Zambia participates in 3rd African Public Library Summit in Durban, South Africa

The Library and Information Association of Zambia (LIAZ) took part in the 3rd Public Library Summit organized by the Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA) in Durban, South Africa, from 3rd to 4th July, 2018 at the prestigious Durban International Convention Centre, on the theme “Driving Development: African Public Libraries Delivering on the Development Agenda”.

LIAZ was represented at the Summit by a six-member team comprising Velenasi Mwale Munsanje, Aggie Kaite Mwanza Mumbi, Raymond Sikanyika, Famous Simpelwe, Debra Mwango Banda and Constantine Mupinde.

The Minister of Arts and Culture in South Africa, Honorable Nathi Mthethwa, officially opened the Summit which was hosted by National Department of Arts and Culture through the National Library of South Africa (NLSA) and Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA). Honorable Mthethwa explained that the theme for the Summit was a call to action and a commitment to improve the socio-economic development of African countries and the continent, and emphasized that more coordinated support to libraries would ensure better investment in public library infrastructures.

The two-day Summit saw about ten papers and seven ignite talks being conducted. Zambia made two

Allan Hagwelele sharing his ignite talk as the sign language interpreter follows

presentations; by Ms. Munsanje who presented a paper entitled “Public Library Services in Zambia and the Development Agenda ; and by Mr. Allan Hagwelele  who did an ignite talk entitled “Going beyond the books” in which he shared with the delegates how his experience through the Young African Library Innovators (IYALI) programme had positively impacted on his work at Choma Provincial Library in the Southern Province of Zambia.

Mr. Hagwelele was a beneficiary of the IFLA partnership with the Electronic Information for Libraries Public Library Innovation Programme (EIFL-PLIP) and AfLIA to support 15 participants in the second Young African Library Innovators initiative (IYALI) programme. IYALI is a peer learning and international networking experience for African public librarians.

Other key persons that attended the summit included Glòria Pérez-Salmerón , President the International Federation of Library Association and Institutions (IFLA) as well as the IFLA Secretary General, Gerald Leitner. AfLIA’s President John Tsebe as well as the Vice President Mandla Ntombela who is also LIASA President were also in attendance.

The Zambian delegation team also attended the Gala dinner that was hosted to celebrate 200 years of National Library of South Africa and which was also graced by Honorable Minister Mthethwa.

LIAZ Secretary General Aggie Kaite Mumbi represented Zambia during the IFLA Global Vision Meeting for the African region which took place at Onomo Hotel in Durban from 7 – 8th July.

New NEC for ZimLA

By Kenneth Mangemba

The 52nd Zimbabwe Library Association (ZimLA) Annual conference ended on a high note last week with an election that dissolved the National Executive Council (NEC) led by Mr. Lantern Fusire. A new NEC was elected with Shadreck Ndinde elected President of ZimLA.

The new ZimLA National Executive Council for ZimLA.

Shadreck Ndinde was the Vice president in the previous Council and has a vast of experience having been involved at branch level as ZimLA Masvingo branch Chairperson for several terms. The incumbent president encouraged ZimLA members and the information professionals at large to support the growth of the library association through utilization of talent and skills to foster cooperation in various ZimLA programmes.

    

The Annual General Meeting adopted a new clause in the Constitution, to have the position of President-elect, abolishing the position of vice president, of which Jerry Mathema won the vote from Matebeleland branch. The president-elect will take over as President of ZimLA when the term of incumbent president expires. The new clause gives room for a succession plan to enable smooth transfer of projects and activities. Under the old constitution, a new president would come in and take a completely new direction making it difficult to continue with projects and other ideas for ZimLA.

Charles Poterai and Praymore Tendai retained their positions as Treasurer and Advocacy Officer respectively. Another new comer is non-other than the ZimLA Mashonaland Branch Secretary, Alice Parakokwa. The position of Editor was also won by Bruce Nyabadza from Mashonaland branch. The new executive will be in place until 2020.

Incoming NEC members are expected to relinquish branch positions as they assume the new roles. Branches are therefore expected to ensure they have new members coming in to fill the vacant positions through a vote or appointing members.

