FAWEZA

An evaluation of the FAWEZA Zambia mobile school library project of Lusaka district, Zambia by Sing’ombe Sakala
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
A mobile library is a vehicle designed, equipped and operated to extend and facilitate access to public library service to those people who do not have reasonably convenient access to a public library (Payne, 2000). The FAWEZA Zambia School Libraries Project is a very exciting initiative which involves great partnership working between the UK, Ireland and Zambia. The project oversaw the shipment of containers of both school books and school uniforms to ten identified girl’s secondary schools in Zambia to equip school libraries in order that the books can be used by as many students as possible. The project was funded by the Mandala Trust and coordinated by a team of wonderful volunteers in Ireland and the United Kingdom who organised the donation of the school books from schools in Ireland/UK. The project was a partnership of the Mandala trust, volunteers in Ireland and the UK and with FAWEZA (The Mandala Trust, 2013). The main objective of the project was to provide teaching aids, text books and research materials to high schools. Since 2007, the Mobile Library Project has provided services to over 12,671 pupils in four sites namely: Lusaka, Kabwe, Ndola and Luanshya. Mobile libraries are used in both rural and urban areas to provide a service to those communities or individual users who are not able to reach their nearest static library, yet are entitled to use this facility (Northwood 1994).
1.2 Statement of the problem
Since the launch of the FAWEZA mobile school library in Lusaka district in 2007, it is not known whether the objectives of this project were met not. So far no comprehensive research has been conducted to ascertain its effectiveness in Zambian schools.
1.3 Purpose of the study
To evaluate the effectiveness of the FAWEZA Zambia mobile school library project
1.4 Research objectives
1. To identify the services provided by the FAWEZA mobile library
2. To establish whether pupils use the FAWEZA mobile library
3. To identify whether the FAWEZA mobile library improved the reading culture
1.5 Research questions
1. What services were provided by the FAWEZA mobile library?
2. Do pupils use the FAWEZA mobile library?
3. Has the FAWEZA mobile library improved the reading culture?
1.6 Significance the study
The research findings will be used by FAWEZA to assess the effectiveness of the mobile library project. The findings would also be used as a nucleus for further research on mobile libraries. It is also hoped that the research results would be helpful to policy makers.
1.7 Scope of the study
The investigation will be limited to participating schools in Lusaka district
Limitations/Delimitations of the study
The research will be constrained by time and geographical limitations.
1.8 Methodology
A survey method will be used. Five beneficiary schools will be purposefully sampled. Structured research questionnaires will be used as data collection tools. SPSS version 20 will be used to analyse the data collected. The research will be based on the mixed methods research paradigm.