International participants at SCECSAL conference tour Windhoek

Since April 2000, the third day at each SCECSAL conference is reserved for tours and cultural evening events, and SCECSAL 2021 was no different as far as tours were concerned.

We share photos from the tour of Windhoek by some international on Wednesday, 10 February.

Preparing to start off on the tour

At the University of Nambia
Information & Learning Resource Centre

Visiting the UNAM Resource Centre

Visting Greenwell Matongo Community Centre

Greenwell Matongo Community Centre

At the Independence Memorial
Museum

Visiting a local market in Windhoek

Librarians in the SCECSAL region urged to engage in "politics" to get extra budgets for libraries

Honourable Veno Kauaria at
the 25th SCECSAL Conference

On Thursday, Honourable Veno Kauaria, Member of Parliament in Namibia, urged librarians in the SCECSAL region to play politics of reaching out and innovation to get extra funding for their libraries, while maintaining their neutrality. 

"With the current diminishing budgets every financial year, it is up to the librarians to became politicians", Hon. Kauaria told library and information professionals during the closing ceremony of the 25th SCECSAL Conference in Windhoek, Namibia.

Libraries are neutral institutions and librarians should continue to maintain their neutrality, while striving to get the extra budget for their institutions. 

Librarians should be involved in the politics of engagement, politics of communication, and politics of persuasion. This is politics of reaching out and to innovate, she said.

Library advocacy is political engagement, it is about persuasion, it is about communication, and about reaching out, Hon. Kauaria told the gathering.. 

Librarians should know how to advocate for more funds for their libraries, they need to select who to reach out to and should engage with people who will advance their cause. Advocating for libraries is now more important than before and is within easy reach of librarians.

Hon. Kauaria reminded conference participants that people who allocate budgets, some who live with librarians in the communities and meet and engage with them at churches, need to know what librarians are doing if they are to support libraries’ cause. 

Most politicians like to hear numbers and statistics, and librarians should include in their advocacy strategies, talking to politicians in their area in terms of the number of youth visiting the library, people using libraries, to generate interest in the politicians who will see this in terms of the number of potential voters.

Hon. Kuaria, before moving into politics, worked and gained her experience in the library profession. 

She holds a B.A. in Sociology and a Master of Science in Library and Information Science both from Long Island University, in the United States of America. Her work and professional experience in the library and information sector, before going into politics, including serving as Director American Information Centre in Windhoek, Namibia; Director of Namibia Library and Archives Service under the Ministry of Education, and Executive Director (Permanent Secretary) in the Department of Lifelong Learning.

Hon. Kauaria is a founder member of the Namibian Information Workers Association (now called National Information Workers Association of Namibia). She served as NIWAM Chairperson from 2015 to 2019 during which she played a critical role in NIWAN's bid to host the 25th SCECSAL Conference. She has also served on the Bill and Melinda Gates Public Libraries Committee, and as Chairperson of ESARBICA.

His Excellence Dr Elia G. Kaiyamo 
Namibia Ambassador to China 

Earlier on during the closing ceremony, His Excellence Dr Elia G. Kaiyamo, Namibia Ambassador to China and NIWAN Patron, congratulated library and information professionals in the SCECSAL region, and extended a big thank you to SCECSAL 2021 conference organizers, paper presenters, and participants for a very successful conference. Dr Kaiyamo also called upon librarians to lead by example by reading more and doing research and join in the fight against the COVID-19. He further urged librarians to a build good working relationship with governments, especially with government institutions concerned with libraries, to contribute to the development of the people.

SCECSAL Conference ends on a good note

 By Sylvia Umana for SCECSAL Forum

Hon. Veno Kauaria (right) handing
a certificate of appreciation

The 24th SCECSAL conference came to an end this afternoon in Windhoek,
Namibia. Today, the last day of the conference, proved to be another successful day. The day’s events were concluded with the SCECSAL General Assembly session during which key decisions from the SCECSAL General Council meeting and highlights of key issues from the conference were presented, and announcement and promotion for the twenty-fifth SCECSAL conference to be held in South Africa were made.

