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The purpose of this study was to determine norms against which the characteristics of community library services could be tested. The five oldest community libraries in the Pinetown (South Africa) public library system were examined. Results showed that certain public library systems, like Pinetown, have made significant progress toward becoming active, service-oriented community libraries. (Author/AEF)

This paper explores the applicability of the social model of disability and Wilson's model of information seeking behaviour for effective service delivery to students with disabilities in the context of academic libraries. The paper is based on a literature review based on Oliver''s social model of disability and Wilson's model of information seeking behaviour in relation to service provision to students with disabilities in academic libraries. The literature review provided a background to the two models and their criticisms and implications to academic libraries. This paper shows that despite their respective weaknesses, using the social model of disability and Wilson's model of information seeking behaviour in the academic library context offers an opportunity for academic libraries to re-look at their systems and services in order to address the different barriers faced by students with disabilities in their day to day information seeking. As libraries acquire and organise their resources, the needs of students with disabilities should always be prioritised. Academic libraries as a key information source in any academic setting have a responsibility to provide information in various formats using various facilities for easy accessibility and use by their diverse users. Access to any form of information is a fundamental human right. Academic libraries must identify and remove barriers that may inhibit information seeking for students with disabilities. Additionally, academic libraries should use multiple facilities to provide information. This will ensure that information needs for users with disabilities are catered for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informal sector entrepreneurs, particularly women, are providers of livelihoods in many poor and marginalised communities, especially in developing countries, including South Africa. These entrepreneurs are linked largely with the tourism industry by exchanging their goods, services, skills and knowledge with the industry. They are, however, prohibited from trading in some designated areas. This prohibition is closely related to the nature of the sector and types of business activities performed. This article aims to establish whether women entrepreneurs from the informal sector contribute significantly to the tourism industry and thus to the economy of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. Focus-group discussions, interviews, observations and content analysis were used to collect data from these entrepreneurs and leaders in the eThekwini Municipality. The findings suggest that the tourism industry is a crucial sector in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in terms of its contribution to the economy and is closely supported by informal sector entrepreneurs. However, even though these women entrepreneurs are regarded as contributing significantly to the tourism industry in this Municipality, their contribution is limited by a variety of reasons ranging from a lack of business skills and knowledge and the nature of their businesses to the by-laws of the municipality. A proper understanding of the importance of the informal sector entrepreneurs to the tourism industry and the revision of by-laws to accommodate issues involving these entrepreneurs will give this sector an opportunity to strengthen the tourism industry and thus the economic base of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The informal sector women entrepreneur is a major contributor to the income of a household, and also contributes to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country. To establish and sustain profitable businesses this group needs access to business information. Given the low educational levels that characterise the informal sector women entrepreneurs, information provided to them needs to be repackaged to levels appropriate to their understanding. The primary objectives of the study was to determine whether an institution like the public library plays any meaningful role in information provision to informal sector women entrepreneurs, and also to establish the demographic profile of this largely marginalised group. The major findings revealed that access to information is a real problem, and that information sources and channels currently used -- such as friends or relatives -- are not providing the needed information. They are also completely unaware of the library as an information provider. The libraries themselves seem to be unprepared to service this group of potential clients, preferring them to come to the library to seek information, rather than reaching out to them in their workplaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parliamentary libraries are important in their principal role as information providers to parliamentarians. They are expected to offer a wide variety of specialized services, often under very pressing conditions. Despite not being very effective on the African continent, the South African parliamentary libraries are valued service centers known to actively disseminate information. This study aimed to determine their role as information providers. A survey, in the form of a questionnaire, was used to obtain data about the libraries and the services they provide. It was found that depending on the staff available the libraries offered a number of services to parliamentarians, which ranged from lending services to providing in-depth reports on issues of the day. Library collections ranged from printed sources to electronic and audiovisual records. Computers are used in all the libraries, both for administrative purposes and for information acquisition and dissemination. Numerous innovative methods have been adopted to in form users about the available services, and presently, the electronic medium is also used as an alerting tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several ethical issues can impact the process of providing access to information materials for utilisation by the public. This study used the Privacy, Accuracy, Property and Accessibility (PAPA) model to investigate these ethical issues as they pertain to Nigeria. A survey research design using qualitative research method was employed through using interviews to collect data. Public library directors and publishers were targeted, and their responses were thematically analysed. Findings showed that publishing houses adhere to privacy requirements of authors and strive to ensure accuracy of information. Accessibility is provided for by libraries, though specific permissions are sometimes required to use information. Several challenges, such as plagiarism and piracy, were identified. Recommendations include the implementation of legal frameworks regulating the publishing process and the introduction of ethical course in the library school curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]