A full meeting is expected to be held for a handover and takeover briefing soon. About 34 members attended the AGM despite a high attendance for the conferencing days. This indicates need for membership mobilization to ensure that more registered members attend the AGM as directed by the constitution. The next ZimLA election will be held in 2020.

Need for alternative funding for libraries: Prof Mavodza

Professor Judith Mavodza.

By Kenneth Mangemba

The 52^nd Zimbabwe Library Association (ZimLA) conference underway in Mutare got a boost from Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and Manicaland Provincial Affairs representatives. Running under the theme “Libraries in Transition: Emerging Trends and Technologies”, the conference has created a platform to iron out issues affecting growth of library and information institution in Zimbabwe.

 

The keynote address by Professor Judith Mavodza from United Arab Emirates accentuate on the need for library and information professionals to look for alternative funding sources for a sustainable service provision. She noted that information professional should re-assess services they are providing in the wake of emerging trends and technologies to ensure they are within the expectations of our users.

Delegates at the ZimLA conference in Mutare.

Prof Mavodza noted the impact of library spaces which are technologically-enhanced. She said that, “These spaces are becoming more active virtually, and creating more individual user experiences.” Indeed the emerging trends and technologies have transformed the entire library and information fraternity increasingly forcing librarians to ask for more funding. Prof Mavodza said Librarians should build advocacy skills that will enable them to seek alternative funding sources. She said there are private international funders such as the Elsevier Foundation’s Innovative Libraries in Developing Countries program that awards grants to libraries for improving access to and use of scientific, technological and medical information, and the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation Global Libraries program to expand technology access in public libraries. 

 The desire to fulfill the transition in libraries hinges around sustainable funding for libraries in Zimbabwe. Prof Mavonda said the current climate of extreme budget cuts can be circumvented through shifting away from local ILS models to a cloud-based service and many other strategies that strengthen consortia involvement in library work.

The conference has shown the significance of the library association with a record attendance of a hundred plus delegates from local and regional library and information professionals.

Zambia celebrates 2018 National Library Week

By Velenasi Mwale Munsanje

Guest of Honour chats with exhibitors
as LIAZ Vice President Mr. Jabulani Moyo,
on his right, looks on

National Library Week is an annual event commemorated around the world at different times. The significance of this event is to create public awareness on the importance of libraries by giving an opportunity to libraries, documentation/information centres to showcase their resources, facilities, events and services through different programs and events to the community. The event also provides the community with the opportunity to find out about the wide range of services which libraries and other information providing institutions offer as well as recognize the vital role they play in research, education and entertainment.

National Library Week in Zambia does not only provide libraries with a way to promote their services and raise awareness of the vital role that libraries play in society, but also  encourages literacy and provides people with access to information.

As well as attending events, National Library Weed attendees can check out their local libraries and inquire about their services available to find out new ways to utilise the facility. Presentations include a variety of topics that affect citizens such as drug abuse, environmental issues, sexual harassment, etc.

The Ministry of General Education in partnership with Library and Information Association of Zambia (LIAZ), yet again, partnered this year to celebrate this important event. In the recent years, the hosting of the main launch of the National Library Week has been rotating in the various provinces in Zambia. This has given an opportunity to the host provinces to have a national activity with much more impact on the local community.

The National Library Week celebrations took place in various provinces from 4th to 8th June, 2018.The main official launch was held on 6th June, 2018 in Kasama, in the Northern Province. The theme for this year’s National Library Week was “Libraries Lead.” The Northern Province Minister, Honourable Brian Mundubile officially opened the National Library Week that was hosted by Kasama Provincial Library. In his speech, the Honourable Minister echoed that the National Library Week was a great opportunity to talk about the how libraries lead in everything about our lives. He emphasised that libraries lead us to community exploration, heritage, academic success, innovation and our overall future. He observed that Librarians have long been trailblazers when it comes to issues like equity of access and intellectual freedom; beyond that, Librarian’s services and expertise help lead people to achieve their goals and improve their quality of life.