The SCECSAL Secretariat, represented by Dr Justin Chisenga, presented three key decisions from the SCECSAL General Council meeting held on Tuesday, 9 February 2021. These are: all future SCECSAL proceedings will be made available in digital format (print-on-demand); future SCECSAL conferences will largely be hybrid events, i.e. providing in-person and virtual options, except in cases where in-person will not be possible; and SCECSAL Excellence Awards for 2020 will be given to the recipients this year, at a special virtual event.

Ms Foibe Shaambeni presenting
a summary report on the conference

The Secretary of the XXIVth SCECSAL National Organising Committee and Chief Rapporteur for the Conference, Ms Foibe Shaambeni, presented a summary report highlighting several aspects of the conference. Among others, she reported that 46 presentations were made at the conference,  including 15 onsite, 27 via Zoom meeting platform and 4 as pre-recorded video presentations.

Ms Nikki Crowster, President of the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA), confirmed her Association’s readiness to host the XXVth SCECSAL Conference from 25-29 April 2022. Ms Crowster told the Assembly that the conference is being planned largely as a virtual event on theme “Libraries and Information Services: Reflections and Predictions in Unprecedented Times” with sub-themes focusing on Creativity and innovation, Partnerships, Reflections (Impact e.g. fake news; focus on open access; changing buying patterns and material formats) and  Predictions (How services are redefined; planning; business continuity; etc). The call for the 2022 SCECSAL would be issued soon.  A video promoting the conference was played, following which many participants showered eagerness to participate in the 2022 conference. 

Social distanced participants
at the General Assembly

The SCECSAL Secretariat submitted to the Assembly, for adoption, two resolutions
calling upon SCECSAL member Associations i) to advocate for the ratification and domestication of the Marrakesh Treaty in their respective countries, and ii) to innovate and adopt the use of digital technologies to respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on provision and access to library and information services. The SCECSAL member Associations present at the Assembly endorsed the resolutions for adoption.

The day’s programme ended with members of the Local Organizing Committee being awarded certificates of appreciation for their hard work and a successful conference, and the international delegates awarded tokens of appreciation for gracing the conference with their presence in these trying times. 

Honourable Veno Kauaria, Member of Parliament and former NIWAN chairperson, delivered the closing statement in which she emphasised the importance of networking with politicians and library and information users, to raise awareness and advocate for library services.

XXIV SCECSAL Conference in photos

By Sylvia Umana and Dr Chiku Mchombu for SCECSAL Forum

Registration at the conference

Waiting for registration

Prof. Katjavivi opening the conference
 as seen on LED screen

Participants listening to an Exhibitor

Ms Ritva Niskala,
Deputy University Librarian (UNAM)
moderating the Exhibitors' Session

Dr Chiku Mchombu (right),
Mrs Mutinta Mwemba Nabuyanda (middle) 

Ms Miriam Minin 
at the conference

Ms Teopolina Shuumbuli
at the conference

Dinner time 

Another wonderful day in Windhoek at the SCECSAL Conference

 By Sylvia Umana for SCECSAL Forum

Some conference delegates

Day 3 proceedings saw delegates attending the conference themed with traditional attires. The programme was divided into two parts. 

Some delegates participated in the tour of the City of Windhoek visiting places such as the University of Namibia Library, Greenwell Matongo Library, Nathaniel Maxuilili Community Learning and Development Centre, Independence Memorial Museum and Katutura Open Markets. 

The remaining delegates, at the conference venue, listened to the Conference Exhibitors’ presentations. Among the exhibitors was Emerald, Elsevier, Namibian College of Open Learning (NAMCOL), EBSCO, SABINET, and Springer Nature who presented their products and services they offer. 

