The Role Of Librarians In National Development Education Essay

The Role Of Librarians In National Development Education Essay macrocosm libraries are inclusive institutions created for e genuinely unrivaled to equ all toldy and freely rise to power data for educational, social and cultural development indeed that is the essence of inclusion. However, this is not true beca wasting disease defining and identifying procedurer inclusion is a difficult task due to the all-encompassing range of factors that cause potential users elimination from using common libraries. This is unfortunate, because the major function of a existence program depository library is to invite the development call for of all alliance members with come out(a) discrimination. Previous research has shown that librarians usually draw two conclusions more or less exception factors first, it is users personal preference when they do not use library operate and secondly, inadequate marketing of public library services to the citizenry. This is due to the fact that a public library as an inclusive institution is so ardently incorporated into the identity of public librarianship that questioning the social inclusiveness of libraries rarely occurs. This paper examines the issue of censure, attempts to define the inclusive society, and subsequently makes recommendation on how the librarians trick use their professional capacity in service provide to combat the censure in the society in turn erect development.Keywords Evolving Professional RolesIntroductionThe precondition public library first appeared in Latin (bibliotheca publica) as a technical term in the 17th Century to distinguish the general University libraries of Oxford and Cambridge by hence from those of endowed libraries (Kinya, 2011). UNESCO (1994) showed its recognition of public libraries when it stated that the public library is the principal means where the records of mans thoughts and ideas and the expression of his imagination are made freely open to all. In its manifesto, UNESCO further directs that the public library shall in principle be free of charge and services should be provided on the basis of equality of adit for all persons regardless of age, race, gender, religion, nationality, delivery or social status. The manifesto declares UNESCOs belief in the public library as a breathing force for education, ending and reading and as an indispensable agent for the nurturing of peace and spiritual wellbeing of society. This is in line with Cullen(2003) who defined public library system as a combination of concourse, activities, events and object resources working together to convert inputs to outputs. Such libraries serve communities with multipurpose discipline free of charge or at nominal give (Thompson, 1974). Initially, Tanzania subroutine library Service (TLS), established 1975, succeeding the Tanganyika Library Services Board of 1963. TLS has authority over documentation services, training of librarians public libraries, literary campai gns and it promotes indigenous literature.Public library and Information AccessDiscussion of the concept of public libraries would bear less meaning if global emphasis on freedom of access to learning and the correctly to culture are not mentioned here. The right of access to tuition is considered as a crucial human right and useful tool for individual, social prosperity, freedom and development. An informed society exercises it popular rights and plays a vigorous role in the society. However, productive contribution and the development of democracy depend on pleasant education and unlimited access to thought, culture and breeding (Kinya, 2011).Freedom of access to information (to use, share and distribute) is a right praised by some as the very core of the information society, and accused by others of being a merely formal standard with little practical reality in a earth where the majority of the population does not fix access to information (Pateman, 2010). With access t o information, spate should freely express themselves, since freedom of expression is one of the basic conditions for societys come up and for the development of every man. The effective implementation of freedom of expression requires citizens access to express opinions and to seek information in the public sphere hence one of the current biggest challenges is to en true that the exclusive charter of the information society is replaced by inclusiveness. This is something that any popular government in the world should pursue as echoed by some researchers who pointed out that a popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy, or perhaps both(prenominal) (Pateman, 2010 Lor, 2003).In support of what the governments should do to realize this dream of develop an informed society, the World Summit on the information society (WSIS) Declaration of 2003 created a vision for the information society. The WSIS defined in formation society as a community-centered, inclusive and development oriented information society, where everyone can create, access, utilize and share information and experience to enable individuals, communities and peoples to achieve their full potential in promoting their sustainable development and improving their quality of life. Unequal access to information leads to unequal distribution of wealth and resources in the world and poverty and lack of infrastructure and development at all levels, for example, health and education. Public Libraries thusly form a basic information delivery infrastructure and act as repositories of information and knowledge that provide access to information and ideas to people. This may energize been the principle behind the Governing Board of IFLA, in its anniversary meeting in Glasglow, Scotland (2002) that declared that public libraries shouldEnsure their services respect equity render access to information, ideas and works of imagination i n various formats, supporting personal development of all age meetings and active participation in society and decision-making exploitContribute to the development and maintenance of intellectual freedom and help safeguard basic democratic values and universal civil rightsAcquire, preserve and make unattached to all users without discrimination the widest transformation of materials andTackle information inequality demonstrated in the growing information gap and the