The award for the best exhibitor was grabbed by Road Development Agency (RDA) with the second position going to Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA). ZRA has been the best National Library Week exhibiting organization for the two previous years.

Although Northern Province was the official host of this national event, various celebrations were held in other provinces. These included Lusaka, Western, Luapula, North-Western, Eastern and Southern Provinces. Each province had a Guest of Honour that graced the occasion with various libraries exhibiting their services.

SCECSAL adopts amended constitution

The SCECSAL General Council, following virtual consultations held on 29 and 30 May, has adopted an amended constitution which has put in place a new governance structure and formalises the resolution of the SCECSAL General Assembly, made in 2016, to establish a permanent SCECSAL Secretariat.

The new SCECSAL governance structure will be composed of the SCECSAL General Council, the highest decision-making body made up Presidents/Chairpersons of the SCECSAL member Associations; the SCECSAL Committee of Focal Points, composed of representatives of the member Associations, to be responsible for day-to-day SCECSAL business; and the SCECSAL Secretariat.

The amendments to the constitution also give power to the General Council to suspend member Associations failing to fulfil their SCECSAL constitutional and financial obligations; and authorises member Associations hosting SCECSAL conferences to charge higher registration fees to participants who are not members of their national library (information) associations, a move aimed at encouraging library and information professionals to participate in activities of their national associations.

The constitution also makes provision for organizations and associations from within or outside the SCECSAL region, that are involved in or have an interest in the development of the library, information and knowledge profession in the region, to join SCECSAL as SCECSAL Affiliates.

Work on amending the constitution began in June 2016 and was finalised at the face-to-face meeting of the SCECSAL General Council held in Entebbe, Uganda, on 23-24 April 2018.

Download a copy of the constitution in PDF.

IAALD and ITOCA announce updates on upcoming fourth Africa Conference

IAALD Africa and ITOCA have announced updates on the upcoming fourth IAALD Africa Conference to take place from 30 May - 1 June 2018 at the Leriba Hotel, Centurion, Pretoria, South Africa.

The theme of the conference will be Agricultural Innovations, Information and Knowledge: Catalyzing the Attainment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union Agenda 2063.

Paper presenters from South Africa, the United States, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Tanzania, the Gambia, among other countries, are scheduled to speak at the conference and will cover sub-themes including e-agriculture and services, access to agricultural information, knowledge management services, capacity development for farmers, empowering women and youth, and open data for agriculture and nutrition.

Participants at the conference will also have an opportunity to register for one of the following CPD (Continuing Professional Development) training free of charge:

• The ‘Knowledge Management Ecosystem’ concept and tools Workshop (KME), 
• Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Workshop (MEL) 
• Grant Writing & Resource Mobilization Workshop (GWRM)
• Developing and Managing Open Data Repositories (ODR) Workshop

The conference programme is available on the IAALD Africa website.

Individuals wishing to participate in the conference and in nay of the above CPD courses should register at:

• Participants within South Africa: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q22JZHW
• Participants outside South Africa: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IAALDconference

For further inquiries, please contact the conference coordinator, Ms Amanda Makwangwaidze at amanda@itoca.org

Vacancy for a librarian at Lesotho College of Education

The Lesotho College of Education (LCE) invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Librarian at Maseru campus. Interested persons may access additional information on the job from the Registrar’s Office based at the Administration Building of the LCE Maseru campus and the College’s website.

A copy of the advert is available HERE.

LIAZ clinches "LOCAL" deal

By Raymond Sikanyika

WorldReader Programme Manager, Benson Mbuthia,
demonstrates how to use an e-reader to Luanshaya
Deputy Mayor Golden Mulenga

One of Library Association of Zambia’s (LIAZ) strategic objectives is to develop capacity building strategies for innovative library services. To ensure that this is attained, LIAZ works in partnership or collaboration with regional and international organizations which have
been instrumental in helping the Association build capacities of its member librarians. 2018 has seen the partnership between LIAZ and Worldreader which has culminated into the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two organizations. The understanding has seen the birth of Local Content in African (LOCAL) Project in Zambia.

