User fee in public libraries: perspectives, opportunities and challenges in Tanzania’s libraries
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Date
2005
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
The user fee practiced in public libraries in Tanzania since 1996 and
implications of the fee are examined in relation to the role of libraries
in economic development. The paper aims at stimulating discussions
among professionals and other stakeholders regarding the effects
and controversies of the issue. Based on a survey of literature, brief
and informal. discussions with eight library users and librarians in
three public libraries in Tanzania, it looks into the fee concept and
discusses' the experiences and implications of the fee to both the
public and public libraries that so far are not optimally used. In
addition, charged services in four public university libraries have
been examined for possible lessons to be learnt. While recognizing the
growing pressure to commercialize access to information resources as
a strategy for coping with economic difficulties in the public sectors,
the paper cautions that the practice may have more disadvantages
than advantages. It is observed that while there may be other
reasons preventing the public from using libraries, the fee may
actually be a hindrance to developing positive attitudes towards use
of libraries by the public for their socio-economic development. The
authors see the existence of an opportunity for librarians to make
tangible contribution in the society's development process by
promoting the use of easily accessible information through public
libraries rather than supporting restrictive rules. It is concluded that
paying for basic library services may not necessarily be a solution to
the library's economic constraints across the board. For this reason,
Tanzania's libraries should consider the present period as a period
for promotion, advocacy, and investment in the value and role of
information for economic growth and in the expansion as well as
creation of public library clientele. Among the recommendations put
forward is the need for conducting in-depth studies that would profile
the actual users of these libraries, determine membership trend and
find out user opinion and attitude towards fee practices in Tanzania.
The paper also recommends the use of participatory methods in order
to make fair decision regarding access, use and sustainability of
public libraries. The paper finally suggests some possible alternatives
for economic sustainability of the libraries ..
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Public libraries, User fees