Zambezia (1981), IX (i).LIBRARIES FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT;THE ZIMBABWE CASEC. K. NYANGONIParliament of ZimbabweTHIS ARTICLE IS not concerned with the history of particular libraries inZimbabwe; rather, it centres oo the role that libraries and librarians can play in thesocio-economic reconstruction and development of the country. In the fast-changing circumstances in which we live the desire for the creation of a trulynational public library service is, amongst other things, a primary concern.A PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICEA public library service is an integral part of a country's general progress.It is one of the most efficient means of acquiring, organizing and making availableon a democratic basis informational and educational materials. This is particularlyapplicable to a nation the population of which has had little or no formaleducational opportunity; for these are the people who, to a large degree, must maketheir new governments work and must understand and control the great social andtechnological changes taking place so rapidly. With insufficient schools andteachers even for the children, there is little chance that formal educationalopportunities will be available to many adults. Libraries have a major role to play infilling this gap.In developing African nations like Zimbabwe no library has such an importantcontribution to make as the public library. No other library takes books to thepeople through a network of service points. It reaches the largest and smallestcommunities and it makes contact with the individual reader. No other person is soskilled as the public librarian in assessing the reading needs of the people.Moreover, the children's book service of a good library is capable of bringing greatriches to the developing mind and such a service has already proved its value inmany African countries.Democracy demands that the masses, the source of authority, should be wellinformed about all important matters. Although many are receiving this instructionin schools, the work of schools cannot be complete without the backing of libraries.Libraries are an indispensable companion to formal education. The public librarymust give persons of all ages the chance to keep abreast with their times in allmatters: 'By offering them, impartially, works representing conflicting points ofview, it enables them to form their own opinions and preserve that attitude ofconstructive criticism towards public affairs without which there is no freedom.'l170.A. Maurois, "Public libraries and their mission", UNESCO Bulletin for Libraries (1961), XV,4950 LIBRARIES FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTWe in this country have reached a point where books in quantity are necessaryfor our cultural, social, educational and political development. We are at a pointwhere concerted effort is needed, and past the point where progress is dependent onthe work of an educated minority. Judgement and knowledge will be wanted moreand more from the masses, and for that the spread of literacy must be accompaniedby the greater availability of reading materials. Yet Zimbabwe does not have apublic library system in the true sense. The main weaknesses of the present system,inherited from the former colonial set-up, are that it is entirely of a subscriptionnature and serves mainly the urban areas. The subscription system, outdated andoutmoded as it is, is contrary to the concept of a truly public library system; worsestill, it is also contrary to the socialist ideals of the creation of an egalitarian societyenvisaged by our new Government The present system cannot serve the interestsof Zimbabwe. Free access to recorded knowledge and information should be theright of every citizen. Public libraries should provide free services to people whoneed them, as a benefit subsidized by public funds. The majority of potential usersare not able to pay directly for the services. Some local authorities argue thatlibraries could be self-supporting financially if membership is on a subscriptionbasis. Such a view does not take into consideration the negative effects that this hason membership, especially on the lower income groups which are predominantlyAfrican. Administrators are urged to consider seriously the adverse effect such asystem has on the nation's socio-economic reconstruction and development. Ourlending-library service, including the postal service, should be completely withoutcharges, deposits or subscriptions. A completely free service is of urgent necessityif the whole community is to benefit from the service.At present, our libraries function separately from one another and without anygeneral plan. Such a situation is very unsatisfactory. Countries like Zambia,Botswana, Tanzania, Sierra Leone and Ghana have realized that their educationalprogrammes need to be supplemented by programmes for widespread access tobooks and have incorporated such programmes in their national developmentplans. Even though technical difficulties have slowed down the implementation ofsome of these programmes, they have nevertheless made an important stepforward; in fact, they have made spectacular achievements. There is absolutely noreason why Zimbabwe should not follow their example.An efficient and effective library service should be carefully prepared as part ofour country's general educational development plan. Planning should be at anational level so as to provide equal standards throughout the country. As a firststep towards attaining uniformity all public libraries should come under theMinistry of Education and Culture, which should appoint a public librariesadvisory committee or board for the complete overhaul of the existing system. Thisprocess will involve, among other things, appointing a qualified and experiencedlibrarian to take charge of the task and the preparation of legislation, a necessarystep towards ensuring the acceptance of the need for libraries and the implementa-tion of any plans. The national library service board should concern itself