The LOCAL project is a collaborative program between Worldreader, the African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA), Library services in Ghana, Uganda and Zambia funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Worldreader is pairing digital technology and locally- created e-books with extensive training, capacity building, and support to help library systems develop the resources and knowledge they need to improve their ability to help children access and read content in their mother tongue.

The goals of the project include:

• Increased reading material in Zambian languages; 
• Children come to libraries more often to access library services; 
• Librarian skills, knowledge, and capacity to promote reading is increased;
• Libraries play an active role in creating and supporting reading culture, serving as agents of change, and centers for development and literacy.

LIAZ made a call to all public libraries in Zambia to apply to take part in the project. After a call was done, 19 libraries responded from which 10 were selected to undertake the project. These 10 will receive 50 e-readers each and its Librarian's capacity built to manage the project. The first phase of the training for head librarians took place from 2nd to 5th May, 2018 at Cresta Golfview Hotel in Lusaka. The libraries that are benefitting from this initiative are: Lusaka City Council Public Library, Matero Public Library, Chilenje Public Library, Mtendere Public Library, Ndola City Council Public Library, Helen Kaunda Memorial Public library, Kitwe City Council Public Library, Chililabombwe Municipal Council Library, Chingola Municipal Council Library and Kalulushi Municipal Council Library.

Participants from the selected public libraries across Zambia that attended
WorldReader training workshop held in Lusaka

The Project will see the above libraries receive 50 e-readers each which will have 100 English titles and 100 locally purchased local language titles that will sit on them. The project targets library users aged between 0 to 12. Worldreader will ensure that the librarians are given the much needed skills to manage this project through training as already indicated above. 

LIAZ is hopeful that this project will impact positively on the communities that these piloting libraries are sitting in. It is a considered view of LIAZ that the library users who are being targeted by the project will immensely benefit from it. E-readers which make part of the ICT gadgets in this fast changing e-world will go a long way in bringing excitement in the participating libraries. LIAZ is therefore convinced beyond doubt that e-readers will add value in the libraries. It is anticipated that the LOCAL project will result in an increase in the amount of time children read, an increase in the amount of enjoyment children get out of reading, and an increase in the amount of time children spend in the libraries.

Uganda and Lesotho ratify the Marrakesh Treaty

Expert panel discussion on the Marrakesh treaty during SCECSAL 2018 

The Republic of Uganda and Kingdom of Lesotho have become the 36th and 37th countries respectively in the world to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty. 

It’s exactly two weeks today since the SCECSAL 2018 general assembly resolved that all member countries who are signatories to the Marrakesh Treaty push for the ratification of the multilateral agreement. 

During the Expert Panel Discussion on the Marrakesh Treaty on the 27th April 2018 in Entebbe Uganda, it was unanimously agreed that member countries should take on this task seriously and this will form the basis for future discussions like in Namibia 2020. 

The massage was well received as two SCECSAL member countries Uganda and Lesotho have joined the ever growing list of countries who have ratified the treaty. Other countries in Africa who have already ratified the treaty are: Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Tunisia and Mali. 

During SCECSAL 2018 in Entebbe, Ms Beatrice Guzu the executive secretary National Union of Women with Disabilities said: "Before the treaty, one could not access information from other countries in a format suitable for blind persons. This situation resulted in reproducing what was already available at an extra cost just because sharing such material is blocked by the copyright jurisdiction". 

The treaty therefore acknowledges the legitimate commercial interest of the publishers who have that as a living and argued that by this sharing; no one is injuring the publishers because they are not publishing it in accessible formats for blind persons. 

In other words their target population excludes the blind which would by no means reduce their profits if the treaty holds.  Before the treaty, less than 5% of all books published were made accessible to the blind in the world. It was difficult to have current books in accessible formats including Braille, audio or large prints. 

Accordingly, global uproars have called for ratification in all member countries. This would ensure that published material in accessible format can be exchanged across the borders of those countries that have ratified the Treaty.  In response to the global calls, Uganda and Lesotho have joined the list of countries to ratify the treaty.  

