Measuring up: public libraries discovering their impact in Zimbabwe

This study examines the knowledge of Zimbabwean public librarians and their stakeholders regarding impact assessment, including how they collect, utilize, and acquire information to enhance library services and programs. The study provides an overview of the history and challenges faced by public libraries in Africa and Zimbabwe, as well as the Zimbabwe Library Association. The literature review defines impact assessment and discusses its application in public libraries in both the Global North and the Global South The study employed document analysis to analyze the impact assessment in public libraries, library institutions and academic institutions in Zimbabwe (Kanengoni, 2023). I analyzed public library reports, government reports on public libraries, library conference proceedings, and library school syllabi to answer my research question (Kanengoni, 2023). The study addressed the following areas using an impact assessment knowledge table for analysis: • What do the public library and its stakeholders in Zimbabwe know about public library impact assessment? • How the public library and its stakeholders in Zimbabwe conduct impact assessment. • How the public library and its stakeholders in Zimbabwe use impact data and • How the public library and its stakeholders in Zimbabwe learn about impact assessment and develop their capacity (Kanengoni, 2023). The results showed that public libraries in Zimbabwe do not measure, utilize, or learn about impact assessment metrics. Consequently, public libraries in Zimbabwe lack the information needed to advocate for funding, staff, resources, or technology. The study concludes with recommendations for establishing a culture of impact assessment in public libraries and identifies future research areas in impact assessment in public libraries in Zimbabwe.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Library & Information Science

Grantor

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2025

Author dc:creator

• Kanengoni, Jean Sarurai

Contributors dc:contributor

• Knox, Emily
• Bonn, Maria
• Barnes, Teresa
• Dent, Valeda

• Zimbabwe Public Libraries Impact Assessment

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2025 Jean Kanengoni

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132578

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/132578