withC. K. NYANG0N151every aspect of library development It should also examine the UNESCO PublicLibraries Manifesto as a possible basis for library policy. It should also offerguidance on book-selection policy, staffing and financial matters. Central controlof the national public library services is thus desirable.LIBRARIES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENTAs is the pattern in Africa, Zimbabwe's population is mostly rural. Emphasis forlibrary services must, therefore, be placed on rural areas where the mass of thepeople live. No doubt, population dispersion is a problem in supplying libraries, butevery community has, or should have, a point where people converge for variouseconomic or social activities, where should be placed a library and literacy centre,which should also have radio and television. Libraries should therefore be set up inaccordance with the settlement and movement patterns of the people. Book-boxesand mobile libraries should serve the outlying areas.Books should not be status symbols for the privileged few only. One of thedisadvantages that the rural worker has compared to Ms urban counterpart is thelack of library facilities. Hence he is less informed while his urban counterpart,through the use of library facilities, is able to qualify for better jobs, attain higheracademic and professional qualifications and is generally better informed. Therural dweller thus desperately needs libraries to improve his lot. If rural areas aremade attractive there will be an added advantage of checking the movement to theurban areas and all its social consequences.LIBRARIES AND LITERACYIn Africa illiteracy is a special problem which educational and development planscannot afford to ignore. An illiterate cannot play a full part in the social andeconomic development of his country. He will not understand his country's socio-economic and constitutional processes.Oral communication has been used by authorities carrying out political, health,agricultural, religious, and community education in rural areas. But this method isnot as effective as the printed word. The ability to read and write is asine qua non offull citizenship and the right to education is one of the fundamental rights of man.The level of a country's socio-economic development depends very much on thereading ability of its people: 'A reading nation is a well-informed nation. It cannotbe easily cheated or exploited'.2In Zimbabwe 40 per cent of the African adult population is functionallyilliterate. Such a high rate should be a cause for concern to every librarian. Atpresent most of the libraries' prospective book-borrowers are recruited mainlythrough the school system. Yet there is a tendency by some librarians to assume aliterate public. Even if education becomes free and compulsory in future, up to, say,2 P. J. Mhaiki, 'Libraries are assets in national development', in A. Wallenius (ed.), Libraries inEast Africa (Uppsala, Scandinavian Institute of African Studies, 1971), 130.52 LIBRARIES FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTGrade Seven, libraries will be in a unique position to further the education of thosewho drop out. But libraries and books will not be of much importance to a majoritywho are not able to read.Developments elsewhere have proved that illiteracy is a temporary problem.Russia, where in 1897 only 25 per cent of the population could read and write,provides the most outstanding example of effective Government action against itBy 1959 Russia's literacy rate had risen to 98.5 per cent. In Ghana and Tanzanialiteracy programmes have been integral to rural development projects. Nearerhome, Botswana's efforts to reduce illiteracy are yielding remarkable results.3Since the inception of UNESCO in 1946 a world-wide campaign to eradicateilliteracy has been at the forefront of its activities. In 1964 the Abidjan Conferencewas held on the planning and organization of literacy programmes in Africa. Nowthat Zimbabwe has been re-admitted to the international community the countryshould be represented at such conferences.To date, Zimbabwe does not have an official Government programme for theeradication of illiteracy. It can only be eradicated if planning is on a nationwidescale, even if the programme is to be carried out regionally. The need forGovernment legislation is, therefore, essential. Such a public declaration of policydoes not mean that the efforts of other agencies are excluded from this battle.Voluntary non-govemmental agencies such as the Adult Literacy Organization(ALO), religious bodies, trade unions, industrial and commercial organizations,can play an impressive role provided they operate within a planned Governmentpolicy, which must be widely publicized. With such public commitment there is noreason why illiteracy cannot be eradicated in less than the time, seventeen years,suggested in the Whitsun Foundation programme.4Libraries and librarians should also be involved in the literacy campaign. Thevalue of the professional support librarians can give to others cannot be over-emphasized. Librarians, like teachers, are concerned about the disturbing socialeffects of illiteracy. It is also important to note that a truly national library service canonly be created by improving the standard of literacy. People receiving tuition inreading skills are potential users of the library and must, therefore, be the librarians'concern. There is need for libraries and librarians to have close contact withliteracy and other agencies in their efforts to cope with adults learning to read, writeor spell. Public libraries, especially in the rural areas, should be used as literacycentres if they are to play an effective part in the campaign. The public library hasparticular value in relation to educational work, not only because of its widespreadaccessibility but also because of its general acceptability at all levels of society. But3 S, M. Made, 'Reading and Library Facilities in Botswana: A Study of the Existing Facilitiesaftd Proposals for Their Future Development' (London, Library