The provision of library support service in colleges of education in Botswana

Abstract

As a result of the affiliation of the colleges of education (COE)in Botswana to the University of Botswana, the libraries attached to the colleges were assessed with a view to finding out if they met the standards recommended for college libraries. Thus, the guidelines recommended in "College Library Standards, 1995 edition" were used in assessing the the six colleges surveyed. The main factors used in assessing the libraries were: mission statement, collection, staffing, budget, technical services/materials organisation, library services, library administration and facilities. The findings revealed that most of the factors enumerated above were found to be inadequate in the six college libraries surveyed. Recommendations were made to all stakeholders to ensure that the libraries were considerably improved to enable them to perform the functions for which they were established.