Determinants Of Use Of Informal Settlement Community Libraries By Children In Selected Informal Settlements In Nairobi County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

The existence of libraries in Africa goes back to the colonial period. A number

of African nations have legislated the establishment of national libraries

through Acts of parliaments. From such legislation, the Kenya National

Library Services (KNLS) was established by an Act of parliament in 1967,

with a mandate to establish libraries in the country (Mulindwa, 2010). Due to

lack of capacity, such libraries have done little to establish community libraries

in the slums of Kenya, and the few ones that the donors have established have

not succeeded in encouraging their use due to such factors as lack of funds to

stock a variety of resources required by children. This study sought to find out

the determinants of use among the children in middle childhood in informal

settlements in Nairobi. Specifically, the study sought to find out how

geographical location, services and activities, resources available in the library

and children’s perception about the library affect its use. The study was based

on the theory of acceptance and use of technology. The study adopted

correlational research design. The study was carried out in selected informal

settlements community libraries in Nairobi. It covered six selected community

libraries in the following informal settlements of Nairobi: Mathare North,

Mathare 4A, Mradi Mathare, Mathare 2A, Korogocho, and Mukuru Kwa

Njenga. The participants were selected through simple random sampling. The

study covered 360 children, 36 Teachers and 18 library staff who were

interviewed. Collected data was coded, classified and tabulated to facilitate

analysis. SPSS was used to generate descriptive and inferential statistics.

Descriptive statistics from the children, library staff and teachers produced

results on means and frequencies of responses. Qualitative data gathered from

open ended questions were contently analysed to provide results. Multiple

linear regression was used to generate inferential statistics. From the study, it

was evident that geographical location, the services and activities offered and

the children’s perception about the library contribute significantly to the use of

the library. The study revealed that there was a positive correlation between the

independent variables (geographical location, services and activities offered,

resources available and children’s perception of the library) and the dependent

variable (library use). This means that an increase in either of the independent

variables would result to an increase in the use of the library by the children

aged six to nine in the community libraries. From the findings it was

established that the informal settlement community libraries need to improve

their services and activities in order to maintain children’s interest in using

them. The staff working in the informal settlement community libraries should

form a network in which they can share success stories to demonstrate how

their libraries serve children in middle childhood in the informal settlement

community libraries. Finally, the community libraries should also strive to

make their services and activities more attractive to children.