Regional Libraries in Tanzania a field study of the Public Library Service

This masters thesis concerns the Public Library Service in Eastern Africa, Tanzania. Our subject was developed through a feasibility study that gave us comprehension that developing countries have individual problems concerning books and libraries. We understood that the main problems were the libraries financial situation and their dependence on aid. We also understood that the libraries do not have the resources to satisfy the society as a whole. The major questions raised in this study are: - How do the regional librarians describe their work situation? -Which role do the Regional Librarians have in society? Data was collected through interviews and observation, and the study is a qualitative case study. We interviewed five head librarians. The main conclusions are that the librarians view their role as being important for the population, mainly because they have a significant educational role for the society since their largest user groups are people in education. As an institution they can provide study material and give guidance regarding information sources. Another conclusion is that the librarians view their educational role as important in the fight against poverty.Uppsatsnivå: