LPYL -

School library development
in South Africa and
Sweden

LPYL-index

LPYL - Links

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Library Practice for Young Learners
a Swedish - South African School library project 1997–2002

 LPYL means:

• targeting the need of school library resources in disadvantaged areas in South Africa
• capacity building and developing of a project school library in every province in South Africa
• putting school libraries on the educational agenda in South Africa - and in Sweden
• developing models & materials in South Africa - and in Sweden
• stimulating Swedish - South African linkage and partnership

• LIWO Library and Information Workers organisation (phase one only),
• EPU Natal Education Policy Unit (phase two only),
• NCETDE National Centre for Educational Technology and Distance Education at the national Department of Education,
• SCHELIS the Standing Committee of Heads of Education and Library Information Services of all nine provincial departments,
• BIS Bibliotek i Samhalle, (a Swedish NGO),
• Sida Swedish Agency for International Development Cooperation.

• historical anti-apartheid links between LIWO and BIS
• the implementation of a new curriculum in a democratic South Africa: Curriculum 2005
• The implementation of the national policy framework for school library standards

• to enhance the practice of school librarians in the nine provinces of South Africa, especially those working in disadvantaged areas, for Swedish and South African practitioners to exchange ideas and experiences about
  • ways of defining and increasing library-related resources for school learners and educators,
  • strategies for implementing a school library plan, networking and lobbying on the local level,
• to make case studies on project schools to gain a research perspective on school libraries,
• to evaluate the project both in Sweden and in South Africa.

• Study tour to Sweden for 10 South African policy developers at national and provincial level, 
• Workshop in Sweden for South African policy developers, media (school library) advisors and school librarians to meet the project partners from Sweden,
• The forming of SCHELIS, the Standing Committee of Heads of Education and Library Information Services of all nine provincial departments,
• Study tour to Sweden for 18 South African media (school library) advisors and school librarians and one national policy developer, Support to 10 pilot schools to establish library committees, formulate library policy and development plans on a local level, and try out good practice ideas,
• Development and distribution of 9 000 copies of Fifteen innovative ways with your learning resources booklet to state schools in South Africa.

• A project manager was appointed in South Africa for one year to coordinate the project, hold conferences, work shops, visit project schools and give inspiration and help in capacity building in the 10 project schools,
• Study tour to South Africa for 9 Swedish school librarians giving new perspectives and new creative ideas in library practice, lobbying and networking,
• Study tour to Sweden for 10 South African library practitioners to exchange ideas on learning resources and library plans and implementing outcomes based education,
• All participants in study tours are making or have made their own local projects within the project. The focus is on a shift in views opening up for new ideas - not necessarily copying what was seen in the other country,
• Workshops, seminars and materials have been developed to guide librarians, teachers and school principals for better access to library-based learning resources,
• Advocacy and capacity building work shops for school level practitioners,
• Project schools have been encouraged to apply for a R 5 000 grant,
• Three case studies are being carried out on project schools by EPU,
• Project evaluation is being made in both Sweden and South Africa.

• Through study tours to Sweden some South African school librarians became aware of how school libraries and public libraries can cooperate and share resources in the interest of both parties.
• Through study tours to South Africa some Swedish school librarians became aware of how school librarians can take a more active part in instruction and teaching.
• Inspired by Book buses she had seen in Uppsala, Sweden, one South African librarian (June Baatjes) managed to get 2 book buses donated from Japan. She made negotioations with a petrol company for sponsoring and now they deliver free petrol for the buses.
• Another South African school librarian(Hlabje Jjujuju) decided to share his library resources with other schools in the local district and is working on teaching teachers about the importance of school libraries.
• By inventive thinking and lobbying one South African school librarian (June Baatjes) found premises for a new library in one big container which today is a "container library".

The BIS working group in liaison with the Swedish Africa Group (NGO) produced an information exhibition of the LPYL project - and two more library projects financed by SIDA in southern Africa - which is now touring 30 libraries (mostly public libraries) all over Sweden.

The BIS website has created space for giving information in English about the project at http://www.foreningenbis.org/lpyl/

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