Donations to Libraries: A Problem in International Cooperation

View Sample PDF

Author(s): Paul Sturges (Loughborough University, UK & University of Pretoria, South Africa)
Copyright: 2014
Pages: 11
Source title: Collaboration in International and Comparative Librarianship
Source Author(s)/Editor(s): Susmita Chakraborty (University of Calcutta, India)and Anup Kumar Das (Jawaharlal Nehru University, India)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-4365-9.ch003

Keywords: Information Science Reference / Library & Information Science / Library Information Systems / Library Science

Purchase

View Donations to Libraries: A Problem in International Cooperation on the publisher's website for pricing and purchasing information.

Abstract

The donations of books and other materials to libraries in developing countries reveal the paradox that a gift can be more of a problem than a benefit. In the post-colonial period, well meaning organisations sent boxes of discarded books to libraries. Governments send book donations for propaganda purposes and religious organisations do likewise, with the Church of Scientology currently using its massive translating, publishing and distribution capacity for this purpose. Ways in which donations can be selected so as to serve the actual needs of recipients have been explored in recent years, with the charity Book Aid International being an outstanding example. The experience of libraries in the face of donations of all these types is discussed so as to point to some conclusions on the significance for international cooperation.

The IRMA Community

Research IRM

Donations to Libraries: A Problem in International Cooperation

Purchase

Abstract

Related Content

IRMA Sponsors