Dr. Tuesday Bwalya to deliver keynote at XXVII SCECSAL Conference in Livingstone

Dr Tuesday Bwalya, seated in the middle

The SCECSAL Conference Organizing Committee is delighted to announce that Dr. Tuesday Bwalya will deliver a keynote address at this year’s Standing Conference of Eastern, Central, and Southern African Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL). The conference will take place from 27 April to 1 May 2026 at the Avani Victoria Falls Resort in Livingstone, Zambia. 

Dr. Bwalya’s keynote, titled “African Libraries and Information Services at the New Crossroads,” is scheduled for 27 April, the first day of this major regional event. His address will set the tone for a thoughtful and inspiring exploration of the transformative journey African libraries are undertaking, highlighting the opportunities and challenges posed by rapid technological, social, and economic changes across the continent. 

About Dr. Tuesday Bwalya

Dr. Bwalya is a scholar, educator, and librarian based in Zambia. He is the Head of the Technical Services Department at the University of Zambia (UNZA) Library while also serving as a lecturer in the Department of Library and Information Science at the same university. In addition, he plays a key editorial role as the Managing Editor of the Zambia Journal of Library & Information Science. He is also the Vice-Chairperson of the University Council at Mulungushi University, one of the public universities in the country.

Dr. Bwalya holds a Ph.D. in Library and Information Science from UNZA and earned his Master’s in Information Science from Northeast Normal University in China. His career reflects a deep commitment to advancing library automation, open access publishing, e-records management, and information systems that support inclusive access to knowledge across communities. His training and professional development have taken him across multiple continents, including specialized study in India and Belgium focused on free and open-source library management systems. 

 “African Libraries and Information Services at the New Crossroads”

The theme of Dr. Bwalya’s keynote resonates with the overarching focus of SCECSAL 2026: navigating a pivotal moment for libraries and information services in Africa. As institutions grapple with digital transformation, evolving user expectations, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, this keynote will highlight both the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for libraries seeking to remain relevant, equitable, and future-ready. 

From advocacy and policy influence to innovation in service delivery and the adoption of digital tools, his address is expected to stimulate meaningful dialogue among conference delegates and set the tone for the sessions that follow. 

Join us in Livingstone

Whether you are a library professional, researcher, student, policymaker, or simply someone interested in transforming communities and advancing sustainable development through information, knowledge, innovation, and collaboration, the XXVII SCECSAL Conference is the forum for you.

The conference will provide an engaging platform to connect with leading library and information science experts in Africa, including Dr. Bwalya, and to contribute meaningfully to shaping the future of library and information services across the continent.

For more information and registration for the conference, visit the conference website at https://conference.scecsal.org/

Call for candidates: Independent SCECSAL President

The Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL) invites applications from suitably qualified individuals to be considered as candidates for election to the position of Independent SCECSAL President.

The position of Independent SCECSAL President is established in accordance with Article 6, Sub-section 6.1 of the SCECSAL Constitution, which provides for SCECSAL Officers and their respective roles.

The Independent SCECSAL President serves as the principal governance leader of SCECSAL and provides strategic direction to the organization in accordance with its Constitution, vision, and mission.

The role is accountable to the SCECSAL General Assembly and works closely with the SCECSAL Management Board to ensure effective governance, policy oversight, and regional representation.

As an independent office bearer, the President is expected to uphold the highest standards of impartiality, ethical leadership, and institutional stewardship, while representing SCECSAL at regional and international fora.

Eligible candidates will be presented for election at the XXVII SCECSAL Conference in Livingstone. The duly elected Independent President will be announced on 2 May 2026 during the SCECSAL General Assembly Meeting in Livingstone, Zambia.

Interested individuals are invited to download the Call for Candidates and submit their applications to the addresses indicated therein by Friday, 20 March 2026.

Call for Candidates (PDF)

Preliminary programme for the XXVII SCECSAL conference announced

Download the programme

The XXVII SCECSAL Conference Organising Committee has announced the Preliminary Programme for the Conference, scheduled to take place from 27 April to 1 May 2026 at the Avani Victoria Falls Resort in Livingstone, Zambia, located near the iconic Victoria Falls, one of the world’s most renowned natural wonders and a must-see destination for conference delegates.

The conference will bring together library and information professionals, researchers, lecturers, policymakers, development partners, graduate students, and industry leaders focused on strengthening development outcomes, transforming communities, and advancing sustainable development in Africa through information, knowledge, innovation, and collaborative action. 

Conference highlights.

The five-day programme features a blend of keynote addresses, plenary sessions, panel discussions, parallel paper presentations, training workshops, and cultural activities, all designed to promote knowledge exchange, professional development, and regional collaboration.

