Public and Community Library and Information Services in Rural South Africa: A Concept Paper*

Abstract The community library’s environment is not a complex one. Both semi-literate and illiterate should be able to use this type of a library. A community library should not be a frightening place, and the provision of services to all the community members should be user-friendly. The educational and economic status of the community should also be taken into account as far as membership of a community library and information services are concerned. This paper focuses on public and community libraries, community centers, school library services in the rural communities, school libraries or media centers as well as library cooperation, types of cooperation and cooperative agreements.