The Role of the Rural Librarian on the Provision of Social Justice Education in South Africa

Abstract

The author assesses rural community libraries' cultural strategies for the provision of online services. This chapter details social justice strategies in rural library settings to reduce the inequitable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, this chapter will give context to rural South Africa following apartheid legislation and connect this context to library services. Effectiveness of the social justice library strategy improved in South Africa Libraries of the former Bantustan state from the apartheid system to a democratic system in 1994. A Social Justice library strategy was developed to change the mindset of rural communities to adopt information communication technology to disseminate information. Libraries and information services are provided to communities irrespective of ethnic group, belief, or culture. Furthermore, the author will also analyze the transformation after the transition. The role played by the National Department of Arts and Culture department in the establishment of the recapitalization program as a strategy to empower rural libraries is discussed.