Service learning in a course in children's & youth library & information services: a case study

Abstract

The case study describes a service learning project in Library and Information Science. In 2002, 14 students enrolled for the service learning elective – the 4th year second semester module, Children’s and Youth Library and Information Services (LS 421). The final year second semester programme comprises four equally weighted modules: an elective, a bibliography project and two fieldwork modules. In 2002 the strategy for LS 421 was to merge it with the two fieldwork modules. Students spent two days a week in the three libraries in Delft, Delft South and Bellville South and attended a weekly seminar. The aim was to embed the learning of the LS 421 course in their experience in the libraries. The children and youth of the Delft and Bellville South face huge challenges arising from the histories and socio-economics of their communities. The lack of literacy and information literacy was identified as an area for the intervention of librarian students. The case study reports the various challenges encountered and concludes that more interrogation of the difference between library based fieldwork and service learning is required.