PRESENTATION

PESTEL CHALLENGES:

eThekwini Municipal Library’s response

BY

TEBOGO MZIZI: ACTING DEPUTY HEAD

eThekwini Municipal Library and Heritage Department

PurposeThis presentation is a practical paper highlighting

the Political, Economical, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal challenges faced by he eThekwini Municipal Library & Heritage Department with the focus of library services and its responded.

The challenges experienced by the municipality will be outlined and it will also be indicated how the municipality have dealt or not dealt with the challenges so as to balance the Municipality and community needs and expectations.

Background

• eThekwini Municipality’s population is 3.468,088

• 27% is school going age 0-14 yrs old base on the SSA community survey 2007.

• The economic status of the people42% employed21% unemployed, 34% not economical active.

• The statistics show that the library department serves a diverse community.

Background cont

• This is achieved through provision of facilities, implementation of various programmes, services and initiatives.

• The department has the following facilities 86 branch libraries or community libraries

4 container libraries situated in the rural areas

3 Museums ( LHM, NSM & DAG)

Living Art section

Background cont

• Other library services Reference service ( 2 sites)

Departmental/ Special library ( serves 20 Municipal departments)

Special library /housebound services ( special needs)

CHALLENGESPolitical issues

Municipal libraries operate at the political environment.

• Councilor’s demands vs. department’s plan/capacity.

• Councilor’s level of interest in library.• Lack of staff’s understanding the power of

healthy relations with councilors

e.g. Rationalization of facilities

Economical issues

The current economic downturn has an impact on all and budget allocated

• Prioritization of council projects( 2010 vs. central library or back log of libraries)

• Staff budget cut ( Temporary staff)

• Cost and availability of library materials – value for money and content relevance

Social issues

The statistics of the municipality shows the diversity of the municipality needs which results to various challenges.

Librarian vs. community information worker?• Understanding of the above is critical when

dealing with social challenges.• Commitment to ‘developmental local

government’ and leadership role

Social cont.

Types of challenges• Varied Literacy level and reading interests• Educational support ( relevant materials, study

space, career guidance)• Unemployment, entrepreneurial needs• Poverty• Safety and access• HIV/AIDS• Lack of entertainment facilities

Technological issues

Libraries as information centers are faced with the global e- technology trends.

The issue of the availability of current technology infrastructure is important for the survival of Library sector and meeting global changes.

• Availability and relevant infrastructure (PC’s, current software, band width, budget)

• Maintenance of the existing infrastructure

• Dealing with partnership or donations in line with Municipality policies/resources.

• e-literacy level of staff.

• e-literacy level of the community

Environmental issues

The Municipality has urban, peri -urban and rural areas where service delivery and infrastructure development is not equal.

• KwaZulu Natal’s topography is problematic in infrastructure development.

• This has resulted in a backlog on service delivery for the library department in the rural area. ( 2 sites 1 functional other still to be built)

Legal issues

We operate within the legal framework, but some legislations are a hindrance in meeting community needs or improving service delivery

• Constitution – Schedule 5 (Unfunded mandate debate impacts on budget allocation from the municipality)

• Labour Relations act – highly unionized (working hours)• Managers lack of understanding/knowledge of legal

framework within the municipality. ( Municipal Systems & Structures Act)

• Developmental Local government’s mandate ( communication with community, integration of communities.

RESPONSES TO CHALLENGES

The eThekwini Municipal Library department’s response is not in silos but engages in interrelated/integrated solutions that are not stand alones.

Some of the above challenges are still existing and needs different and creative approaches/solutions – ( lets share)

Examples

Partnerships:• Other municipal departments (Parks, Sport,

Community participation, Skills Development unit, Health, ABMs)

• Education department• Provincial Services• Private Sector• Educational institutions• Community- Structures• NGO’s

Examples

• Organize reading and writing programmes

( storytelling, quiz, creative writing)

• Taking Science to the community through Natural Science Museum ( 3 library sites)

• Career guidance expo’s ( partnership with local educational institutions) – long term structure

Examples

• Provision of studying space after hours ( Township areas)

• Building container library in rural areas ( with ABMs)

Examples

• Provision of PCs in selected sites -uMlazi, KwaMashu, Austerville ( from Local private sector)

• Diverting budget to pressing areas ( book budget to ICT infrastructure upgrade, Conditional Grant)

• Promoting indigenous knowledge through Ulwazi project, games ( mlabalaba)

Examples

• Holiday programmes• Training 26 HIV/AID peer educators and 3

counselors with Health• A pilot of using local NGO’s for garden and

cleaning maintenance ( Ntuzuma) • Providing space for community gardening

and assist in urban agriculture(Mpumalanga, Cator Crest, Ntuzuma and Adams Mission libraries)

WAY FOWARD

The major challenge for the eThekwini Municipal Library services is monitoring and evaluation of its services to see if its meeting the community needs so as to plan service delivery strategies and rationalize resources.

• Partnerships with other institutions through joint projects especially with the Technological challenges.

• Committed workforce and strong leadership is important.

Way forward

• Building good relationship between the officials, labour and politicians is important.

• Developing Lobbying and marketing skills to increase the visibility of information workers within the Municipality and the community.

• Communication and engagement with relevant stakeholders for different needs, or challenges

• Training of workforce on core functions like children’s work, e literacy, lobbying will assist in most

THANK YOU

THE METRO’S NEED TO FORM THEIR FORUM OR CONSORTIUM FOR INFORMATION SHARING AND DEALING WITH COMMON TRENDS, CHALLENGES THROUHG PACLIG UMBRELLA