A study of library facilities in selected secondary schools with particular reference to their management, organization and use in Bungoma district Western province, Kenya
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Date
2012-05-30
Authors
Killong, George Chesutek
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Abstract
The purpose of the research was to investigate how the current school library facilities are managed, organized and used in the selected secondary schools in Bungoma district of Western province, Kenya. The researcher hoped to reveal among other things the existing state of secondary school libraries in terms of their management organization and use which would be invaluable asset to educators.
The study is timely coming when for the first time the government has taken a keen interest in the discipline of information and library sciences in the institutions of higher learning namely the Universities and Teachers Colleges specifically and in secondary and primary schools generally. The building of LRC's (Learning Resource Centres) in Teachers Colleges, the introduction of Library Education Unit at Kenyatta university for Post-Graduate Students and a full faculty of Information and Library sciences at Moi university are clear indicators of the current government's interest.
The study covered seven selected secondary schools from a list of over hundred schools in Bungoma district. Only secondary schools with libraries, Form V classes and situated along possible roads were selected for the study. The sample of the study consisted of headteachers, teacher librarians, teaching staff and students who provided the required information in the respective questionnaires. The researcher also employed observation and interviews as the means to gather more information from the same subjects.
The data collected was recorded, analyzed qualitatively and interpreted.
The findings of the study showed that all schools surveyed had at least a library, a teacher librarian, poorly stocked and used especially by the teachers. The findings also revealed that the Ministry of Education Science and Technology has not provided guidance on how to organize, manage and use those libraries.
Based on these findings of the study showed that all schools surveyed had at least a library, a teacher librarian, poorly stocked and used especially by the teachers. The findings also revealed that the Ministry of Education Science and Technology has not provided guidance on how to organise, manage and use those libraries.
Based on these findings a number of recommendations were made namely the urgency to inservice the serving teachers and teacher-librarians in schools as a means of enhancing awareness in librarianship, teachers to encourage their students to use library facilities, the government to formulate policies on school libraries in respect to management, organisation and use, the concerned personnel agents to spearhead the construction of purpose built libraries in all secondary schools and libraries to have special vote-head in school financial accounting system for the purpose of developing and running library stock and personnel.
In conclusion, the researcher is, however, of the opinion that the findings of the study will, to a considerable extent, serve as a main spring board for developing useful and workable strategies towards solving the problems facing secondary school libraries as are identified in the seven selected secondary schools in Bungoma District. Finally all proposals for improvement, as suggested could be made the subject of experimentation over a period of time with a view of future modification and perfection.
Description
The Z 675.S3 K5
Keywords
Schools libraries -- Kenya -- Bungoma