Development of library and documentation services in Tanzania: Problems of strategy and tactics

摘要

The paper evaluates the experiences of Tanzania in creating and developing a nationwide public library system under the dual conditions of limited resources, and unlimited user demands. The central thesis discussed is that more rapid development could have been achieved had a different strategy and set of tactics been used. A number of principles are discussed as a base for the alternative strategy. (1) Theories of librarianship irrelevant to the present needs of underdeveloped countries should be abandoned. (2) Valid measures of performance must be established. (3) Cost-benefit methods should be used to check wasteful use of scarce resources. (4) The wage-bill can be reduced by developing a cheaper manpower base. (5) A public library can increase its capability to meet future problems by utilising planned development. (6) The public library can increase the reliability of its source of funds by diversifying and initiating internal generation of funds.