Abstract:
Examines current methods of book selection in provincial library services in South Africa with a view to establishing whether they are the most effective possible. This involved tracing the history of the four provincial library services and examining their current selection practices. A well-organised network of public libraries making provision for white South Africans has been established since World War II, with centralised provincial services providing the book stock. It appears that little change has occurred in the organisational structures and book selection methods of these services, and that the involvement of local librarians in book selection is negligible. An empirical investigation was conducted in all affiliated public libraries circulating more than 60 000 books annually. The findings confirm the lack of interaction in book selection between provincial and public librarians, and there was dissatisfaction, particularly among the biggest libraries, at the present system. To establish an ideal against which the performance of provincial library services could be evaluated, contemporary professional opinion and developments in rural systems in selected countries were surveyed. Compared to the static local picture of service, overseas advances in goals and management had made professional advances. The thesis concludes with recommendations to remedy this situation.
