School libraries and their role in promoting a reading culture: Case study of Caprivi, Omusati, Omaheke, Karas and Khomas regions of Namibia
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Date
2012
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
The importance of school libraries cannot be overemphasized. This paper is based on
a study on school libraries in Namibia which was conducted by the University of Namibia,
Department of Information and Communication Studies from July 2009 to February 2010.
The study covered five of Namibia's thirteen regions, namely Caprivi, Omusati, Omaheke,
Karas and Khomas. The study employed a qualitative and quantitative research design
using a triangulation of data collection methods including surveys, interviews, focus group
discussions, and observation. Some of the questions the study aimed to answer were, "What
is the state of school libraries?" and "What is their role in promoting a reading culture in
Namibia?"
The World Bank (2008, p. xxi) describes how effective school libraries can be as "they
provide additional reading opportunities for students, which in turn improve reading skills,
comprehension and writing clarity of expressions, which in turn support student performance
in all other curriculum subjects. Although the study showed the existence of libraries in all the
schools; more than Bo per cent of these were not adequately resourced in terms of reading
materials, equipment, and stafj1ng. The study also established that although learners said that
they liked reading there was no strong library programme to inculcate a reading culture in the
learners. A number of other factors can contribute to a good or bad reading culture. These
include the language of instruction and home/family environment. In Namibia, a 2011 report
of the education system audit notes that proficiency in English, the language of instruction is
below basic. The study concluded that the majority of school libraries in Namibia are not in a
position to provide the benefits described by the Word Bank above. This is evidenced by the
fact that there is a high failure rate in Namibian schools. The small percentage of schools with
libraries that were well run happened to have a good pass rate but in these cases the libraries
were also adequately resourced, equipped and staffed.
Description
Keywords
School, Libraries, Promoting, Khomas, Reading, Karas, Namibia
Citation
Nengomasha, C. T., and others. 2012. School libraries and their ro)e iri pro moting a reading culture. Journal for Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences 1(1):159-171.