Historical background

Senegal achieved independence in 1960 and has been generally stable since that time, but the influence of its primary colonizer, France, still remains strong. The first French settlement was made at Saint Louis in 1659, and by 1803 a municipal library was operating in that city (the library was probably established shortly after the French Revolution in 1789). Senegal thus enjoys a tradition of libraries as long as that of France, which also began to develop its ideas of the public library at this time. However, whereas French public libraries were more concerned with preservation of the national heritage, the library in Saint Louis was created for the cultural and intellectual benefit of the colonizers; it did not exclude the local inhabitants, but it's doubtful these locals had much opportunity or the specific education necessary to take advantage of this institution. For the remainder of the nineteenth century and much of the twentieth century, libraries were created by the colonizers to meet their needs and requirements without much thought to local needs.

Along with several other West African colonial territories, Senegal was part of the Afrique Occidentale Fran^aise (AOF, French West Africa), a federation of African colonies controlled by France for many years but formalized in 1904. In the late 1930s, the AOF archivist Andre Villard proposed the creation of small circulating libraries in order to aid the spread of French culture, associating libraries with schooling as he observed was done successfully in Europe and South Africa (Maack, 1981). This idea was popular, and only the onset of the Second World War derailed what was a promising if not paternalistic approach to creating libraries in the region. Nevertheless, after the conflict, Léopold Sédar Senghor (poet and future first president of Senegal) and other African writers resurrected the idea of associating French and local cultures. France had always been interested in preserving its culture in its colonies, and some success was achieved in establishing circulating libraries within French cultural centers. These cultural centers circulated books for off-site reading and also encouraged local authors to produce works in French, but they were not able to serve as a model for locally supported public libraries.

In 1957, the Association pour le Développement des Bibliothèques Publiques en Afrique (Association for the Development of Public Libraries in Africa) was formed in Saint Louis, and it proposed three types of libraries for African nations, among which was a network of public libraries (besides a central depository library and research libraries) (Dadzie, 1961). In 1960, it became Association Internationale pour le Développement des Bibliothèques en Afrique (AIDBA, International Association for the Development of Libraries in Africa). But when Senegal achieved independence in 1960, it still had no model of a local government-supported public library; the only government-supported libraries were those associated with research institutes. Nevertheless, in a study of library services in francophone African countries published in 1962 by UNESCO, it was concluded that of all the former French colonies, Senegal seemed to enjoy the best conditions for the organization of public libraries (United Nations, 1962). The Senegalese section of AIDBA inaugurated its first public library that year in Saint Louis and had prepared the opening of another in Dakar, the capital, which was to become the center of a national network of libraries. The same year saw UNESCO create in Dakar a regional center for the instruction of librarians. The Ecole des Bibliothécaires, Archivistes et Documentalistes (EBAD, School of Librarians, Archivists, and Documentalists), as part of the University of Dakar, seemed poised lead 'the emergence of a real library professional community' (Dione and Séne, 2006).

The UNESCO report expressed optimism that, until public librarianship was firmly established in Senegal, the benefits of public reading were still assured because of four existing public libraries: The Library of the Alliance Française (French Alliance, formed in 1946), the library of the French Cultural Center (opened in 1959), The Clairafrique library (a part of a bookstore) that loaned to subscribers, and the American Cultural Center library organized by the United States (set up by the United States Information Agency: USIA). Two more public libraries for restricted audiences were noted in Dakar, along with several small libraries (petites bibliothèques municipales) in outlying cities as well as a few libraries associated with cultural organizations.

The USIA library was perhaps especially influential because, alone among the other libraries, it offered access to open shelves and free borrowing rights – no registration fee for library services, which was the norm. Although the USIA's collection was necessarily based on US interests and agency guidelines, the library itself was an early training ground for students from UNESCO's nascent librarian educational effort. This library school, however, had to shift some emphasis away from training librarians to managing public libraries when it was soon realized that francophone Africa was not going to support any systematic public library development. More effort was then placed on training librarians for different positions, including research libraries and archives (Maack, 1981). Senegalese librarians actually created a new library association in 1973, the Association Nationale des Bibliothécaires, Archivistes et Documentalistes Sénégalais (ANBADS, National Association of Senegalese Librarians, Archivists, and Documentalists). This decade saw plans being developed for a national network of libraries, which included a central public library in Dakar, regional public libraries, departmental public libraries, city- neighborhood public libraries, as well as public libraries at the town level (Fofana, 2003).

