Zingisani Nokubonga Makrwede

Zingisani Nokubonga Makrwede is Senior Manager: Circulation Services, Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan University. After university Zingisani was a primary and high school teacher for 12 years before working as a lecturer and librarian at an in-service college in Mthatha. She was a campus librarian at the Port Elizabeth Vista University LIS from 1999 to 2003, before moving to the University of Port Elizabeth University in 2004, and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) LIS in 2006. Zingisani is a member of the NMMU LIS Senior Management team. This team is responsible for the strategic direction of NMMU LIS. Zingisani is an active member of LIASA (Library and Information Association of South Africa) and participated at the South African Library Leadership Project, hosted by the Mortenson Centre at the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign in 2003.

The impact of library and information services in the multiple disadvantaged communities within

the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality

The paper intends to describe the impact of public and university library and information services in multiple disadvantaged communities within the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality ( NMBM) in South Africa. An introduction of the historical background of the NMBM and gaps in developmental areas will be followed by a description of the practical interventions and role that both library and information services provide in order to benefit the multiple disadvantaged communities in this metropolitan municipality.

The conclusion will focus on envisaged library and information services projects that will into the future further engage these library and information services in community development .Current shortcomings on library provision as faced by the library and information services will be examined with the aim of forging future library partners from the UK libraries for example through the Chartered Institute of Library Professionals and the Public Library Authorities and any other UK Library bodies . In this way the NMBM libraries could learn best practices on library and information provision towards the development of its communities.