Place, Space and Time: Adult Education Experiences of Learners and Librarians in South African Public Libraries

摘要

Drawing on results of a national survey, this article examinesadult education in South African public libraries from theperspective of adult learners and librarians. Quantitative datafrom 589 libraries from the total sample of 1295 libraries wascollected. This was supplemented by qualitative data collectedduring site visits to eleven libraries selected to cover geographicalspread. The activities of the 26.7% of the libraries involved inadult education are analysed with a view to understanding theinterventions through the experience and perceptions of theparticipants, and so arriving at an understanding of thecontribution of the libraries' role in the fight against illiteracy which is acknowledged by the South African government as aserious impediment to its development efforts. An attempt ismade to assess the extent to which the experiences in the librariescan be said to be particular to the local situation, or whether thelessons learned form part of a broader pattern of adult educationpolicy and practice observed in other parts of the world,especially developing countries. It is concluded that, in spite ofthe modest scale of the interventions, the impact is sufficientlyencouraging to recommend intensifying and spreading initia-tives in the public library's drive for social inclusion.