Impact of rural libraries as a post- literacy programme in Tanzania: a case study Mafia district in the Coast region

The main purpose of this study was to identify and evaluate the impact of the rural library programme in Tanzania by means of a case study in Mafia District. The author felt that such a study would reveal successes, failures and problems which once known would very much help improve the implementation of the programme or the planning of other programmes related to the field of functional literacy and post-literacy reading materials. The study surveyed the historical development of functional literacy and the problem of relapse into illiteracy in the world and Tanzania in particular which actually necessitated the launching of post literacy programmes in order to strengthen the functional literacy programmes. Six hypotheses were used in identifying and evaluating the rural library programme in Tanzania. The information for testing the above hypotheses was collected by means of dialogue/unstructured interviews, observation techniques and documentary review techniques. The findings of the study revealed that the library programme in Tanzania has helped the new literates in developing and maintaining their literacy skills. This evidence has been provided by the literacy teachers who pointed out that the progress of their students who made us use of library readings materials is better than of those who do not. The evidence is further supported by the new new literates themselves who admitted through interview that the library program has helped to maintain their literacy a fact that has helped them in letter writing. The study has also revealed that on the average the rural libraries are adequately established despite the fact that the rural libraries have poor buildings, poor furniture and untrained librarians. The study also discovered that a literate environment is gradually being introduced by the programme in the rural areas. For example the issuing of notices to the readers by the librarian, the use of the services by by the new literates, have helped in the creation of a reading environment in the rural areas that services have started who are not seriously involved in the programme seem to have not developed reading and tastes. Group discussions which introduce and encourage the new literates to read the library books do not exist. The study has also discovered that despite the fact that literates have gained knowledge though 21 respondents out of 84 (25%) have put the knowledge gained into practice (Table 29). The study is divided into five chapters. The first chapter is an introduction to the whole study. It discusses the background of illiteracy in the world, and makes a statement of the problems concerning the study. The objectives of rural libraries, purpose of the study, hypotheses, significance of the study and definition of terms are all included in this first chapter. Chapter two is a review of literature which provides information of studies and work done covering the issue of rural libraries as a post-literacy prtogamme. The author reviewed the literature on literacy and post-literacy programmes (rural libraries included) of the world and Tanzania in particular. The sub-topics covered under the review of literature include the functional literacy and post-literacy activities in the world, the use of rural library programmes in the world, literacy and post-literacy programmes in Tanzania, and rural libraries in post literacy activities in Tanzania. All these sub-topics are discussed as to how they relate to the theme of the study. Chapter four presents and analyses the data in accordance with the purpose of the study. Chapter five summarises the results, presents conclusions from the study and also draws up recommendations for improving the programme and for further research. The last part of the report of the study consists of the bibliography and the appendices