This is a very strong statement in the history on the two African countries and for visually impaired persons and persons with print disabilities. 

We congratulate the two countries and we look forward to domesticating this into the respective national legal framework. 

The said treaty will enter into force, with respect to the Republic of Uganda, on July 23, 2018 and with respect to the Kingdom of Lesotho, on July 30, 2018.

Congratulations to all!

SCECSAL members associations resolve to report regularly on their contributions to development agendas

Uganda Minister of State for Gender and Culture, Madame Mutuuzo Peace (middle)
with members of the SCECSAL General Council during
the opening session of SCECSAL 2018 

The SCECSAL General Council, on 27 April, in Entebbe, Uganda, adopted a resolution to force
member associations to report on activities carried out in their respective countries in support of the implementation of the global or Africa-wide or national development agendas on a biennial basis.

Henceforth, all future SCECSAL conferences will include a session at which SCECSAL member national library (information) associations will be required to present reports on their contributions to the development agendas.

In 2014, in Lilongwe, Malawi, the General Assembly had called upon the member associations to align their activities to the national and global development agendas and develop post 2015- strategies, something which very few associations have done.

The Entebbe meeting also:

• requested member Associations to establish partnerships with LIS schools and agree on modalities for multi-stakeholder processes for all future library and information studies curriculum design or revisions

• resolved to establish a SCECSAL Committee of Focal Points (CFP) whose main function shall be to manage day to day SCECSAL activities with the support of the SCECSAL Secretariat.

• called upon member Associations to work with organisations for the people with disabilities and organisations for the visually impaired people and advocate for the ratification and domestication of the Marrakesh Treaty in their respective countries.

A copy of the SCECSAL 2018 resolutions is available on the SCECSAL website.

ULIA hosts IFLA IAP workshop for top officials of national library associations

IFLA IAP workshop participants

The Uganda Library and Information Associations (ULIA) was privileged to host and conduct the
IFLA -  International Advocacy Programme (IAP)’s “Train the Trainer” workshop for top officials of national library associations from sub-Saharan Africa on 2-3 May 2018 at Makerere University Main Library.

IFLA’s “Train the Trainer” workshops aim to raise awareness and build capacities of national library association leaders about IFLA’s role in attaining the sustainable development goal (SDGs).

In her opening remarks, Dr Liz State Nasali, speaking on behalf of the University Librarian, expressed great emphasis for librarians to contribute towards the attainment of SDGs noting that all librarians, regardless of the type of library they work in, have a common goal and role to play in SDGs.

Dr Nasali also noted that Makerere University was proud to host the workshop and thanked ULIA Executive Committee for considering hosting the two-day event at Makerere.

The workshop was facilitated by Dr Victoria Okojie, a member of IFLA Governing Board, and Dr Sarah Kaddu, ULIA President.

IFLA IAP Trainer Dr Victoria Okojie facilitating 

Dr Okojie noted that librarians have contributed and will continue to contribute towards the global development agenda and urged the participants to think big about what they will do after the workshop, and need to show their contributions to the SDGs.

Dr Kaddu noted that as librarians, “we need to work closely within the profession and other sectors to achieve UN 2030 Agenda”, implored the participants to become experts in their own countries and called upon them to cause a positive change in their societies.

The workshop attracted participants from Liberia, Lesotho, Burundi, Sudan (Khartoum), Eritrea, Botswana and Uganda.

Also in attendance was Ms Gertrude Kayaga Mulindwa who is the former Director National Library of Uganda and currently Director of Human capacity Development and Training at AfLIA. 

SCECSAL membership fees increased by 50 percent

As SCECSAL General Council adopts a decision to charge higher conference registration fees from non-member Associations

Mr. John Paul Anbu, SCECSAL General Council President (2016 -2018)
speaking at the opening session of the the 23rd SCECSAL conference

The SCECSAL General Council has increased the annual membership fees to be paid by member Associations from US$100 to US$150 per year with immediate effect and members are expected to pay the fees on a biennial basis to the SCECSAL Secretariat hosted by the Swaziland Library Association (SWALA).

