Burning Libraries for the People: Questions and Challenges for the Library Profession in South Africa

Lor, Peter Johan

doi:10.1515/libri-2013-0028

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 15 publications

(6 reference statements)

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“…Is there a problem in the relationship between a library and its community when, for example, the library is set ablaze by arsonists? After such an attack, there follows a knee-jerk reaction in our profession to increase marketing and promotion (Lor, 2013), but instead we should be seeing, listening, feeling, and thinking.…”

Section: Librarians In Relation To Their Communities: Navigating Turbmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Risks and Benefits of Visibility: Librarians Navigating Social and Political Turbulence

Lor¹

2016

Library Trends

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The deliberate burning of libraries is nothing new, but it seems surprising that such incidents have also occurred in peacetime in democracies. What does this say about community perceptions of libraries and the response of the library profession? Mostly, libraries are not very newsworthy. In some countries they are largely invisible; in others they may only attract public attention when they are threatened by cutbacks or closures or when things go badly wrong. The visibility and invisibility of libraries in the political arena confer risks, as well as benefits. As a framework for an exploration of this topic, libraries in various countries are conceptualized as being located in the political space on a continuum, from invisible to highly visible, on which the risks of visibility and invisibility can be situated. Some observations, with particular reference to library development in South Africa, follow on how librarians see themselves and their institutions in relation to the communities and societies they serve. This paper concludes that the risks of invisibility outweigh those of visibility, but that the political awareness, engagement, and commitment of the library profession are critical.

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Section: Librarians In Relation To Their Communities: Navigating Turbmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In France, the phenomenon has led to serious scholarly reflection (Merklen, 2013;Merklen & Murard, 2008Merklen & Perrot-Dessaux, 2010). In South Africa also, questions are being been raised about what this says about how communities perceive their libraries, and how the library profession should respond (Lor, 2013). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risks and Benefits of Visibility: Librarians Navigating Social and Political Turbulence

Lor¹

2016

Library Trends

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“…"We are not at war", she said, and "There is no reason for this secrecy" (Handful protesters, 2015). (Lor, 2013). However, without criminal charges and the prosecution of suspects in the country"s courts there is still more speculation than credible evidence to answer these questions.…”

Section: Crises In the 'New' South Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Librarians and crises in the ‘old’ and ‘new’ South Africa

Dick

2016

IFLA Journal

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This article reviews the responses of librarians to crises in the "old" and "new" South Africa. It draws on primary and secondary sources to tell the stories of librarians during personal, political and professional crises. States of emergency, censorship legislation, political and xenophobic violence in South Africa since the 1960s are some of the sources for these crises. Librarians and the wider library-caring community have adapted their strategies to champion the freedom of access to information and freedom of expression.

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“…Dit geld ook op plaaslike vlak. Die talle, dikwels gewelddadige betogings teen swak dienslewering ("service-delivery protests") doi.10.17159/2224-7912/2015/v55n4a6 in Suid-Afrikaanse dorpe en stede, waarin ook biblioteke in die slag gebly het (Lor 2013), bied oorvloedige bewyse hiervan. Dit is geensins ongewoon dat huise van demokraties verkose raadslede tydens sulke betogings afgebrand word nie.…”

Section: Vredeunclassified

Biblioteke en vrede: 'n kritiese besinning oor die rol van biblioteke in vredestigting

Lor

Britz

2015

Tydskr. geesteswet.

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Libraries and peace: a critical reflection on the role of libraries in promoting peace From the mid-19 th century national and international library associations and professional librarianship developed in close association with polity and liberal internationalism and peace movements, and later with the League of Nations and UNESCO. The emphasis in polity internationalism was not on questioning the system of nation states, but on creating mechanisms for maintaining peaceful relations among them. This corresponds to the motivations of civic leaders who founded the first free public libraries. They sought to stabilize existing relations among social groups and to prevent revolution. Key pronouncements by UNESCO state that libraries can or should contribute to peace. It is thought that the provision of information will lead to increased knowledge, hence to greater understanding and tolerance of other groups, and that this will promote peace. We critically examine these assumptions, starting with a reflection on what is implied by the concept of "peace". Peace embodies juridical, ethical and legal dimensions. For the purposes of our analysis, we conceptualize peace as positive (not merely the absence of conflict) and as processes rather than as a state. This implies that peace cannot be promoted merely by attempts to maintain existing social relations, whether by the suppression of alternative views, the signing of agreements, negotiation of constitutions, or the creation of democratic institutions. The latter are a necessary but not sufficient condition for peace. Social justice and reconciliation are conditions for lasting peace and reconciliation. Reconciliation must include restoring the humanity of parties to violent conflict. In light of this reflection, we analyse the following assumptions: (1) libraries contribute to education; (2) libraries provide information; (3) libraries disseminate information; (4) information promotes knowledge; (5) knowledge leads to understanding; (6) understanding of others leads to peace. We conclude that it is simplistic to see a straightforward link between information and peace. While the free flow of information is vital to democracy, peace and freedom, the relationship between information and peace involves a series of complex causal relations. We consider implications of our analysis for the role of libraries, with particular reference to public libraries. In respect of collections efforts should be made to acquire materials that will support peace processes. In respect of services, librarians need to go beyond simply making materials available. Traditional promotional activities also do not suffice. Libraries need to reach out to communities with programmes that promote a peace agenda and a climate of consultation. At a practical level they can reduce the circulation of rumours by providing mechanisms for dissemination of factual information about community governance and political issues. Libraries can contribute to peace more indirectly but lastingly by capacity building: ...

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Burning Libraries for the People: Questions and Challenges for the Library Profession in South Africa

Cited by 10 publications

References 15 publications

Risks and Benefits of Visibility: Librarians Navigating Social and Political Turbulence

Risks and Benefits of Visibility: Librarians Navigating Social and Political Turbulence

Librarians and crises in the ‘old’ and ‘new’ South Africa

Biblioteke en vrede: 'n kritiese besinning oor die rol van biblioteke in vredestigting

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