Barriers to Implementing a Public Library in Rural Areas in South Africa

Dickson Mdhlalose and Sedume Mashilo

EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, 2026, vol. 28, issue 1, 32-47

Abstract: This qualitative study investigates the systemic barriers hindering the realization of a public library in Kwa-Mhlanga, a rural village in Mpumalanga, South Africa. While often viewed as mere infrastructure, the library represents a vital "living room" for a community currently denied its right to information. Adopting an interpretivist paradigm, the research engaged fifty participants ranging from community members and traditional leaders to local officials to capture the lived reality of this developmental vacuum. Through semi-structured interviews and focus groups, data were analyzed thematically to uncover why the "first brick" has yet to be laid. The findings identify a critical triad of obstacles: severe financial constraints driven by unallocated budgets; bureaucratic inertia caused by fragmented mandates; and political apathy, where intellectual growth is sacrificed for more visible, revenue-generating projects. Crucially, the study reveals a painful paradox: while physical land is available and traditional leaders offer strong cultural support, these community assets are neutralized by governance failures. By providing a nuanced, pre-implementation analysis, this study moves beyond generic challenges to expose the human cost of systemic resistance. It concludes that bridging the gap between community need and institutional action requires a multi-pronged strategy: securing ring-fenced statutory funding, establishing streamlined inter-departmental task forces, and fostering sustained participatory co-design. Only through these human-centered interventions can the library transition from a stalled promise to a sustainable sanctuary for lifelong learning and community dignity.

Keywords: Public Library Implementation; Rural South Africa; Systemic Barriers; Governance Failures; Pre-implementation Analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H41 H75 I28 O15 O18 Z11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:espost:337870

DOI: 10.22373/adabiya.v28i1.34220

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