The decision to increase the membership fees was taken at the Council’s Business Meeting on 24 April in Entebbe, Uganda.

The Council last increased the annual membership fee in 2010 in at its meeting Gaborone, Botswana. 
As at the end of the 23rd SCECSAL conference, on 27 April, SCECSAL member Associations in good standing were:

• Kenya Association of Library and Information Professionals
• Lesotho Library Association
• Library and Information Association of South Africa
• Library and Information Association of Zambia
• Malawi Library Association
• Namibia Information Workers Associations
• Swaziland Library Association
• Tanzania Library Association
• Uganda Library and Information Association

At the same meeting, the Council also adopted a decision to charge participants at future SCECSAL conferences who are not members of national library (information) associations in the SCECSAL countries slightly higher registration fees.

Delegates to the 23rd SCECSAL conference at the registration desk

In the early years of SCECSAL, participation in SCECSAL conferences was by virtual of one being a member of the national library (information) association and non-members paid higher conference registration fees.

This arrangement was meant to help build the membership of national library (information) associations and to ensure that individual library and information professionals do not prioritise participating in SCECSAL conferences at the expense of the activities of the national association.

Over the years, some SCECSAL member Associations hosting SCECSAL conference have not adhered to this arrangement resulting in some cases whereby some countries have seen a high number of library and information professionals at SCECSAL conferences who rarely participate in activities of their national library (information) association.

SCECSAL 23rd ends as Namibians steal the show on final day

The 23rd SCECSAL Conference came to a close on Friday 27th April, 2018 at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel, Entebbe.

The five day event that started on 23rd April was the third time the Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA) was hosting the regional event, having hosted the event in 1990 and 2004.

Speaking at  the closing ceremony, SCECSAL President Dr. John Paul Anbu, conveyed his sincere appreciation to the hosts ULIA and the National Organizing Committee (NOC), the delegates and all sponsors who made the 23rd Conference a success. Dr Anbu was speaking for the last time as SCECSAL President before handing over the office to Dr Sarah Kaddu of Uganda.

The last day started off with three expert panel discussions which were well attended by delegates. More than 200 delegates from fifteen Library associations in Africa and beyond attended the Conference. 

Dr Sarah Kaddu and Dr John Paul Anbu
during the SCECSAL General Assembly

In her closing remarks, ULIA President Dr Sarah Kaddu thanked everyone for making the 23rd SCECSAL conference a great success. She noted that the process of managing the SCECSAL conference  had been long and challenging not mentioning demanding physical, material, financial, spiritual and emotional support.

The conference theme: “Positioning library and information services to achieve sustainable development: innovations and partnerships” was thoroughly addressed through pre-conference  workshops, paper presentations, session discussions, poster sessions and expert panel discussions. Fifteen sub-themes  were cross examined through fifty papers, workshop sessions and three Expert panel discussion sessions.

Between conference sessions, the SCECSAL General Council  meetings were held in which key decisions ware made including adopting the guidelines for establishing a permanent SCECSAL Secretariat and the and agreeing on the revised SCECSAL constitution to be adopted in the next coming months.  

Team Namibian delgetation chanting to victory

Worth noting is that issues of library and information services contribution to the attainment of sustainable development were debated in and out.  It is hoped that through the deliberations and resolutions made, the world in general and the SCECSAL region in particular should be a better place for all to live in without any one being left behind said Dr Kaddu who is also the new SCECSAL President.

Dr Chiku Mnubi Mchombu was the winner of the best SCECSAL 2018 paper award with her paper entitled "Access to information and Services by students with disabilities: A case study of the University of Namibia’’.  In a related development, Dr. Mchombu led her Namibian counterparts to confirm Namibia's readiness to host the 2020 SCECSAL conference in Namibia.

Clad in Namibian colors and waving national flags, the Namibian delegation matched through Ziba Conference Hall chanting a famous Namibian song of victory.

Dr John Paul also declared that the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) would hots the 2002 SCECSAL Conference in South Africa.

