The question of the provision of libraries to support primary and secondary education in South Africa has been overlooked by most education departments and educators and is not a focal point of current education planning. The present provision of library services by the different education authorities is generally poor; school libraries have long been at the bottom of the list of education priorities and receive little funding in comparison to libraries at tertiary education institutions. Some form of school library system providing both pupils and educators with easy access to information sources will be essential for the rejuvenation of the South African education system. However, recent policy changes do not bode well for the future development of school libraries, as the responsibility for financing schools falls increasingly on parents. This paper provides a description of the current state of school libraries in South Africa, focusing on schools falling under the KwaZulu Department of Education and Culture (KDEC) and the Department of Education and Training (DET) in Natal. A brief overview is provided on the trends in the international literature on school libraries in developing and developed countries. Also presented is a review of the trends in South African literature on school libraries and recent policy developments. (AEF)