Association, unpubl. Fellowshipthesis, 1977), 169.4 Whitsun Foundation, Adult Literacy Programme: An Appraisal of the Adult LiteracyOrganization of Rhodesia and a Plan to Mount a National Adult Literacy Training Programme(Salisbury, The Foundation, 1978), 47.C. K. NYANG0N153the role of the library and its staff must be clear from the outset; it should be merelysupportive, to collect, organize and disseminate information concerning literacy.National literacy campaigns should, in turn, seek the co-operation of libraries. It istherefore important that there be good libraries to back up the development of theliteracy campaign.LIBRARIES AND ADULT EDUCATIONThe type of adult education envisaged is very different from that of developedcountries where it is regarded as a process of continuing the education of thealready educated. Ours is, or should be, concerned with educating the masses, mostof them having very little formal education, and providing them with readingfacilities.The main emphasis of our type of adult education should be on ruralreconstruction and development Courses should include agricultural techniquesand crafts, health education, housecrafts, simple economics and accounting,political education and civics. Priority should be given to programmes that are inline with the country's development plans and needs. The local University'sInstitute of Adult Education should be called upon to play a greater role thanbefore, providing facilities for a greater number of adult educators.If a revolutionary programme of adult education is to be undertaken then booksshould be regarded as essential. The need for libraries to meet the requirements ofthe various teaching programmes will have to be recognized. Adult educationshould be closely allied to adult literacy programmes.MANPOWERLack of skills can be a great constraint on expansion. Developing countriesgenerally face a great shortage of qualified librarians. Well trained librarians holdthe key to the future development of libraries and library services in Zimbabwe. Noplanned development programme can begin without suitably trained personnel,particularly as Europeans who at present hold most of the key posts may leave, andreliance on expatriates, in their place, is extremely dangerous, for the supplier canput a ceiling on the amount of manpower aid it is willing to give, as Britain did toZambia in 1968.5 Furthermore, because of the financial implications and the factthat expatriates are not acquainted with local circumstances, the hiring of suchpeople should be avoided as much as possible.Localization is a difficult matter but it will be more difficult if trained andexperienced locals, particularly at the middle level, are few. Recruiting foreignexperts at fantastic cost would contribute to underdevelopment.Too much dependence on imported manpower is only one symptom of ascarcity of skilled manpower. However, our country has an abundant supply of5 R. Jolly, Skilled Manpower as a Constraint to Development in Zambia (Brighton, Univ. ofSussex, Inst of Development Studies, Communications Series 48, 1970), 2.54 LIBRARIES FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTeducated manpower compared with neighbouring countries at their independence.Recruitment to the profession of librarianship should not therefore be as much of aproblem as it was in such countries as Botswana.6 If our library service is tocontinue to grow the need for permanent staff with the right qualifications cannot beover-emphasized. Before any plan can be operated, there is need for trainedlibrarians. Training can be partly abroad, but eventually the problem of trainingwithin the country itself must be faced.Libraries will not run efficiently without qualified librarians, and one way toobtain them is to establish training courses. The status of the librarian depends onmany factors, but high academic and professional qualifications are of paramountimportance. Efforts to develop library services can be costly failures withoutproper personnel A generous training scheme for producing qualified personnel isa pre-requisite. There is a tendency to push into the background the question of stafftraining, with disastrous consequences. Some argue that training should not beundertaken until adequate funds for library development have been secured. But itis important to note that there should always be staff to implement any schemewhen money becomes available. Manpower planning should be related to thecountry's objectives. A comparative study of library manpower development inother developing countries, particularly in Africa, should be undertaken. Aproperly planned programme of staff training, closely related to projected futurestaff needs and to the proposed library service scheme is needed. It is as necessaryto plan for training as to plan for the libraries themselves.A working party on manpower needs and library education should be establishedurgently. A programme of staff training at all levels should be begun. A sound localtraining school orientated to suit our own particular needs, including research andrelated fields, must be regarded as essential. Locally orientated institutions havelong been realized elsewhere in Africa: East Africa in 1960, Ghana in 1966 andZambia in 1967; Botswana started a training programme in 1979.7Currently, the only form of local training worthy of note is the one-year City &Guilds part-time library assistants' course conducted in both Salisbury andBulawayo. This offers only the rudiments of librarianship and is available only tolibrary assistants working in the two cities. It is regrettable that some authoritieshave argued against the establishment of a School of Librarianship at theUniversity of Zimbabwe because very few professional posts are available in thecountry. This is a negative approach to development The shortage of professionalsis clearly evident It is therefore obvious that a properly planned programme oftraining is urgently needed. However, while plans are being worked out for thecreation of a school of librarianship