2.+Non-literates

=Non-literate Populations and Library Service=

Overview
Libraries must find innovative ways to meet the needs of non-literate populations; indeed, they must almost redefine the concept of a library, from a repository of (mostly written) cultural records to a dispensary of knowledge in a variety of formats that is of direct relevance to the lives of their patrons. In countries where much of the population is illiterate, it is in the national interest for libraries to find a way to reach out to this subset of the population, in order to both improve their lives and to contribute to the overall development of the country, through the development of its “human resources.” It is of interest to the library itself to reach out to these populations, since by providing valuable services to a larger portion of the population, usage of libraries and their resources (and the consequent perception of libraries as a national resource of some value) would increase.

Considerations for library service to non-literate populations
The “information horizon” of non-literate populations often consists of “social welfare officers, health and agricultural extension staff, community leaders, village priests and headmasters, traveling petty traders, local government staff, and visitors from the city” (Okiy, 127). These information sources are not sufficient to provide rural populations with the information they need to improve their lives. Public libraries have the opportunity to serve as a liaison between the rural populations and these various sources of information, analyzing the cultural context and information needs of their populations, collecting information relevant to their users, and transmitting it in a way (via a medium) their users find accessible. This idea of the “barefoot librarian” was set forth by Adolphe O. Amadi and defined as: “ an information professional or specialist who collects, organizes, stores, retrieves and disseminates information according to the culture (format) and peculiar information needs of people who are predominantly illiterates” (Onwubiko, 39). It would also be the job of such a librarian to market his or her services in such a way that the library would cease to appear to be an elitist institution and rather would be seen as a valuable source of information in the various languages and formats its users require.

 In Africa, much of the non-literate population lives in rural areas, which tend to receive less support in terms of opening and maintaining libraries than urban areas. Thus, one of the major challenges facing libraries aiming to serve non-literate populations will be budgetary, especially in light of the many diverse formats and languages of the same information necessary to meet the needs of users with varying levels of literacy. Other challenges include “accommodation, proper staffing and training, and the provision of the communication and information tools needed” (Onwubiko, 42). Providing library services to non-literate populations requires an earnest examination of the population’s needs and the media with which they are comfortable in order to “plan in advance the forms, language, and method of disseminating information” (Okiy, 128). This requires not only a considerable amount of time, but also the participation of individuals capable of performing such an analysis. An accurate conception of community needs is imperative to creating a public library of value to its community: “Paying attention to specific community needs can result in libraries that are highly utilized and valued, as opposed to buildings with books and other materials that are out of date, irrelevant and unusable by most of the population" (Dent, 19). One of the most common areas of user needs (as determined by the 1981 Rural Development Information System Research project) is health information. Reaching non-literate populations also requires a more proactive form of librarianship, an “aggressive librarianship, bold librarians, and imaginative service provision” (Onwubiko, 42). In order to draw non-literate individuals to the library, a librarian must be constantly marketing library services, and developing “oral-oriented services and [becoming] the human medium through whom repackaged and remodeled information can easily reach the rural populace” (Okiy, 129). These oral-oriented services should exist side-by-side with printed information, and can include things such as “group discussion, workshops, person-to-person interaction, storytelling, as well as poetry and drama” (Nyana, 14).

Initiatives and Innovations
 One of the current initiatives dealing with disseminating vital information to non-literate populations in Africa (and elsewhere) is the “Speaking Books” produced by Books of Hope. These books are “designed to reflect local cultural norms and languages,” while providing important information on health-care issues such as how to treat and prevent malaria, TB, and HIV/AIDS. These “books” consist of “narratives with built-in audio which allows low-literacy readers to understand critical health messages” (Books of Hope). Repackaging information in more accessible formats (in this case, the combination of text, illustrations, and audio recording) can help bridge the information gap between literate and non-literate populations. A similar program, initiated by Literacy Bridge, is the "Talking Books" project. These "books" are actually audio devices "specifically designed for people who cannot read and who live without electricity." Local experts, such as librarians and teachers, can record information in their local languages, and this information can be copied without loss from device to device. In addition to facilitating the spread of information to non-literate populations, tools such as these can also be used in conjunction with literacy programs.

Here is an example of of video with a health message:

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References
BooksofHopellc. (2009, January 23). Books of Hope: Moving against malaria [video file]. Retrieved August 21, 2011, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5STTGfr5nk

Dent, V. F. (2006). Modelling the rural community library. //New World Library, 107//(1220/1221), 16-30.Retrieved August 17, 2011, from Emerald Publishing Group.

Nyana, S. A. (2009). Creating a library system that serves the needs of rural communities in Africa South of the Sahara. //Journal of Pan African Studies, 3//(1), 9-22. Retrieved August 17, 2011, from EBSCO//host.//

Okiy, R. B. (2003). Information for rural development: challenge for Nigerian rural public libraries. //Library Review, 52//(3), 126-131. Retrieved August 17, 2011, from Emerald Journals.

Onwubiko, C. P.C. (1996). The practice of Amadi’s “barefoot librarianship” in African public libraries. //Library Review, 45//(4), 39-47. Retrieved August 17, 2011, from Emerald Journals.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Ray, T. (2010, December 8). Beyond a pamphlet: Books of hope is moving against malaria [Web log message]<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">. Retrieved from: http://blog.acumenfund.org/2010/12/08/beyond-a-pamphlet-books-of-hope-is-moving-against-malaria/

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Talking Books. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.literacybridge.org/