digital divide.Social Information animadversionInformation expulsion and inclusion debates bear emerged as strong issues at both national and international levels in the recent past. Social information exclusion offends human dignity, denies information seekers their fundamental human rights which threatens the democracy of any nation. According to UK government, social exclusion is a shorthand term for what can happen when people or areas suffer from a combination of linked problems such as unemployment, unequal skills, low income, poor housing, high crime, bad health and family breakdown. Social exclusion can happen to anyone either directly or indirectly. However, some people are significantly more at risk than others (Pateman, 2010). Social exclusion refers to ineluctably of groups and individuals who do not have access to services and facilities or to a societys decision making and or power structures and this is sometimes seen as a tell apart policy issue (Pateman, 2010). Rao (2005) suggested that social exclusion can never be contained in isolation but the effort has to be multidimensional and multi-pronged. These dimensions are both technological and economical and include connectivity, content, community, commerce, capacity, culture, cooperation and capital (Rao, 2000).The prevailing discourse concerning social exclusion reflects a set of views about those who are disadvantaged suffering from poverty, poor housing and health, family breakdown, unemployment, criminal environmen ts and limited life chances, and about the barriers that prevent their social integration. Social exclusion is the result of combination of linked problems and affects both individuals and communities. The causes are seen as multiple and complex, and on that pointfore need to be rein ind in a holistic way rather than each being seen as separate and unrelated. It requires joined-up solutions. This means that the Tanzania Library Services must work together in partnership with both public and private organization to tackle social information exclusion. Exclusion has been seen as the inevitable consequence of economic growth and development. Social and cultural regeneration are now needed to address the problems that have resulted. It is argued that social exclusion denies people their fundamental human rights leading to social and economic instability, marginalization and deepening inequalities, which threatens the stability of democracy in Tanzania .Social Information InclusionIn t he setting of provision of information to all, social information inclusion refers to giving all people access to the information, services and facilities that they have a right to, and making sure that they are fully aware of and know how to take up their entitlement to these services (MLA, 2007, p.9). Social inclusion has various benefits that includeDemocratic participation and assureing readiness of information to all members of a society is essential for public participation in all activities pertaining to the society. The public is truly able to take part in the democratic process only when they have information about the activities and policies of the government. When the public knows the reasons behind some of the government decisions, its support is guaranteed and misunderstandings and dissatisfaction are reduced. This was supported by New Zealand decreed Information Act of 1982 which noted that freedom of information could not be expected to end all differences of opin ion within the community or to sink major political issues but when applied systematically can lead to narrow differences of opinion, enlarge the effectiveness of policies adopted and strengthen public confidence in the system (Pateman, 2010).Improved decision making processPast researches indicate that decisions that are made public due to right to information laws are more presumable to be based on objective and justifiable reasons. For example, the Australian law reform commission and administration Review Council in 1997 found out that freedom of information Act has had a marked impact on the way people make decisions and record information. The fit out observed that since the enforcement of the right to information to all, decision makers focused on the need to base decisions on relevant information.Reduce danger of human rights violationsRight to information to improve the enforcement of many an(prenominal) economic and political rights is greatly enhanced. For example, I n Thailand, a mother whose daughter was denied entry into an elite state school demanded the schools entrance exam results. When she was turned down, she appealed to the Information Commission Courts. In the end, she obtained information showing that children of influential people were accepted into the school even if they got low scores. This compelled the council of state to issue an order that all schools accept students completely on merit. In addition, access to individual records ensures such records are accurate and decisions are not based on out-of-date or irrelevant information. The right to information has other advantages that include exposing corruption, making government and the economy more efficient uncover mismanagement of food supplies making economic shortages less ilkly and expose environmental hazards that threaten health and livelihoods.Aspects of Information ExclusionLiteracy levels and language of publicationsLevels of literacy and the predominance of princi pal world languages such as English as the language of printed and online information are elements of exclusion. Many oral communities are not able to make meaning by moveion with printed resources, and hence are unable to participate in the envisaged information society. Those oral communities consider interaction with information resources as a one way communication system, quite a discontinuous with indigenous forms of communication. To tackle this challenge of literacy, TLS, which is the major public library in Tanzania, through various reading campaigns, provides opportunities for communities to enhance their reading and information seeking habits, and therefore sustain literacy. It is all the way known that, an informed individual has more advantages on proper decision towards development issue compared to a illiterate.Physical Access to librariesAccording to Kiondo (1998) distance from the library is a crucial