Emerald focused on impact measuring of research in higher institutions, e-books, and e-journals. Elsevier and EBSCO presentations focused on research data management, research citations and research collaboration. Springer Nature promoted introduced participants to new features on Springer products and services. NAMCOL presented services offered including e-learning programmes and vocational training courses available on offer. 

The day ended with the hosts taking international delegates for a breather at a local restaurant.

A glance at the first day of the first ever blended SCECSAL Conference

 By Elia Kadhiya & Sylvia Umana for SCECSAL Forum

Hon. Prof. Katjavivi

After years and months of preparations, the XXIV SCECAL Conference
(SCECSAL 2021) finally kicked off today at the Safari Hotel and Conference Centre in Windhoek, Namibia. Dr Chiku Mnubi-Mchombu, the chairperson of SCECSAL National Organising Committee, introduced the SCECSAL XXIV conference and acknowledging the sponsors’ contribution to making the conference a success. These include the Namibia Library and Information Council (NLIC), The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Emerald Publishing, International University of Management (IUM), the Goethe-Institut, Elsevier Publishing, University of Namibia (UNAM), Springer Nature, Namibia Libraries and Archive Services and the Namibia College of Open Learning (NAMCOL).

Dr Ellen Namhila

Dr Sarah Kaddu, Chairperson of the Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA), moderated the official opening session programme. During the official opening, Dr. Ellen Namhila, NIWAN founding member and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) of UNAM, extended a warm welcome to all participants at the conference venue and to participants who joined the conference through virtual platforms and indicated that we are living in an era in which human development has been identified as a critical challenge. She was followed by the Guest of Honour Hon. Prof. Peter Katjavivi who, in his opening speech, emphasised the important role of information services in meeting the world’s development agenda as defined in the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The Ministry of Basic Education, Arts and Culture was represented by the Deputy Minister Ms Faustania Caley who indicated how libraries and archives play a major role in collecting, storing, processing and delivering information in the quest to advance socio-economic development. She applauded that the conference has come at the right time when Namibia libraries need serious infrastructural upgrading to meet the demand of an information society as envisioned in the Vision 2030, Namibia’s blueprint document which outlines where the country needs to by 2030. 

Members of the Organizing Committee

A total number of 85 delegates onsite, and 34, via Zoom platform, attended the first day of the conference.  

The blended, in-person and virtual, conference adhered to Namibia Government COVID-19 prevention protocols, which includes wearing face masks, using hand sanitizers, and keeping social distancing.

Professor Katjavivi calls on information professionals to address deficiencies in services rendered in terms of library and information services

 As the XXIVth SCECSAL conference gets underway in Namibia

Hon. Prof. Peter Katjavivi
delivering his statement

Honourable Professor Peter Katjavivi, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Namibia, today officially opened the XXIV SCECSAL Conference on “Inclusive Libraries and Information Services Towards Achieving Prosperity for Sustainable Development in Africa” at the Hotel Safari in Windhoek, Namibia.

In his opening statement, Honourable Professor Katjavivi, emphasised the importance of information services to meet the world’s development agenda as defined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in Africa where up to 30% of the population in many of our countries still live below the poverty line.

Hon. Prof. Katjavivi also reminded participants at the conference that inclusiveness to information services “requires to reach out and serve equally all groups in society, from the poorest to the richest, the disabled as well as the illiterate and other marginalised communities including minority groups in our societies”.

“I am happy to note that this conference will address all these deficiencies in services rendered in terms of library and information services in order to identify gaps and challenges and come up with workable solutions in the SCECSAL region.  Through this conference deliberations, I am confident that you will address inclusiveness and the Sustainable Development Goals agenda”, said Hon. Prof. Katjavivi.

Part of the participants at
the conference venue in Windhoek

The National Information Workers Association of Namibia (NIWAN) is hosting the conference for the second time in the history of SCECSAL. NIWAN first hosted SCECSAL Conference in April 2000 on the theme “Information 2000: a Vision for the SCECSAL region.

The first SCECSAL Conference was held in 1974 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

More than 50 papers are scheduled to be presented at this year’s SCECSAL Conference.

