Developing libraries in Lesotho

Abstract

This paper describes the local literacy environment in Lesotho and plots the efforts to create effective and sustainable school and community libraries through professional development both in literacy education and librarianship. A library effectiveness survey was distributed to the 170 1,000-book school and community libraries started since 2008 by communities in partnership with United States Peace Corps and the African Library Project. These targeted sites remain some of the only libraries in the country. In response to this survey, a team of 13 Peace Corps Lesotho volunteers, Basotho teachers, librarians, principals, and district resource teachers came together to create and lead a workshop series to guide local library leaders. Piloted in September 2010 and revised with feedback, this workshop series was intended to aid the creation of 32 new libraries in 2011 by focusing on topics most relevant to the developing culture of reading in Lesotho.