EXAMINING COMMUNITY LIBRARY SERVICES PROVISION AT KAWEMPE YOUTH CENTRE LIBRARY KAMPALA DISTRICT

Abstract

Community libraries play an important role in bridging information gaps in communities. This study examined community library services provision at Kawempe Youth Centre Community library in Kampala District. The study’s objectives were to: i) establish the existing community library services provided at Kawempe Youth Centre Community Library in Kampala District; ii) find out how community library services provided at Kawempe Youth Centre Community library in Kampala District are managed; iii) identify the challenges of providing community library services at Kawempe Youth Centre community library in Kampala District; and iv) make suggestions for improving community library services provision at Kawempe Youth Centre community library in Kampala District. This was a qualitative case study employing in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis. The study population of 25 (comprising library staff, volunteers, and registered users) was purposively selected to ensure diverse perspectives, and all were adopted as the sample size. The findings revealed KYC library provides mobile library services, reference and circulation services, community outreach services and ICT services. It was also revealed that community library service provision at KYC library was managed through different avenues such as by planning and budgeting. Additionally, it was revealed that KYC library faces challenges of underfunding, understaffing, outdated reading materials, few library resources, poor internet connection, a few computers, power outages, limited reading spaces among others. Lastly, it was suggested that there was a need to improve internet services, create more awareness about community library services, restructure library opening hours, create a whatsapp forum, stock up-to-date books and acquire more library stock. The study concluded that community libraries were expected to transform their communities through the services they provide and KYC library is not an exception. Therefore, effective management of the library was crucial. Recommendations such as increasing funding, recruiting more staff, forming strategic alliances and partnerships were proposed.