NIWAN ready to welcome participants to the XXIV SCECSAL Conference

NIWAN delegation in 2018 at the XXIII SCECSAL Conference
in Uganda accepted to host the XXIV SCECSAL Conference

The National Information Workers Association of Namibia (NIWAN) is ready to welcome participants to the twenty-fourth Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL) which kicks off on Monday, 8 February and runs to 11 February in Windhoek, Namibia. 

 Honourable Professor Peter Katjavivi, the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Namibia, will officially open the conference, and the Minister of Education, Honourable Ms Ester Anna Nghipondoka, will deliver a statement during the opening session scheduled to take place at the Hotel Safari in Windhoek. 

The conference, on the theme - Inclusive Libraries and Information Services Towards Achieving Prosperity for Sustainable Development in Africa - will be the first SCECSAL biennial conference to combine virtual and onsite delivery of papers and will be graced by more than 50 paper presenters, including academicians, researchers and library and information practitioners, from Namibia, South Africa, the United States of America, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, Botswana, among others.

Among others, the conference sub-themes include Access to information: Issues, Challenges, and Solutions; Building Capacities of Library and Information Professionals to Contribute Toward Attaining the 2030 Agenda; Information Literacy and the Knowledge Economy; and Open Data and Research Data Management. 

The conference was initially scheduled for 20-24 April 2020 and was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Visit the SCECSAL website for the conference programme, biographical information of some speakers, and individual papers to be presented at the conference.

LIAZ mourns Fanwell Banda

The late Mr Banda

The Library and Information Association of Zambia (LIAZ) is mourning the passing on of its member, Mr Fanwell Banda.

Mr Banda, who was the Deputy Chief Librarian of the National Assembly of Zambia, passed away on Thursday, 28th January 2021. 

In a statement released by LIAZ, Mr Banda is said to have been instrumental in the development of LIAZ, once served as LIAZ Editor in the Executive, and represented the Association and Parliament at various platforms including IFLA, SCECSAL and APLESA. 

Mr Banda is survived by a wife and children.

ULIA mourns departure of two legendary librarians: Dr Frederick Mukungu and Mr. Sengero Lawrence

The Library and Information Science fraternity in Uganda is mourning the loss of two legendary librarians; Dr Frederick Nathaniel Mukungu and Mr. Sengero Lawrence. Dr. Mukungu, one of the longest-serving staff at Uganda Christian University (Mukono), succumbed to COVID-19 on the 1st /January 2021 at Uganda’s National Referral hospital, Mulago after a two week’s battle to the deadly virus. Dr, Mukungu, worked at UCU for about 23 years, as a University Librarian; before joining Muni University in Arua. He will be remembered as a very professional person who put the values of christianity in practice, said Dr. Sarah Kaddu, the ULIA President in a eulogising message read by ULIA Secretary General Mr. Charles Batambuze during the funeral services held at St. Philip’s and Andrew’s Cathedral, Mukono. The late Mukungu was a social, reliable, committed leader and hardworking person who served with diligence and integrity.

As a professional librarian, he served in various capacities. He started his career as a secondary school librarian of Mt St Mary's Namagunga, a college librarian of Uganda Christian University (UCU), university librarian to UCU up to 2015. Dr. Mukungu also vigorously supported a lot of initiatives such as the start of the Bachelor of Library & Information Science Programme of Uganda Christian university, a programme which has benefitted many students. He has supported the Library Association to host the Standing Conferences of East, Central, and Southern Africa Librarians twice. The most recent one being in 2018. Mr Charles Batanmuze noted that “a man's reputation goes ahead of him. His reputation of reliability, integrity and hard work earned him respect”.  This was true of Dr. Mukungu, Batambuze told mourners. Dr Mukunku had just served a contract with Muni University where he has been the founding University Librarian retiring in November 2020.

