The Role of External Aid in West African Library Development

• Published in: The Library quarterly (Chicago) Vol. 56; no. 1; pp. 1 - 16
• Main Author: MAACK, M. N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, Il University of Chicago Press 01-01-1986
• Subjects: Academic libraries; Africa; American literature; Cultural institutions; Exact sciences and technology; General aspects; Information and communication sciences; Information economics. Information policy; Information science. Documentation; Librarianship; Libraries; Library and information science. General aspects; Library associations; Library operations; Literature; Public libraries; Sciences and techniques of general use; Technical assistance; Technology transfer; Third World; Cooperation; Technology transfer; Developing countries; Cultural aspect; Library; Collection development; Industrialized country
• ISSN: 0024-2519; 1549-652X
• DOI: 10.1086/601684

International agencies, bilateral assistance programs, individual institutions, and philanthropic foundations have contributed to improving West African library service in a variety of ways. Four basic categories of library aid can be identified, depending on whether outside resources are directed toward: (1) personnel development, (2) collection development, (3) library construction, or (4) multipurpose projects. Selected examples of each type of assistance are discussed in order to place library assistance projects within the broader context of the relationship between developed countries and the Third World.