On behalf of ULIA and SCECSAL 2018 National Organizing Committee, we want to thank everyone who supported us and made this conference a success.

See you again in Namibia in 2020 at the XXIVth SCECSAL Conference! 

Hosts ULIA emerge winner of SCECSAL 2018 cultural evening dance competition

Participants from Namibia

Uganda Library and Information Associations and Institutions (ULIA) on Wednesday 25th April won the 2018 SCECSAL Cultural Evening dance competitions held at the Imperial Botanical Gardens, in Entebbe, Uganda.

A total of fifteen library Associations from the SCECSAL region and beyond participated in the cultural dance event. 

Like two years ago, the reigning champions Lesotho were represented by a lone performer but this time round, his antics were not enough to scoop the award for the second time in a row.

Among the notable participants in the dance were library and information professionals from Nigeria, Ghana and the Netherlands. 

SCECSAL 2020 hosts Namibia put up a stunning performance no wonder they finished second while the Kenyans made a sensational appearance on the stage.

Participants from South Africa

Meanwhile South Africa did not disappoint as usual as the Mr Mandla Ntombela led team excited the crowds.

The cultural evening was proceeded by three different excursions to Namugogo Shrines, Equator, Crocodile Village and the Source of the Nile. 

Process to select host for the permanent SCECSAL Secretariat to start in May

SCECSAL General Council adopts guidelines for the selection process in Entebbe

Delegates at the opening session
of the XXIIrd SCECSAL conference in Entebbe

The process to select the SCECSAL member Association to host the permanent SCECSAL
Secretariat will be initiated in May following the adoption of the guidelines for the process on 24 April in Entebbe, Uganda by the SCECSAL General Council.

Since its establishments in 1974, the functions of the SCECSAL secretariat have been carried out on a rotation basis by the member Associations hosting the biennial SCECSAL conferences, an arrangement that has resulted in organization losing most of its records.

The SCECSAL General Assembly resolved, in April 2016 in Ezulwini, eSwatini, to establish a permanent SCECSAL Secretariat which is currently hosted on a temporary basis by the Swaziland Library and Information Association (SWALA).

The decision of the SCECSAL General Council in Entebbe, composed of the representatives of member Associations from eSwatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, to go ahead with the process of selecting a host for the SCECSAL secretariat is a bold move considering that SCECSAL member Associations have since 1998 resisted the idea to establish a permanent Secretariat to coordinate and monitor activities and decisions of the organization.

Copies of the guidelines for selecting the host for the permanent Secretariat will be distributed to the member Associations and published soon on the SCECSAL website, and members will be asked to express their interest to host the secretariat, and later submit detailed bids to be evaluated by a five-person independent committee.

SCECSAL member Associations from Botswana and Tanzania were absent from the Entebbe General Council meeting.

Jaya Raju and Maria Musoke awarded 2018 SCECSAL author of the year awards

Prof. Jaya Raju  receiving the award from the
Mayor of Entebbe, His Worship Vincent De Paul Kayanja

Associate Professor Jaya Raju, Head of the Library and Information Studies Centre at the University
of Cape Town, South Africa, and Professor Maria G.N. Musoke from the East African School of Library and Information Science of Makerere University, were today in Entebbe, Uganda, awarded the 2018 SCECSAL Author of the Year award for the journal article and book categories respectively.

Professor Raju’s award was for her journal article "Information Professional or IT Professional? The Knowledge and Skills Required by Academic Librarians in the Digital Library Environment" published in the portal: Libraries and the Academy, Vol. 17, No. 4 (2017), pp. 739–757.

Prof. Maria Musoke receiving her award from the Mayor of Entebbe

Professor Musoke was recognised for her book Informed and Healthy: Theoretical and Applied Perspectives on the Value of Information to Health Care published by Academic Press in June 2016.

This is the third time that SCECSAL has given the Author Awards even though the award was introduced more than 20 years.

The late Professor Maurice Chifwember Lundu received the Author of the Year Award in 2000 at the seventh SCECSAL conference in Windhoek, Namibia for his book The Library in the Service of Society: Philosophical Foundation published by the Mission Press.