Key thematic areas covered in the programme include:

• Artificial Intelligence and library and information services in Africa
• Libraries, information services, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Partnerships, advocacy, and strategic positioning of libraries
• Digital technologies, open science, and reading culture
• Innovation and transformation in library and information services
• Policy, legal, and cybersecurity issues
• Knowledge management in organisational and development contexts
• Data, analytics, and artificial intelligence in libraries
• Strategic marketing of library and information services

Keynote addresses and expert panel discussions

The programme features high-level keynote speakers and expert panellists drawn from leading universities, national libraries, international organisations, and the private sector. The three keynote addresses will explore topics such as:

• African libraries at new crossroads
• Harnessing AI and data for Africa’s development
• Strengthening LIS human capital for a digital future

In addition, interactive panel discussions will examine how libraries and information professionals can advance the SDGs, build resilient and sustainable partnerships, and responsibly adopt artificial intelligence to enhance service delivery across the African continent.

Plenary and parallel sessions 

Participants can look forward to a rich programme of plenary and parallel sessions featuring peer-reviewed papers and case studies from across the SCECSAL region. These sessions will highlight practical experiences, evidence-based research, and innovative initiatives that demonstrate how information professionals and their institutions - libraries – in Africa are contributing to social transformation, capacity development, and sustainable development.

The programme also includes optional training sessions, side events, and professional meetings. 

Cultural evening and networking

Beyond the academic and professional sessions, the conference will feature networking opportunities, including a Welcome Cocktail and a Cultural Evening. Highlights of the Cultural Evening include the SCECSAL Excellence Awards ceremony and the Rhythms of SCECSAL where delegates from participating countries showcase their cultures through cultural or national dress, dance, poetry, and song - celebrating unity in diversity across the SCECSAL region and beyond.

What’s next?

This programme is preliminary and subject to change. Participants and interested readers are encouraged to regularly visit the SCECSAL Forum Blog for the latest updates and announcements. For official information on registration, accommodation and transport arrangements, and the final conference programme, please follow SCECSAL and LIAZ communication channels and visit the conference website at https://conference.scecsal.org/.

Experience the XXVII SCECSAL Conference like never before – see you in Livingstone this April!

Download the programme HERE!

This April, the SCECSAL Conference 2026 heads to Livingstone, Zambia

 

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The library and information community across Africa and beyond is set to gather in one of the continent’s most breathtaking destinations as the XXVII SCECSAL Conference 2026 takes place from 27th April to 1st May 2026 at the Avani Victoria Falls Resort in Livingstone, Zambia’s tourism capital.

An essential fixture on Africa’s library and information science (LIS) calendar, the SCECSAL Conference is a flagship biennial gathering that convenes information professionals, development practitioners, academics, policymakers, and innovators from across the continent and beyond to engage in high-level discussions on the evolving information landscape and its impact and role in Africa’s development agenda.

Hosted just a stone’s throw from the spectacular Victoria Falls, one of the world’s natural wonders, this high-profile conference will be held under the theme: “African Libraries and Information Services at the New Crossroads.”

The theme reflects a critical moment for African libraries and information services, shaped by digital transformation, evolving user needs, open knowledge movements, and the growing role of information in socio-economic development. The conference will provide a strategic platform for dialogue, partnerships, and forward-looking solutions that will influence the future direction of information services across Africa.

Participants can look forward to a vibrant programme designed to inspire library and information professionals, academics, LIS students, development practitioners, and policymakers across the information, education, and technology sectors. The conference will feature high-level keynote addresses, engaging panel discussions, technical sessions, exhibitions, and rich networking opportunities with peers and LIS experts from across Africa and around the world, all set in the inspiring environment of one of the world’s natural wonders.

Keynote addresses by distinguished African and international experts will explore critical issues shaping the sector, including the future direction of African libraries, the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and data for development, and the strengthening of LIS human capital for a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Interactive panel discussions will bring together practitioners, scholars, and policymakers to examine pressing themes such as Artificial Intelligence and Libraries, Libraries and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the creation of strategic partnerships for sustainable library and information services.

Technical sessions will offer participants the opportunity to contribute to focused discussions across key areas, including empowering libraries and users for transformative services, innovation in library and information services, data analytics and cybersecurity, and the application of artificial intelligence in libraries.

Have you registered yet?

Standard registration closes on 20th March 2026, so now is the time to secure your place.

Register today by visiting: https://conference.scecsal.org/

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and contribute to shaping the future of library  and information services in Africa at this important event in Livingstone.