An Investigation of the Role the School Library Space Plays in Promoting Reading Habits in Foundation Phase Learners in Vhembe District in South Africa

Abstract

The school library space is of utmost importance in the school community as a whole. A library space provides, both teachers and their learners, with a space, which is safe and conducive to learning. The aim of this paper is to explore the role the school library space plays in promoting reading habits of the foundation phase learners in Vhembe District. The paper employed or followed a qualitative research method based on the nature of the study. The population of the study is the teacher librarians who are responsible for school libraries in the foundation phase. Purposive sampling was used to select eight schools from Vhembe District. Eight participants were sampled by virtue of their being teacher librarians serving in the Foundation Phase school libraries. Data was collected by means of individual interviews. The finding revealed that although they have a separate building for the library, the sitting space for learners is not sufficient because there are many learners. Secondly, the finding was concerned with the capacity of the school libraries in as far as the space to accommodate bookshelves, computers and other library facilities required in the library. The third finding was concerned with the challenges like overcrowding due to the lack of enough space in the school library. The fourth finding was concerned with the school libraries being used for purposes other than library activities. The study recommended that the library should also provide both teacher and learners with a space that encourages individual study, group cooperation and big group exhibition.