But what was a promising beginning for the development of public libraries in Senegal encountered serious difficulties in the 1970s as Senegal took on increasingly high levels of debt during this period of state-sponsored national development. It is not surprising, then, that this network never fully developed beyond the creation of some 10 regional libraries, libraries opened under the auspices of Centres Départementaux d'Education Populaire et Sportive (CDEPS, Departmental Centers of Sport and Popular Education), and 16 Centres de Lecture et d'Animation Culturelle (CLAC, Centers for Reading and Cultural Activities). CLACs were created in many developing francophone countries to provide public reading facilities, mainly in rural areas but also in some working-class suburbs of urban areas (CLAC, 2009).

By 1980 Senegal was compelled to take an economic recovery loan with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the nation underwent serious austerity packages under the recommendation of the IMF and the World Bank. Of course, library services in Senegal were not considered important targets of funding during what could have been a period of coordinated development of public libraries. Where the government was not a strong proponent of library services at this time, other private organizations came forward. By the turn of the century, there were several ongoing initiatives to establish public libraries in Senegal, ranging from the government sponsored bibliothéques régionales (regional libraries) and CLAC libraries, to all sorts of private ventures.

Current framework

The Association Sénégalais des Bibliothécaires, Archivistes et Documentalistes (ASBAD, Association of Senegalese Librarians, Archivists, and Documentalists) attempted in 2001 to carry out a study on the library situation in Senegal in order to assist the Direction du Livre et de la Lecture (DLL, Bureau of the Book and Reading) in its promotion of literacy. Although the study itself recognizes that it was not exhaustive, the results were rather sobering. Of all the libraries visited, for example, hardly any building satisfied basic architectural norms for a library, from room design to available furniture. Even worse, however, was the finding that the budget allocated for materials acquisitions was nearly nonexistent. Thus the remark: 'Cette contestation explique le fait que les dons constituent la principale source d'accroissement des collections. Les achats sont donc exceptionnels et sont la plupart du temps exécutés sur les frais d'abonnement des lecteurs. Les échanges sont presque inexistents alors qu'ils devraient se faire dans the cadre de certains réseaux formels, comme par exemple le réseau des bibliothèques municipales de Dakar mis en place en 1992' (this observation explains the fact that donations make up the main source for growing collections. Purchases are thus exceptional and are most often made from the subscription fees of the readers. Exchanges hardly exist unless they are done in the framework of a few formal networks like, for example, the network of Dakar municipal libraries put in place in 1992) (ASBAD, 2001).

The study continues by denigrating the quality of donated materials, which are instigated without consulting the library and simply increase the amount of inappropriate or useless items that do not meet the needs of the users: 'Les bibliothèques sont alors remplies de collections ne répondant aucunement au besoins des utilisateuf (libraries are thus filled with collections that do not meet in any way the needs of the users) (ASBAD, 2001). Besides the lack of architectural qualities necessary for a typical public library, and the inability of these libraries to acquire the materials they need for their particular users, another major default was noted by this study: few collections have been cataloged, and where a catalog exists it often does not meet library standards. This default can probably be explained by one of the study's simple observations: 'D'une manière générale les bibliothèques sont tenues par des non professionals' (in general the libraries are managed by non-professionals) (ASBAD, 2001). In fact, of the libraries covered in this study, graduates of the Ecole de Bibliothécaires, Archivistes et Documentalistes (EBAD, School of Librarians, Archivists, and Documentalists) made up only 6 percent of staff, and this number was mainly concentrated in Dakar. As a further obstacle to library management, it was noted that volunteers actually outnumbered the level of paid staff.