at the University, it would be proper to appoint6 J. S. Parker, Botswana National Library Service: The First Three Years: A Report on theEstablishment and Development of the... Services from November 1966 to October 1969 (Gaborone,Botswana National Library Service, 1969), 3.7 Botswana National Library Service, Library Newsletter and Accessions List (1978), III, 3,C. K. NYANGONi55a person to take charge of in-service training within the library service. It is verydifficult to give proper in-service training if libraries are understaffed. In themeantime, too, bursaries could be awarded to citizens to train elsewhere.Zimbabwe has only a handful of qualified patriate librarians, and they havereceived their training elsewhere.STATUS AND PROFESSIONALISMThe smallness of the number of professionally qualified librarians is indicative ofthe low status given to librarianship as a profession in Zimbabwe. Recruitment tothe service of persons of the right calibre and possessing suitable academicqualifications is dependent upon many factors, not the least of which is theexistence of a sufficient number of salaried posts to make librarianship aworthwhile profession. The status and salaries of librarians should be improved,bringing them into line with other professions. Considering the importance of theplace of libraries in the general educational and economic development of thecountry and the need to attract staff of the highest calibre, the Government shouldensure that librarians are accorded guarantees of career possibilities and salariescommensurate with their qualifications and responsibilities, making it a professionworthy to rank alongside other traditional professions.Those in charge of library services may complain that they are unable to findyoung recruits in sufficient numbers to ensure the proper functioning of theirservices. The fact is that prospects for young people taking up librarianship are notas good as in other professions, and the same applies to chances of promotion.Other professions offer greater material advantages, and this explains why giftedyoung people, discouraged by slow advancement in a library career begun withenthusiasm, may abandon it for other professions. It is therefore necessary toestablish uniform conditions of recruitment, promotion and remuneration, equatingthem with other professions. Unless this is done it may not be easy to retain theservices of qualified librarians, let alone recruit others to meet the challenge ofdevelopmentLEGISLATIONIf our library service is to be placed on a proper footing then legislation is importantToday, there is no general legislation to enforce the provision and development oflibrary services in Zimbabwe. Such a situation has contributed very much to thehaphazard nature of our library service. A comparative study of library legislationin other developing countries, particularly in Africa, should be undertaken in orderto produce legislation best suited to local conditions. Among other things, theGovernment should legislate for the establishment and development of a nationallibrary service according to set standards; for a National Library Service Boardresponsible to the Minister responsible for libraries; and for the creation of anational scheme aiming at a free service.The Kenya Library Service Board Act (1965), which came into force on 1April 1967, was designed to promote, establish, equip, manage, maintain and56 LIBRARIES FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTdevelop libraries in the country. Previously, libraries were mainly of thesubscription type which, as here, were confined to the main towns and wereintended principally for non-Africans.8 Legislation has since changed the situation,Tanzania, through its 1963 and 1975 Acts, has created a splendid nationwidelibrary service.9 This is progressive legislation which serves as a lesson.The national library board should have the powers to create and develop libraryservices throughout the country. Each administrative region should be represented,as should the University, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the ZimbabweLibrary Association. The board would appoint a chief librarian responsible interalia for drafting a national development plan to be approved by the board and theGovernmentFINANCEDeveloping a national public library service involves large sums of money. Lack offunds can seriously hamper the development plans and the training schemesenvisaged. Developing countries elsewhere, from circumstances beyond theircontrol, are forced towards international assistance for development. In the field ofeducation, libraries included, UNESCO is always ready to assist The Rockefeller,Carnegie and Ford Foundations may be called upon, as well as friendlyGovernments. But, whatever foreign aid may be available it must not have anystrings attached nor must it be for prestigious projects. Too many aid programmesserve a political rather than a professional purpose. There is a danger that somecountries or organizations may offer aid with some sinister ulterior motives. All toooften development aid has promoted programmes that have by-passed thebasic needs of the people. This may lead, quite rightly, to dispensing withdevelopment aid altogether.International aid to a particular country for any project is likely to be limited inextent Whatever foreign aid Zimbabwe may get will not be enough for all itsreconstruction and development needs, library programmes included. The bulk ofthe cost of such programmes must be borne by the country itself; finance must begenerated internally for such purposes. This means that those in 'the corridors ofpower', including those directing economic planning and finance, must beconvinced that such programmes have high priority in the allocation of scarcefunds, that they are of relevance to national plans for development, and that themoney so invested will be spent in ways which will provide a maximum profitablereturn. But the previous Government's remarkable omission of any reference tolibraries in its five-year national