Life challenges and information needs of children and young adults in Lesotho: lessons from an internet-connected hybrid library

Abstract

This discussion argues that, never before has the African child and youth been so vulnerable to social deprivation that comprises civil wars, drugs, disease and orphanage as in the 21st century; and to an extent that youth generally have to vie for themselves. The situation has also culminated into the African Union coming up with the African Youth Charter (2006) by which member states committed themselves to relevant policies and care. This paper reports on an enquiry into life challenges of children and youth as traceable from myriad reasons for using the Mafeteng hybrid type of district public library. Key categories of reasons for use of the library are educational, entertainment, adventure/curiosity (pornography, satanism) and solving livelihood challenges such as job seeking and disease cure. Efforts for an internet-connected library provision should not end at that, and assume that all is well. Since it seems use of Internet by children and youth within a library poses advantages and risks, the situation calls for a joint responsibility of all the concerned to ensure guidance which should minimize risks while maximizing benefits to the innocent minds.