The ASBAD study concluded with six recommendations for the improvement of public libraries in Senegal:

Not much had changed by 2003 when Ramatoulaye Fofana published a study on publishing in Senegal. Fofana also agreed with the ASBAD study detailing the many faults of the public library system in Senegal and observed three primary groups of public libraries: libraries resulting from local authorities (23 percent), those from the state (42 percent), and the rest stemming from private initiatives. These initiatives include the Service de Cooperation et d'Action Culturelle (SCAC, Cultural and Cooperative Service) of the French Embassy, Aid and Action, Association Française des Volontaires du Progrès (AFVP, French Associaton of Volunteers for Progress), etc.

One very strong private initiative for public libraries in Senegal has been Lire en Afrique (Read in Africa), which became active in 1990, thanks to the efforts of two French women (Eliane Lallement and Marie-Josèphe Devillers) who saw a critical need, and depended on donations and volunteers to create and manage their libraries. By 2010, after 20 years of activity in Senegal, Lire en Afrique had created 50 libraries, mainly in rural areas. It was estimated that this organization was able to offer 300,000 books to some 100,000 readers (Lire en Afrique, 2010) – without having the advantage of any budget or professional staff. Books are being added at a rate of 15,000 to 35,000 per year, and it is important to note that this organization realizes the scholarly needs of the readers but principally wants to address their leisure needs. To obtain books, Lire en Afrique depends on a yearly shipment from France of some 30,000 carefully chosen items from multiple sources: weedings from French public libraries, overstocks from French publishers, and direct purchases from African publishers. Because a great part of Lire en Afrique users are young, 50 percent of the books are youth literature while the rest fall into pedagogical categories such as manuals, scientific documentation, etc (33 percent) and African literature (17 percent) (Biblionef, 2010).

Legislation and legal structure

If Lire en Afrique and other private organizations did not exist, Senegal would be much worse off for public library service. After detailing the success of Lire en Afrique, Viviana Quiñones, writing for Takem Tikou (an online book and reading review for youth), states that the benefit of being a public library exists in the official status it receives, but these libraries enjoy no other advantages: 'elles sont très insuffisantes pour couvrir les besoins et, d'autre part, ces réseaux sont tres souvent en souffrance ou dormants. Ils sont parfois dirigés par des fonctionnaires qui ne comprennent pas l'enjeu que représente la lecture des jeunes, et/ou qui ne disposent d'aucun budget pour animer le réseau, tant pour les acquisitions … que pour la formation ou l'animation. De surcroît, les bibliothécaires diplômés ne s'orientent pas vers la lecture publique, car elle n'offre pas de perspectives de carrière interessantes' (they are insufficient for covering the needs and, on the other hand, they are often suffering or dormant. They are often managed by functionaries who don't understand the stakes involved in youth reading and/or have no budget to keep the network going as for acquisitions or for education or activities. In addition, the degreed librarians don't go into public service because it does not offer the promise of an interesting career). Quiñones admits that she is saying basically what Adama Aly Pam, the president of the Association des Bibliothécaires, Archivists, Documentalistes du Sénégal, stated himself in an earlier interview (Development Gateway, undated).

The management of public libraries is well-defined in the hierarchy of the government of Senegal. Under the Ministry of Culture, the DLL – which has existed since the early years of the twenty-first century – has, among its many duties, a Division des Bibliothèques. This Division has two principal missions in order to coordinate state efforts in the national network of libraries, answering to needs of different public.

The DLL has published, as recently as 2007, a listing of all libraries in the Senegalese library network (Ministère de la Culture, du Genre et du Cadre de Vie: Réseau des Bibliothèques du Sénégal, 2007) including regional, associative, CLAC, and Alliance Franco-Sénégalaise organizations.

Conclusion

Although Senegal obviously has in place a government structure to manage a public library system, pervasive lack of funding over the years has not allowed Senegal to reach its earlier potential. The Senegalese experience shows that, in order to build a robust system of public libraries in a country, clear legislation must be backed up by the financial commitment of government. Unfortunately, the network of private-initiative libraries will for the time being continue to serve an essential role in providing library services for many Senegalese as the government is simply not able to provide it. Senegal has a foundation for public libraries that is more solid than many other developing countries: the idea of public library service is well established in the culture and the government has taken the time to clearly demarcate governmental responsibility for them. If the funds were made available, public libraries in Senegal could very well thrive.

References

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