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Rural library services: historical development and modern-day

examples from West Africa

Article Information:
Title: Rural library services: historical development and modern-day examples from
West Africa
Author(s): Valeda F. Dent Goodman
Journal: New Library World
Year: 2008 Volume: 109 Issue: 11/12 Page: 512 - 532
ISSN: 0307-4803
DOI: 10.1108/03074800810921331
Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Acknowledgements: The author wishes to thank Professor Michael Kevane, Friends of
African Village Libraries, Claudia Entrup, Viviane Nabie, Gilbert Koure and Professor
Geoffrey Goodman for their support and help with this research project.
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Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the historical
development of the rural library services in Africa, and highlight modern rural village
libraries in Ghana and Burkina Faso within this context.
Design/methodology/approach – The information in the article comes from a number of
different impact studies, including one research study of the rural village libraries in
Ghana and one research study of the rural village libraries in Burkina Faso. In particular,
the studies examined the impact and role of the libraries on the communities they serve,
and enquiries included library use by students, reading habits, leisure reading, attitudes of
community members towards the library, and the library's role in academic support. The
methodology included focus groups, interviews, questionnaires, examination of library
circulation information, and many hours of observation. A review of the professional
literature is also provided to contextualize the historical review and the findings from the
studies.
Findings – Findings indicate the rural village libraries in Ghana and Burkina Faso are
successful village/community libraries that are of great benefit to their users. The models
for development of these libraries might be used in other similar rural villages to serve
both schools and the community.
Research limitations/implications – Future research might include the review and
evaluation of other rural libraries in Asia, the Caribbean, and South America, and an
analysis of their impact and sustainability.
Practical implications – The information presented in this paper offers some basic
considerations in terms of the implementation of rural library services, which have great
potential to bridge information gaps in rural areas. Provision of such services is becoming
increasingly important as more and more of the world's population desires to become
literate. At the same time, efforts to provide access to information must integrate cultural
practices, local languages and traditions, and operate from a place of respect and
understanding by involving those who will be served in outreach efforts.
Originality/value – The paper builds on previous studies of rural village libraries in
Uganda, and provides more support for the village/community library concept as being a
potentially powerful solution for provision of reading materials in rural areas. Literacy
continues to be a major factor in terms of economic and personal development in
underdeveloped nations, and all libraries, but perhaps these small village libraries even
more so, have the potential to play an important role in the eradication of illiteracy,
development of a reading culture, and provision of services for the “newly literate”.

Keywords: Africa, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Libraries, Reading, Rural areas

Article Type: Research paper
Article URL: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/03074800810921331