Mr. Batambuze noted that many young librarians have been nurtured by Dr Mukungu. He has been such a great pillar of professionalism in Uganda and beyond. We will surely miss him. The Uganda Library & Information Association (ULIA) has benefited from the leadership of Dr Mukungu when he served the General Secretary from 1998 to 2001. Dr Mukungu was also a founding member and the inaugural Chairperson of Consortium of Uganda University Libraries (CUUL) from 2001 to 2003. He will be remembered for his commitment and dedication towards the inauguration of one of the most powerful academic library consortia on the African Continent. He was so instrumental in the design of the CUUL structures. He was also one time, a treasurer - Standing Conference of National and University Libraries in East, Central and South - SCANUL ECS from 2002 to 2004. The LIS fraternity will forever be inspired by the leadership qualities that Dr Mukungu possessed.

Hardly after a day, another LIS legend in Uganda Mr Sengero Lawrence passed on. The late Sengero was one of the great lights of librarianship at the Institute of Teacher Education (ITEK) now Kyambogo University. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on the 2nd of January 2021. He will be remembered for working with others to start a Diploma in Library and Information Science program at Kyambogo University which continues to train key Library & Information Science Professionals in the East African region. Like Dr Mukungu, Mr Sengero also served as Secretary of ULIA in the 1990s when Uganda hosted SCECSAL. 

Mr. Sengero was laid to rest on the 3rd of January 2021 at his ancestral ground in Lugazi while Dr Mukungu will be laid to rest today Monday 4th January 2021 in Luzinga, Jinja district. 

May the souls of our fallen friends rest in peace. 

The late Dr. Mukungu

The late Sengero Lawrence

New dates for SCECSAL 2020 announced

Delegates from Malawi at SCECSSAL 2018 in Uganda

The SCECSAL 2020 Conference and Exhibition will be held on 8-12 February 2021 at the Safari Hotel and Conference Centre in Windhoek, Namibia, according to communication from the Namibia Information Workers Association and the SCECSAL Secretariat.

The SCANUL-ECS meeting will be on 7 February 2020.

The SCECSAL General Council, made up of Presidents/Chairpersons of SCECSAL Member Library and Information Associations from Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, approved the new dates on 24 March.

The conference was initially scheduled for 20-24 April 2020 but was postponed due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

Current registrations will remain valid for the conference on the new dates in 2021. Individuals wanting to cancel their registrations can do so, in writing, and will be charged 25% of the registration fees to cover administrative costs incurred thus far. Requests for refunds should be sent to Ms Ritva Niskala at rniskala@unam.na and copied to Mr. Wilheim Uutoni at wuutoni@unam.na and Dr. Chiku  M. Mchombu at cmchombu@unam.na.

NIWA will revise the conference budget and registration fees for 2021 to take into account the anticipated increase in costs due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.  The revised registration fees will be announced in August 2020.
More information will be made available on through the following digital platforms:

Conference website: http://scecsal2020.org/
SCECSAL Forum Blog: http://scecsal.blogspot.com/
Follow us: @SCECSAL

SCECSAL 2020 conference postponed

Some NIWA members at the official launch of the
SCECSAL 2020 conference  in Windhoek, Namibia on
4 February 2020

The XXIVth Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Library and Information Association (dubbed SCECSAL 2020) scheduled for 20-24 April 2020 in Windhoek, Namibia has been postponed until further notice.

The Namibian Information Workers Associations (NIWA), the SCECSAL member Association that was to host the conference, took the decision to postpone the conference on 12 March.

The postponement of the conference comes after a meeting of the SCECSAL General Council on 11 March at which an unanimous decision was taken to postpone the meeting, following the review of on ongoing developments in the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) across the globe and the concerns expressed by the SCECSAL member Associations.

In related developments,  on 11 March the Namibia Minister of Health, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, advised Namibians to avoid face-to-face meetings with international participants to minimize chances of contracting covid-19, and later in the evening on the same day, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, declared the covid-19 a pandemic, both events gave strong justification to the SCECSAL General Council’s proposal to postpone the conference.