development plan announced in 1979 is a cause forgreat concern. It is hoped that the new Government will correct this situation.While on the question of finance, it is necessary to reflect on the question of8 F, O. Pala, 'The Kenya national library service', in Wallenius, Libraries in East Africa, 32.9K. C. Harrison, The Importance and Relevance of Librarianship for Developing Countries(London, The Commonwealth Foundation, Occasional Paper 33), 9.C, K. NYANGONI57private support Many of us underestimate the contribution that we can make asindividuals or organizations towards the development of our country. But it isimportant to realize that many libraries, especially in the Western world, havebenefited from the generosity of private individuals and organizations. Zimbabwemay well have potential benefactors such as Bishop Aglionby of Ghana, Karanjeeof the Tanganyika Library Board, William Ewart of England, Von Rauner ofGermany, and Andrew Carnegie and J. Passmore of the United States of America,who have sacriiced their energy and resources for the promotion and developmentof libraries in their own countries.10 Zimbabwe has many well-to-do people of allraces who are generous, but have not been stimulated, sufficiently, into contributingtowards the development of the country's libraries. Among the very few examplesof those who have is S. H. Leake, whose generosity led to the establishment of theMarandellas Children's Library. This is a challenge to all of us. Consider the hugesums of money lavished in celebrations in beer drinking! Most of this could be put tobetter use in financing library development if the public is made to understand its rolein national development What determines our success or failure as a developingcountry is the amount we can raise internally and how we use it Development aid willbring much success only if it helps us to achieve progress through our own efforts.INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSContact with other national and major library organizations would be of value foradvice and assistance and in making the aims and needs of Zimbabwe's libraryservices more widely known. Contact, both formal and informal, should beresuscitated with friendly countries now that conditions permit. The InternationalFederation of Library Associations (I.F.L.A.), the Commonwealth LibraryAssociation (COMLA), and the Standing Conference on National and UniversityLibraries (SCONUL), among others, are very important international organiza-tions, membership of which Zimbabwean librarians should seek. It should be themoral responsibility of the Government to see that they join so that the ZimbabweLibrary Association (Z.L. A.) can have contact through attendance at conferences.It is useful for them to meet and share ideas with other librarians from various partsof the world. By so doing they may realize that Zimbabwe's problems are notunique. They may also leam from other countries' experiences.THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARYNo consideration of library development in Zimbabwe would be complete withoutmention of the University Library. As a service department, it has a prime functionand responsibility to meet the teaching and research needs of its parent institution.But, as elsewhere in Africa, the library is expected to give its services to a widercommunity.10 C. Kigongo-Bukenya, 'The public libraries board in Uganda', in Wallenius, Libraries in EastAfrica, 160.58LIBRARIES FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTBy far the largest library in the country, it serves our only university andemploys the largest number of qualified librarians. By virtue of this it should offerfacilities for training librarians as soon as possible. If librarianship is to bedeveloped as a career open to many, a full-time school of librarianship should beestablished at the University. Plans for such a school should be worked out urgentlyinstead of waiting for a well-established library service to come into being.CONCLUSIONIt is easy to say that the major problem facing the envisaged library developmentprogramme is lack of funds. On the surface of it this looks so, but lack of money isnot the sole barrier to progress. The major barrier is an attitude of mind on the partof officialdom. It needs to be convinced of the importance of a national publiclibrary service and of the role libraries play in cultural and educational progress.This will come about when libraries cease to be regarded as storehouses.There is need for propaganda and demonstration, propaganda to change theattitude of those in authority. This can best be done by the librarians themselves. Inorder to obtain adequate financial backing from the economic planners, librariansmust make clear their contribution to educational progress in the new Zimbabweansociety. It is also necessary to demonstrate what public libraries can do and how thepublic can respond to progressive measures.The problems to be faced are many and varied and we should not deludeourselves into thinking that they will easily be overcome, that time will solve them,or worst of all, that the current situation is satisfactory. Far from it. There is noroom for complacency, yet there is cause for optimism. For on the credit side aretwo factors of enormous importance: the enthusiasm and devotion of manylibrarians, and the great response from the readers which can be forecast when theyare provided with a real public library service.Developments elsewhere in Africa have shown that the first years ofindependence have been years of rapid transformation. These are the crucial yearsfor planning and laying foundations for a new society. The myth that good librariesare a luxury of rich countries has been destroyed by the examples of neighbouringcountries, most of which are poorer than our own and where appreciable resultshave been obtained in recent years. It is therefore a challenge to our newGovernment, with its progressive socialist policies, to provide the framework forthe development of a truly national public library service.