Abstract:
The study was conducted at Lubuto Model Library which is located in Garden compound. The library hosts patrons from kindergarten to adults but this study aimed at evaluating the usefulness of the services offered to children and youths at Lubuto Model Library and the specific objectives were: To establish the extent to which the children and youths use the services being offered at Lubuto Model Library, to investigate the social-economic benefits the Lubuto Model Library offers, to establish the extent to which the children and youths are satisfied with the services offered at Lubuto Model Library, to assess the challenges children and youths face when using the services offered at Lubuto Model Library and to investigate the impact of the mentorship program offered at Lubuto Model Library on the children and youths.
The study used both convenience and purposive sampling to sample the respondents. Convenience sampling is a non-probability sampling technique where subjects are selected because of their convenient accessibility and proximity to the researchers, it is fast, inexpensive, easy and the subjects are readily available. Further, the study employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods and the study used Statistical Packaging for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 and analytical case study when analysing the collected data in order to achieve the objectives of the study.
The major findings of the study were: 93% of the respondents were regular users of Lubuto Model Library, of which 49% visited the library daily while 44% visited the library on a weekly basis. According to the findings of the study 43% of the respondents visited the library for the reading program, 20.5% for mentorship program and 20.5% for technological facilities. Further the study revealed that respondents derived several socio-economic benefits which improved reading skills 17%, obtaining sex education 14%, and access to free computers and internet 12% respectively. On user satisfaction, 88% were satisfied with library staff’s hospitality and commitment, 83.7% were satisfied with the social interactions that the library was facilitating, 79.6% were satisfied with the movies they had been watching, 77.6% were satisfied with literacy programs, 76.5% were
satisfied with the general environment and 72.2%, were satisfied with the available books. However, 31.4% experienced the noise challenge from those outside the library and 16.2% had difficulties in accessing books.
The study recommended that:
1. The ministry of general education should honor the memorandum of understanding by honoring of its agreement to replicate school libraries across the country.
2. Religious bodies, civil societies and non-governmental organisations should volunteer to become stable hosts of Lubuto Model Libraries.
3. Lubuto Model Library should provide adequate toilets apart from depending on school toilets.