NIWA and the SCECSAL Secretariat will monitor the developments and, in due course, propose the new dates for the conference.

SCECSAL member Associations that took part in the General Council meeting were:

• Eswatini Library Association (ESWALA)
• Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA)
• Library and Information Association of Zambia (LIAZ)
• Lesotho Library Association (LLA)
• Malawi Library Association (MALA)
• Namibia Library and Information Workers Association (NIWA)
• Tanzania Library Association (TLA)

For further information and clarifications, please contact the SCECSAL Secretariat at scecsal.secretariat@gmail.com.

SCECSAL 2020 officially launched!

By Sylvia Umana

The Twenty-Fourth Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern

African Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL XXIV), also dubbed SCECSAL 2020, was officially launched on 4 February at the National Library of Namibia in Windhoek.

Ms. Edda Bohn Deputy Executive Director of Formal Education
 from the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture

The Deputy Executive Director of Formal Education, Ms. Edda Bohn, representing the Minister of Education, Arts and Culture as the Guest of Honour, officiated at the launch which was witnessed by over 40 participants from various institutions such as government ministries, universities, parastatals organizations as well as the media houses.

In her keynote speech, Ms. Bohn recapped the audience on Namibia’s Vision 2030 which is aimed at enabling the country to set up a vibrant knowledge economy by the end of this decade, a vision which requires access to information to all young and old alike. It also requires free access to ICTs and ICT Literacy as we journey towards this goal. Hence the relevance of this conference forthcoming at the time when all these important policy decisions are being implemented. She therefore concluded that, the success of SCECSAL 2020 is the success of Namibia and Africa in entirety.

The launch of SCECSAL 2020 primarily aimed to inform the participants on the progress, challenges and opportunities pertaining to the preparations of the upcoming conference to take place on 20-24 April 2020 in Windhoek, Namibia.

The SCECSAL 2020 National Organizing Committee Chairperson, Dr. Chiku

Members of the National Organising Committee

Mnubi-Mchombu, highlighted the progress made thus towards arrangements to hots the conference in Namibia. This includes establishment of Sub-Committees which are tirelessly working towards the preparations of the conference, the registrations of over 100 participants who showed interest in attending the conference, the review of all the papers to be presented at the conference, as well as securing support from a few sponsors/partners.

The chairperson also acknowledged the support received various partners who

have sponsored some aspects of the conference arrangements. These include the Namibia Library and Information Council (NLIC), the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Emerald Publishing, International University of Management (IUM), the Goethe-Institut, Elsevier Publishing and the Namibia College of Open Learning (NAMCOL).

Organizations interested in sponsoring any aspects of the conference with any form of sponsorship are welcome and should contact the Chairperson of the National Organizing Committee at the following address:

Dr Chiku Mnubi-Mchombu
Chairperson
National Organizing Committee
SCECSAL XXIV Conference
Windhoek, Namibia
Email: cmchombu@unam.na
Tel: +264 (0)61-2063664

Professor Katjavivi to officiate as guest of honour at SCECSAL 2020 conference

Hon. Prof. Peter Katjavivi (middle) with some
members of the National Organazing Committe
for SCECSAL 2020 conference

Honourable Professor Peter Hitjitevi Katjavivi, the Speaker of the National

Assembly of the Republic of Namibia, will be the guest of honour at the opening ceremony of the twenty-fourth Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Library and Information Associations (SCESSAL) to be held in Windhoek, Namibia, from 20 to 24 April.

Hon. Katjavivi has an illustrious career in academia and politics and has contributed immensely to nation building in Namibia.

From 1992 to 2003 he served as the founding Vice-Chancellor of the University of Namibia and transformed a previously segregated academic institution into a national university with relevant programmes that are increasingly accessible to all Namibians. Currently he also the founding Chancellor of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).

He also served as Namibia’s ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, The Netherlands, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the European Union (2003-2006), and ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany (2006–2008).