factor in its use. The nearer the library, the more people wil l use it and the further it is away the less people will use it. Their research on Camel libraries affirmed this when the findings indicated that more users were within a distance of 1km from where public library services were being offered. Many libraries in Tanzania are voiceless in cities and major towns in Tanzania. This leaves the remote parts of the country excluded from access to information that is crucial for the communities to make informed decisions (Jemo, 2008) as an example from Kenya. Over the years, the judicature of Tanzania through the Tanzania Library Services (TLS) has tried to eliminate this kind of exclusion by opening community and mobile libraries. Currently, TLS has over 50 branches spread countrywide. However, more than more needs to be done because there are still large populations in exclusion that need to be included. Thus, among the 26 regions in Tanzania, there are still many districts where such libraries have not yet been established. It should be noted that Tanzania economy is backed on agriculture, of which are found in coarse areas (districts).Challenged PersonsThe functional public libraries in Tanzania were not designed keeping in mind the needs of the physically and visually challenged information users. This disadvantaged group form party of the society that needs information to enable them participate in all areas of national development. They also need to be sensitized more on their rights something that can happen only if they have access to relevant information.ICT skillsMany public libraries today have developed to what we call hybrid face providing both print and electronic resources, while putting more emphasis on electronic resources due to their ability to be accessed by multiple users concurrently. light ICT skills and support to use electronic resources is however a significant factor in preventing certain persons from accessing information in Tanzania. Potential information users in many of the disadvant aged groups are often prevented from making use of ICTs because of low levels of computing and technology skills. This challenge is made more complex by attitudinal barriers with some excluded citizens pointing out that computers are for brainy people, for males, for the young and are difficult to use (Muddiman et al, 2001). Others feel that computers are unsafe because of the amount of unsuitable material on the internet (Botha et al, 2002,p. 22). hike research has indicated some disparities between male and female use in ICTs with access to the internet by male counterparts being greater in developing countries than female (United Nations , 2000). This has had serious implications, especially for women in the participation of national and global economic growth.ConnectivityThough internet facilities are fairly spread in Tanzania like any other country in East Africa, there is remarkable concentration in urban centres with institutions far remote from cities experiencing difficult ies in getting company (Mutula,2002), an evidence of low level of exclusion with regard to ICT network. Hence appropriate technology for rural and disadvantaged communities is lacking. Even in the areas where communities are connected and have the skill to access online information they face another challenge of low speed internet and limited bandwidth. For example, to open a document to read takes quite a while because of the snail speed of the internet.FundingThe planning, executing and implementation of any programme requires considerable financial support. However, the extent of financial support whether at local government or provincial government level in developing countries and particularly in Tanzania, has not always been consistent (Raju, 1995, p.194). Survey findings of the public library sector in Tanzania revealed inadequate funding and the consequential negative impact on important aspects of public library provision (Leach, 1998). A catalogue drawn up by the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) and directed at various ministers noted that the public library services have been steadily declining and deteriorating as a result of legislative and funding issues resulting from restructuring of government at national and provincial levels. Public library funding challenges were further emphasized by Ford (2004) who pointed out that funding is one of the major challenges for public libraries around the world. Without adequate funds, public libraries are not able to acquire adequacy information resources to meet the needs of an inclusive society.Bridging the Information Gap and the Way ForwardLibrarians as Information providers can make available a variety of information collections which can be used from various physical public library location. A range of publications and access formats can be accommodated, from remote login catalogues and indexes to provision of electronic copies of entire collection or works, in print or ot her formats (Muddiman etal, 2001).Librarians have knowledge and experiences to build a well-balanced collection to meet social, political and economic interests of the society. This can be enhanced by giving special consideration in provision of information to predominantly oral rural communities in Tanzania.Librarians need to shift focus on documents and focus on information seekers. Traditional librarianship has been based on selecting materials to fill public library shelves and then wait for information seekers to visit the facility in search of information. On the contrary, in order for the library personnel to effectively meet information seekers divers(a) life needs, the information services have to be informed by the communities in which the libraries operate, and information needs to be based on regular sagacity processes.Repackaging the product of orality is essential considering that communities are rich with information that is in oral form that needs to be captured an d repackaged (manuscripts and print) in the appropriate media such as video, digital photos, and tapes in a collaborative and ethical manner. This should be based on the understanding of the communities to which the information service is being provided.Librarians should become researchers to enable them to frequently interact with library users and prompt them to define their