意涵、各國的閱讀活動與政策、圖書館推動閱讀的任務與功能、公共圖書館推廣閱讀活動之類型與策劃、台灣地區鄉鎮圖書館閱讀推廣之相關文獻進行研討，並簡要回顧台灣地區鄉鎮圖書館的設置起源與歷年來閱讀推廣活動的概況。 採用深度訪談法，以立意抽樣之方式選擇訪談對象，共計有台北縣深坑鄉立圖書館、南投縣埔里鎮立圖書館、台南縣歸仁鄉立圖書館、屏東縣長治鄉立圖書館等四所圖書館，藉由訪問承辦閱讀活動之鄉鎮圖書館員、閱讀活動中的帶領人、以及參與閱讀活動的讀者等，匯集多方的想法與建議，從圖書館所辦理閱讀活動的類型、內外資源的運用、所遭遇到的困難與問題、民眾參與的程度等面向，分析台灣地區鄉鎮圖書館閱讀推廣活動辦理概況，並探討其成功模式。 根據文獻與訪談結果，建議政府及圖書館上級主管機關應：1.訂定閱讀相關法案與政策；2.輔導鄉鎮圖書館推廣閱讀；3.利用全球性的閱讀節日加強宣導；4.加強應用網路資源推廣閱讀；5.鄉長應慎選熱心館長；6.加強閱讀培訓課程；7.出版閱讀推廣之策劃等相關出版品；8.辦理閱讀推廣有成的圖書館觀摩與交流活動，建議鄉鎮圖書館應：1.積極地舉辦閱讀推廣活動；2.結合教育單位與民間團體，善用社會資源共同推展閱讀；3.倡導愉悅的閱讀；4.利用獎勵推廣兒童閱讀；5.行銷館藏與推薦好書；6.加強購買新書以即時供應閱讀需求。 / In recent years, the promotion of lifelong learning and the training of information literacy have been bestowed a gradual increase in attention. Both local and international governments regard reading promotion as an important subject. Due to Taiwan’s elaborate cultural infrastructure, widespread rural libraries establish direct contacts with nearby residents, playing a major role in promoting reading activities. This thesis aims at exploring the situations of rural libraries’ reading promotion activities in Taiwan. This research discusses the following issues: the definitions of reading and reading activities, the different reading activity policies of various countries, the mission and function of public libraries in promoting reading activities along with the types of promotions and their planning, a discussion of relevant documents regarding the promotion of reading by rural libraries, and a brief review of the establishment of rural libraries and their general situations in reading promotion. The methods of this study are literature analysis and in-depth interview. Chosen through purposive sampling, interviewees include the Shenkeng Township Library of Taipei County, the Puli Township Library of Nantou County, the Gueiren Township Library of Tainan County, and the Changjr Township Library of Pingdong County. By interviewing the rural libraries that hold reading activities, their activity leaders, and activity participants, this thesis gathers different ideas and suggestions. Through rural libraries’ reading activity types, their application of internal and external resources, the difficulties and problems they confronted, and the participation level of local residents, this thesis analyzes the situation of the promotion of reading activities in Taiwan’s rural libraries’ and investigates their successful models. According to research results, this study suggests that the government and the authorities at the ministry of library: (1) institute relevant reading bills and policies; (2) guide and assist rural libraries in reading promotion; (3) utilize the international reading festival to establish recognition; (4) use the internet and the information & communications technology to promote; (5) select enthusiastic library directors by the head of the local government; (6)strengthen the training courses of reading promotions; (7)publish relevant publications on reading planning; (8) inspect and learn from outstanding libraries. This study suggests that rural libraries: (1)actively hold reading activities; (2)combine educational organization and community resources to promote reading conjointly; (3) advocate pleasure reading; (4)utilize rewards to promote children’s reading; (5) market library collections and recommend good books; (6) enhance new book purchases in order to immediately supply the demand of reading.