Tsoga o itirele: Bakgoma Community Library as a model for rural libraries in South Africa

Abstract

Despite the provision of conditional grants by the treasury for provinces to establish public libraries, the Limpopo province missed this opportunity as monies were not used towards the establishment of libraries. With inadequate provision of community libraries in the Limpopo province, citizens in disadvantaged rural communities are then left with no choice but to wake up and do it for themselves. However, establishing a library in a rural setting is a highly complex and difficult task due to challenges such as lack of funding, resources, infrastructure, electricity and roads, to mention just a few. This study provides background to how Bakgoma Community Library in the rural village of the Limpopo province (South Africa) was established by community members. The community library serves as a model for other communities in a rural setting. Qualitative data were collected through telephone interviews with the board members and staff members of Bakgoma Community Library. Lessons learnt from the establishment of Bakgoma Community Library are captured and can be useful to other rural communities in developing libraries.