Local economic development in Uganda and the connection to rural community libraries and literacy

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present a cursory overview of economic development in Uganda, and discusses some important links between the rural library and the ways it might impact human development areas such as economic uplift, education and literacy. Design/methodology/approach - Real-life examples of small-scale economic development projects from the Kitengesa Community Library in rural Uganda are used to contextualize some of these connections. A comprehensive review of the literature on rural development, economic development in Uganda, the relationship between literacy, libraries and economic development and the rural community library provide a context for the paper. This paper reflects an in-depth review of the professional literature on economic and human development in Uganda, literacy, and the rural library. It also incorporates some qualitative data gathered from research studies conducted at Kitengesa Community Library in 2004 and 2005, including individual interviews with library users, teachers, local business merchants, and librarians at Kitengesa. Findings - The article concludes that there is potential for rural community libraries to impact small- scale local economic development. The projects at the Kitengesa Community Library are still in their infancy, and long-term economic outcomes are not certain. At the same time, the projects have created a new sense of hope and possibility for many library users. There are numerous implications for other rural libraries, as income-generating projects may be a way to attract new users, attract outside financial support, showcase the practical nature of these libraries, and provide a means for local peoples to improve their lives. Research limitations/implications - A longitudinal quantitative evaluation of the success of the Kitengesa projects and the income they generate would be the next step in terms of future research such a study would highlight the role of the rural library in local economic development and provide further support for establishing more rural community libraries. Originality/value - This paper is unique in that it expands on the concept of the rural community library as just a place to read books, and highlights the important role these libraries might play in developing areas where there is a profound lack of access to information, and few ways for residents to improve their economic standing.