SCECSAL introduces Excellence Award

Nomination period for 2018 awards closes on 28 February

The Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL) has introduce the SCECSAL Excellence Award to honour and recognize individuals that have made outstanding contributions to the organization.

The first awards will be made at the XXIII SCECSAL Conference to be held in Entebbe, Uganda, from 23 to 27 April 2018, forty-four years from the first SCECSAL conference in 1974.

Individuals, regardless of country of residence, who have made outstanding contribution to the development and growth of SCECSAL, are eligible for nomination for the award.

SCECSAL was established following the dissolution of the East African Library Association (EALA) in 1972. However, EALA’s biennial conference was retained and renamed to the Standing Conference of Eastern, and Central African Librarians (SCECAL) and the first conference under the new name was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in 1974.

Since 1974, several individuals have played a key role in the development and sustainability of the operations of SCECAL, and now SCECSAL renamed after library and information associations from Southern Africa started participating in the conference.

SCECSAL Secretariat, based in Swaziland, has asked member Associations to send their nominations for the award by 28 February 2018.

Be part of the #SCECSAL2018 social media team

The XXIII SCECSAL conference is fast approaching and you can be part of the SCECSAL Social Media team and contribute to keeping the world abreast of happenings in the library and information services field in the region.

SCECSAL 2018 is scheduled to take place on 23-27 April in Entebbe, Uganda and we are looking for participants at the conference willing to report live from the event.

Start participating in SCECSAL media activities immediately by:

• following @SCECSAL and re-tweet content;
• tweeting content related to the Entebbe conference and other stories from the SCECSAL Forum blog;
• writing or proposing articles for the SCECSAL Forum blog;
• using #SCECSAL2018 hash tag.

#SCECSAL2018 will be an exciting event and you should be there.

Be part of the #SCECSAL2018 social media team and send your request to join the team or contributions to scecsalforum@scecsal.org.

Online registration opens for XXIII SCECSAL conference planned for 23-27 April 2018

Early bird registration closes on 31 January

The Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA) has opened online registration for the XXIII SCECSAL conference, to be held 23-27 April 2018 in Entebbe, Uganda at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel.

Early bird registration for the conference closes on 31 January 2018.

Below are the applicable fees for the distinct categories of registration:

• Early Bird Registration (deadline 31st January 2018) – US$ 360
• Late Registration (by 31st March 2018) – US$ 400
• Onsite Registration (from 24th April 2018) – US$ 430
• Rental fees for Exhibition stalls (2 x 2 metres) – US$ 200

Click here to register for the XXIII SCECSAL Conference.

Click here for more information about the conference, including accommodation, entry visa information, etc.

Inquiries regarding online registration should be sent to: sarahkago@yahoo.com and sarkaddu2@gmail.com.

EIFL public library training initiative in Zambia

New partnership with Library and Information Association of Zambia to build library ICT and new service development capacity

by Jean Fairbairn, EIFL

Given Mwenda Besa, manager at Ngwerere Lubuto Library in Lusaka, and
 Allan Hagwelele Mudenda, from the Provincial Education Office, which
manages libraries in Zambia’s Southern Province, are among the 24
librarians who will take part in the training.

EIFL is delighted to announce a partnership with the Library and Information Association of Zambia (LIAZ) for a national initiative that will build digital technology and professional skills of public library staff to enable them to initiate new public library services that use technology to meet community needs.

The initiative targets 12 public libraries in Zambia that are already equipped with computers and the internet. Two librarians from each of the 12 libraries will take part in the training.

This is EIFL’s fifth national capacity building initiative for public librarians in Africa. Since 2014, EIFL has launched similar initiatives in Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia, working with local partners in those countries

Training Content and Timeline

The training takes place from January to October 2018. It adapts and expands the four-module curriculum successfully tested in Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. During the training, the 24 librarians will develop action plans for initiation of innovative services that use ICT at their libraries.

The four modules are:

• Advanced computer literacy for librarians (Module 1)
• Internet Resources and Searching (Module 2)
• New public library services  (Module 3)
• Communication, Advocacy and Awareness-raising for public libraries (Module 4)

In addition, the Zambian librarians will attend training in a fifth module. The ‘Social Learning Circles for Online Learners’ module developed out of a pilot project in which EIFL partnered with the US-based non-profit organization, Peer to Peer University, and Kenya National Library Service. Learning Circles are lightly-facilitated in-person study groups for online learners. As a result of the pilot project, they are now being offered in 15 public libraries in Kenya. (Read more about the pilot project and its impact.)

'Truly National Training'

“LIAZ is extremely happy to partner with EIFL in this project. Times have changed, computers and the internet have become essential information tools, and Zambian librarians need new skills to use this technology to provide better services,” said Ms Velenasi Mwale Munsanje, the immediate past President of LIAZ , who is coordinating this project.

“What makes this training unique is that it is truly national. In Zambia, there are three sectors of public libraries: public libraries run by the Ministry of General Education, those run by Local government, and libraries managed by Lubuto Library partners, which is a non-governmental organization. In the past, the tendency has been for each sector to organize separate training for its librarians. The EIFL training brings together public librarians from all three sectors, and from eight provinces."

While the training is underway, LIAZ will be conducting advocacy with government and the private sector to encourage resourcing of public libraries with computers and the internet. “We hope that by the end of the year, some of the other public libraries will be equipped with computers and the internet for public use,” said Munsanje.

Further Information

The Library and Information Association of Zambia (LIAZ) is a membership-based non-profit organization that unites and supports institutions and people working in libraries and information services in Zambia.

The EIFL Public Library Innovation Programme (EIFL-PLIP) advances community development by enabling public libraries to implement innovative ideas that use technology to improve people’s lives and livelihoods.

Read more about EIFL’s capacity building initiative for public libraries in Africa, and its impact.

Mark your 2018 calendar for the XXIIIrd SCECSAL conference in Entebbe

The Twenty-Third Standing Conference of Eastern, Central Southern African Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL) is four months away and if you have not yet made the decision to attend the event, it is now time to do so.

The biennial SCECSAL conference is the largest regional gathering of library and information professionals in Africa and the 2018 event, from 23 to 28 April, will be no different as more than 300 participants and exhibitors from within and outside the continent are expected to descend on the City of Entebbe located on the shores of Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake.

The host, Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA), is in addition to the normal professional programme featuring keynote speakers and paper presenters, preparing a programme that will also include social events such visits to some tourist sites in Uganda and a cultural evening at which conference participants from each country will be required to form a group and participate in a dancing competition.

The SCECSAL General Council, the highest decision-making body of the organization, will also meet during the conference and is expected to adopt the amended SCECSAL constitution, the guidelines for selecting a member Association that will host the SCECSAL permanent Secretariat, get an updated from the Namibian Information Workers Association (NIWA), host for the 2020 conference, and decide on the member Association to host the conference in 2022.

The decision to amend the constitution and establish a permanent Secretariat was made by the General Council at the XXII SCECSAL conference in Ezulwini, Swaziland in 2016 following discussions and resolutions on how to improve SCECSAL operations.

The Entebbe conference will also see the re-introduction of the SCECSAL Author of the Year awards after a 16-year absence having last been awarded at SCECSAL 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa hosted by the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA).

The call for nominations for the 2018 SCECSAL Author Awards closed on 31 December 2017.