information needs. It is the responsibility of the librarian to then prioritize highly relevant information from a pool of interesting information according to user preferences (Kenny, 2002). In addition, the librarian should identify through community profiles and other methodologies such as needs analysis, all groups and individuals that are socially excluded or are at risk of information exclusion for inclusion.Librarians should effectively play the role of a reference and referral information manager. This will involve directing members of the knowledge community to outside information when appropriate and maintain high level information about sources outside the community (ibid). A reference librarian needs to be widely knowledgeable in terms of resources and where they can be found for use and appropriately directing information seekers to relevant information resources.Librarians through their professional Associations such as Tanzania Library Association (TLA) should establish a Council Committee on social information exclusion. This Council would be charged with the responsibility of high spot the plight of those socially excluded, draw up strategies on narrowing the exclusion gap and come up with progress reports. The Council should actively engage the socially excluded people through involving them in the planning, implementation and monitoring of services through performance indicators and targets to measure success achieved in tackling social exclusion.The image and identity of a public library is also an important factor when discussing social inclusion matters. The connot ation of some of the public library name calling is unwelcoming. The librarian can positively enchant this by considering local measures such as renaming the libraries, (for example Community resource centres, Idea stores and many more). This is in line with Ward (1996) idea of changing names of libraries when he pointed out that the term mobile information delivery systems is more appropriate than the mobile libraries.The rebranding of a traditional public library name gives it a new image that is proactive, friendly, relevant and easily accessible environment. Other library practices and procedures should be reviewed to ensure they are not barriers to information access. For instance, procedures of becoming public library members should not be over-bureaucratic. Librarians should also establish more self-help public access terminal to overcome barriers to use experienced by some excluded potential information users.Librarians need to be careful when planning for new public librar ies. Priority should be given to those libraries serving communities in greatest need. Relocation and collocation with community centres, schools, leisure centres and other centres used by socially excluded people should be considered in order to improve the impact of public libraries in tackling social exclusion (Pateman, 2010). Working with neighbouring authorities to effectively deliver services to socially excluded communities may be an appropriate action for librarians to take.Collection development needs to be critically examined to ensure that it is comprehensive enough and relevant to the community which the library serves. The policy should be based on the needs and interests of local potential information users, reflecting vicissitude of society as well as define purpose, scope and content of the collection (Kinya, 2011). Librarians also need to liaise with material suppliers (writers, publishers, booksellers etc.) to identify the range of materials available for socially excluded people and gaps in that provision.To remain relevant, Librarians should draw up ICT plans outlining how the needs of those excluded communities and individuals are to be prioritized (Jemo, 2008).Take a case in Kenya Mutula (2002, p.3) puts it that wider Internet connectivity can enhance Kenyas economic growth meaning more people spending more time on the Internet and many organizations using the Internet to do blood and creation of many technical related jobs. It is therefore the responsibility of librarians to improve connectivity, increase access, through use of multiple competing technologies, public and community access points, and sacramental manduction of best practices. Public library human resources should also be developed through ICT trainings, enhanced awareness of decision makers, and expansion of ICT learning opportunities to the rural, poor, and disenfranchised (Wolff , 2005).The incomingIn the context of a government that wishes to give a higher profile t o information access, we need to raise critical questions about policies and the role of information access in reducing social exclusion. The emphasis on joined-up thinking at least recognizes the complexities of social and cultural life, and moves citizens away from over simplistic notions about the causes of poverty, unemployment, racism and other forms of discrimination. Librarians need to be aware of making simplistic assumptions, especially when there is prior experience upon which to draw their information decisions for the benefit of the citizenry. disrespect their different epistemological bases, it is possible to be argued that there can be no social inclusion unless there is social exclusion. The elimination of social exclusion as a practical activity is unachievable. Moreover, seeking to promote social inclusion heighten awareness of difference and social exclusion. In this sense, we need to understand that non-exclusion is not the same as inclusion, and that we must avoi d taking away the freedom of those who choose not to be included.ConclusionThe social information exclusion in public libraries in Tanzania is real. Therefore along term effort to meet the needs of the excluded and vulnerable society with a commitment to improved information structures will contribute to meeting the information needs of the excluded information seekers in public libraries. This will only be achieved if there is improved and well organise information infrastructure. Regular information user surveys reviews will go a long way in minimizing information provision exclusion and subsequently increase inclusion of information services and programs. Librarians in Tanzania therefore have a greater opportunity to make meaningful contribution to the realization of comprehensive information inclusion.