In 2002, at the eighth SCECSAL conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, Jenny Raubenheimer, then Director, Document Delivery and Acting Head, UNISA Library, University of South Africa, and John van Niekerk then Deputy Director: Library Services, Medical University of South Africa (Medunsa), received the author award (Journal Article Category) for the article - Recent developments in interlending and document supply with a focus on the South African situation, published in Interlending & Document Supply, Vol. 30 Issue: 1, pp.17-24.

SCECSAL honours past and present LIS professionals

Prof. Isaac N.M. Kigongo-Bukenya (R) receiving the award from the
Mayor of Entebbe, His Worship Vincent De Paul Kayanja

The SCECSAL General Council has recognised five individuals -  one from Kenya, two each from Uganda and Zambia respectively – for their dedication and contribution to the development of SCECSAL since its establishment in 1974 and awarded them the SCECSAL Excellence Award.

The SCECSAL Excellence Award, inform of a plaque, was introduced in January this year and the SCECSAL member Associations were invited to nominate individuals to be considered for the Award, and associations from eSwatini, Kenya, Namibia, Uganda and Zambia submitted their nominations.

The awardees, endorsed by the SCECSAL General Council, are:

• Jafred Shalimba Musisi (posthumous) from Kenya - for his key role in founding SCECSAL. Mr. Musisi was also for many years, the institutional memory of SCECSAL. In 1998 he wrote an article detailing the history of SCECSAL in the special issue of Maktaba Journal of Kenya Library Association. This ensured that the early history of SCECSAL was not lost. Until his passing on in 2011, he was a regular participant at SCECSAL conference.

• Prof. Maurice Chifwembe Lundu  (posthumous) from Zambia - for his dedicated professional support and service to SCECSAL. Prof. Lundu was one of the few library and information service professionals outside East Africa who contributed to the formation of SCECSAL and its expansion into Central and Southern African regions and ultimately the establishment of SCECSAL. He played a key role in organizing and hosting the second SCECSAL conference, and the first outside East Africa, in Lusaka, Zambia in 1976.

• Tucker Kigongo Lwanga from Uganda - for his foresight and instrumental work in founding the Standing Conference of Eastern, and Central African Librarians (SCECAL), the forerunner to SCECSAL. In 1970, Mr Lwanga served as host Chairperson of the biennial conference of the East African Library Association (E.A.L.A). At the next E.A.L.A biennial conference, in 1972, taking into account the prevailing situation in East Africa, he proposed the dissolution of the E.A.L.A and formation of SCECAL. His proposal was accepted and SCECAL was formed and its first biennial conference was held in 1974, also recognised the first year of SCECSAL.  

• Prof. Isaac N.M. Kigongo-Bukenya from Uganda - for his continued support to SCECSAL since its formation in 1974. Prof. Kigongo-Bukenya has participated in 15 SCECSAL conferences and played key roles at the conferences including as a paper presenter, conference paper reviewer, and Master of Ceremony (MC) at SCECSAL conference events.

• Justin Chisenga, PhD from Zambia - for his more than 15 years dedicated professional support and service to SCECSAL. Since 2000 Dr. Chisenga has been SCECSAL’s “institutional memory” and he has provided support and guidance to Local Organizing Committees of SCECSAL conferences, facilitated the development of the SCECSAL brand and logo, ensured that SCECSAL has an online presence (www.scecsal.org), presented papers at SCECSAL conferences, served on several SCECSAL conference papers review committees, and has facilitated consultations on the SCECSAL constitution and various SCECSAL guideline documents.

Ms. Mwanza Aggie Kaite-Mumbi (R) from the Library and
Information Association of Zambia receiving the award
on behalf of the late Prof. Lundu's family

The next Excellence Awards will be given in 2020 in Windhoek, Namibia.

The SCECSAL Secretariat has asked the  member Associations in Botswana, eSwatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe to initiate the process of identifying  individuals from within and outside their countries to be considered for the 2020 Excellence Award in anticipation of the call for nominations to be issued in early 2019.