Illiterate people are disadvantaged and disempowered in today’s global information society. They are unable to fulfil their potential and take part fully in society. Libraries are vital to sustain literacy, yet most poor communities in Africa lack access to them, while those that do exist tend to be poorly resourced.

Policymakers and donors have recognised the link between poverty reduction and literacy. Policies aimed at increasing literacy are giving prominence to textbooks and student achievement, yet textbooks are a beginning. Libraries can supply reusable resources to develop and maintain literacy on a cost effective basis for an entire community. They provide practical information that can encourage development, including job-seeking, knowledge of rights, acquiring new skills and gaining health information.

A study by Book Aid International looks at the role libraries in Africa play in relation to two areas: literacy and enabling people to access relevant and useful information to enhance knowledge. Based on a survey of library networks in Malawi, Uganda, Somaliland, Tanzania and Kenya, the study lists findings and key challenges for libraries and information centres in Africa, including:

• Lack of government investment means that most library services are unable to achieve full coverage of the population. Most libraries are city-based yet most people live in rural areas where there are very few libraries.
• Community libraries are a popular strategy for library services tackling the major challenge of how to prioritise their limited resources to target the poor.
• In areas where literacy levels are low, information resources must be appropriate for members of varying literacy levels. People surveyed said basic pamphlets and audio-visual materials could help the semi-literate, but funding is scarce.
• In many African countries, the local publishing industry is not well developed and tends to focus on school textbooks, leaving little resources for development information and books in local languages.

The report makes a range of recommendations for library networks, governments and aid donors on how to create libraries that could make a difference in the lives of poor people, including the following:

• The state must employ a sufficient number of skilled and committed library and information workers to create strong information centres and innovative services targeting the poor.
• Libraries must network with a range of organisations to place themselves centrally with regard to education, information and culture, and link with development agencies to gain access to a wide range of development information and literacy materials.
• Developing country governments must design and implement information policies that ensure all people can benefit from using information and knowledge for development.
• Governments need to establish links and partnerships between the public and private sectors and civil society organisations to co-ordinate information.
• Education policies must prioritise the establishment of literate environments in all rural and urban communities to ensure that people do not revert to illiteracy once their formal education is over.

Source(s):
‘Libraries, Literacy and Poverty Reduction: a Key to African Development’, Book Aid International, by Kingo Mchombu and Nicola Cadbury, 2006 Full document.

Funded by: Book Aid International and the Commonwealth Foundation

id21 Research Highlight: 9 February 2007

Further Information:
Nicola Cadbury
Book Aid International
39-41 Coldharbour Lane
London SE5 9NR
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)20 7733 3577
Fax: +44 (0)20 7978 8006
Contact the contributor: Nicola.cadbury@bookaid.org

Book Aid International

Other related links:
'Literacy empowers women in Bihar'

'Literacy skills – proven pathway out of poverty'

'Effective adult literacy programmes reveal what works'

'Time to get serious about meeting the literacy challenge'

id21 education highlights 1 'literacy' (PDF)

id21 education highlights 2 'literacy' (PDF)