doi:10.7916/d8-xsnv-ge48Oral history interview with Rookaya Bawa, 2011Bawa, Rookayaoral historiesmixed materialLibraries--AfricaBawa, RookayaCarnegie Corporation of New YorkEarly life in South Africa; marriage at age sixteen; one of ten people of color allowed to go to a white university; graduate education in England; member of black faculty at South Africa universities; work in libraries for South African Department of Education; mother of two girls; hired by Carnegie to develop a model library program in Africa; work in the field in Africa; importance of technology to African libraries; utilizing partnerships with local governments to ensure completion and sustainability of libraries; the library as safe space; development of library collections; inefficacy of mobile libraries; building of inter-library research commons; methods of activating interest in public libraries; choosing which libraries to work with; training public librarians; digitization of collections; benefits to philanthropy of hiring specialists or generalists; leadership of and disagreements with Vartan Gregorian; return to South Africa to care for ill daughter; future position as executive director of the academic library at University of Johannesburg; impressions of New York City; continuing role as consultant for Carnegie.