Hon. Katjavivi was also a Member of the Constitutional Committee (1989-1990) that drafted the Republic of Namibia’s Constitution, and a signatory to the Constitution.

The Namibian Information Workers Association (NIWA) will be hosting the SCECSAL conference for the second time, in the history of both NIWA and SCECSAL, having hosted the fifteenth SCECSAL conference in 2000 on the theme – “Information 2000: a Vision for the SCECSAL region”.

Paper presenters at this year’s SCECSAL conference will come from the SCECSAL region and beyond and more than 350 library and information professionals are expected to attend the conference at the Safari Park Hotel, which was also the venue for the 2000 conference.

Visit the SCECSAL 2020 website for  online registration, Call for International Exhibitors, and Call for Posters (deadline is 28 February 2020).

African Ministerial Conference on Information Access held in Accra

The 3rd Ministerial Roundtable meeting for African Ministers with oversight responsibilities for Libraries was held from 28-30 October 2019, at Labadi Beach Hotel, Accra, Ghana under the auspices of the Ministry of Education. The two-day conference was under the theme, “Libraries on the African Development Agenda: Progress made” purposefully fell within the framework of the AU 2063 Agenda, the Charter for  African Renaissance and the related outcomes of the AU Commission meeting held in Algeria in October 2018. The conference was aimed at providing leadership and guidance on how African governments can integrate libraries in their national development plans and ensure allocation of resources towards the achievement of the development goals. 

Ghana’s Minister of Education Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh
announcing the Accra Declaration

In his address to the delegates, the Host Minister, Ghana’s Minister of Education Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh echoed the core of libraries and information access. The Hon Minister acknowledged that information has become very crucial to every enterprise in life, hence its acquisition, storage, dissemination, evaluation and use needs to be properly positioned. 

Libraries play a role in the organization of the deluge of information available today as a consequence of technological advancement,” he said. The Minister further detailed that the government of Ghana under the leadership of His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo recognizes the importance of libraries in development and has rolled out interventions that have seen a rejuvenated public library service in the country. He concluded by disclosing that reforms have been taking place at public libraries in Ghana including increase in staff strength at Ghana Library Authority, opening up of new libraries, renovating existing libraries, increasing the number of books and adoption of technology in various forms of operations and service delivery.

In his address, AfLIA President Mr Mandla Ntombela highlighted the intention of the continental library body as to equip public libraries, even in remote rural areas of the continent, with 21st Century skills in LIS Sector that includes support of internet-connected libraries. This would have a far-reaching impact in promoting access to online information in a safe environment, with qualified library staff to guide patrons in the best use of the internet as an educational resource. On the future of community libraries, Mr Mandla noted that AfLIA visualizes an expanded community library network playing a vital role in nurturing cohesion because the libraries can provide a safe environment for social interaction, the exchange of information and ideas and development of skills. 

As AfLIA, we exist to empower the library and information community, so that they can positively contribute towards the achievement of the African Development Agenda (AU Agenda 2063) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), through dynamic services that transform the livelihoods of Africans. AfLIA family of information leaders, fully embrace the strategic value of Access to Information  as a fundamental Human Right- Mandla emphasized.

Mr. Mandla Ntombela AfLIA President addressing participants 

The AfLIA supremo also noted that African libraries and information services face huge challenges in the documentation and communication of indigenous knowledge. These include the lack of financial resources, human capacity, technology shortages and the lack of legal frameworks at national and international level to support the library efforts to document and communicate indigenous knowledge. The fast-developing information and communication technologies continue to pose challenges on how best libraries can document and disseminate this oral and community-based knowledge to a globally accepted knowledge base.

Thirty-two (32) African countries were represented at the conference consisting of ministers, Directors of libraries and high-level emerging library leaders on the continent. At the end of the conference, African governments were expected to make commitments to strategies mapped out towards the development of libraries on the African continent. 

                                                 Courtesy of Dr. Sarah Kaddu.