The role of the public library in the fight against illiteracy

Abstract

Statistics issued by the government and other authoritative agencies and institutions have already shown that illiteracy in Malta is a grave problem. As a result, there had been an ample number of researchers who had addressed the issue of illiteracy and literacy education in the local context. However, the essential role of public libraries, in this respect, has never and up to now been discussed. The aim of this study was two-fold, namely (a) that of reviewing the situation vis-a-vis existing literacy programmes; and (b) to find out and discuss how the roles of public library services could be expanded further in order to cater for their clientele's literacy needs. With respect to literacy programmes, several institutions, including NGOs, have been making headway, conceiving and embarking on new programmes and initiatives with a view to address this problem. Among the fore-runners we find the Literacy Unit of the University of Malta, the Jesuit Paolo Freire Institute; as well the Employment and Training Corporation and the Foundation for Educational Services. These institutions have been setting up several projects, both jointly and individually. In order to be able to come to an equitable conclusion, as to whether and how public libraries fit, in the fight against illiteracy, it was considered essential, that in the course of the investigations, one seeks the opinion of experts. Who are actively involved in this field? The opinions of a public library administrator, an academic researcher of the University of Malta, the Director of a non-governmental organization and a foreign advisor, were compared and analysed. The investigation covered important attributes including how they perceived libraries as fitting in, how they defined illiteracy, how they maintained service quality as well as other questions related to social aspects. All respondents agreed that there still lacks a national definition for "illiteracy". This would, in turn, pave the way to a comprehensive and all-inclusive National Action Plan. All the experts questioned affirmed that public libraries have a vital role to play in support of literacy and other formal educational programmes.