“Don’t They Know How Important It Is?”

The paper comes out of a month-long case study information literacy education in two public libraries small South African town the rural province Mpumalanga, undertaken October 2004. participant observation is second phase twophase mixed methods study, which explores capacity Africa for – context dire shortage school libraries. focus on connections between and schools. However, relations their staff members are found to impact these - with finding that historical impacts significantly library programming. concentrates, however, just threads enquiry: views teachers principals seven schools educational role as revealed interviews; pupils’ use seeking assignments. reveals lack cognizance high level demands information-seeking among teachers. They tend see warehouse from things “fetched”. finds paradox gulf certainly exists but shared limited conceptions literacy. intense gaze contributes nuanced understanding challenges Africa.