Modelling the rural community library: Characteristics of the Kitengesa Library in rural Uganda

Purpose – To provide background on how the Kitengesa Community Library in rural Uganda, which serves as both a community library and a school library, might be seen as a model for other similar libraries in developing countries. To use a case study of the library to highlight certain characteristics of rural libraries as developed by B.J. Mostert and presented in his 1998 article.Design/methodology/approach – The information in the article comes from a two‐year study of the Kitengesa Community Library. The methodology included focus groups, interviews, door‐to‐door visits, questionnaires, examination of library circulation information, and many hours of observation. Information from the study was then used to support the comparison to Mostert's characteristics of the rural community library. A review of the professional literature is also provided.Findings – Findings indicate that the Kitengesa Community Library is a successful working model that might be used in other similar rural villages to serve both...

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