Morula Community Library

Esther Retief, Unisa Library Johanna Mogale, Morula Community Library

Contents   A.

B.

Morula Community Library, Mabopane Success factors

Morula Community Library Mabopane Section A

Morula Community Library  The library was launched on 11 June 2005

Main reason for developing a community library

Morula Community Library  Situated on the premises of Morula Sun Casino & Hotel North West of Pretoria in Mabopane

Library staff    1 Professional Librarian 1 Relief staff member (a trained librarian) 2 Volunteers helping during peak times

The library  The floor area of the library is 115 m 2.

The library  The library has a reception area, Librarian’s office, a library room divided by bookshelves, and a separate reading section.

Information resources       About 10,000 items 5 computers, 4 Printers 3 scanners 1 fax Study tables

Number of regular clients About 250 clients per month

6% 12%

Age

5% 1% 32% 44% Under 10 10-17 years 18-24 25-29 30-39 40+

Reasons for visiting the library  Clients mainly visit the library for study (38%) and research purposes (33%).

Bulletin board

Information literacy     Basic library skills (indexes, encyclopaedias, dictionaries) Mouse and keyboard skills Introduction to the Internet Research on the Internet

New developments  Accommodate Unisa student loans; Unisa assignment box) (MyUnisa; Electronic databases; Courier service between Morula Community Library and Unisa Muckleneuk campus; Interlibrary

Immediate needs    Children’s literature (primary and secondary school learners) CD-ROMs: encyclopaedias, specific topics (e.g. geography, biology and science) Grades 11 and 12 text books and study guides

Success factors Section B

Be enthusiastic   One highly motivated professional librarian A librarian who is a trusted and valued member of the community

Have a vision and share it      See the need Decide that you can meet the need Be willing to seek help from the outside Know that, in the long run, you have to do it yourself A community’s future is in the hands of those who live there

Plan    Have a development plan and review it annually The plan should determine the budget The plan reflects your beliefs – share it with appropriate persons

Accessible library    Busses Taxis Train station (6.5 km)

Relationships    Build personal relationships (clients, community leaders) Involve the local community in the development of the library from its earliest stage Partner with appropriate libraries, institutions/organisations

Meet the need   Know your community and their information needs Provide reference and other information resources in demand

Meet the need  Provide study facilities as the majority of the users do not have space, electricity or privacy at home

Know your community    Residential population of Mabopane: 210,399 (Census 2001) 51% of these people are unemployed.

50,2% of the Mabopane residents are younger than 25 years old.

Mabopane  10,5% have brick houses, while the rest (89,5%) have mostly traditional structures or informal housing. Only 10,2% of dwellings have electricity.

Meet the need   Provide information technology, e.g. Internet, word processing facilities, etc.

Provide training

Make use of volunteers    Train volunteers to help in the library Treat them with respect Give them a special position and responsibility

The end