SCECSAL Forum

The Twenty-Third Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL XXIII), Entebbe, Uganda, 23rd – 28th April 2018  Call for Papers The SCECSAL XXIII Organizing Committee has the pleasure of inviting Library and Information Professionals to the twenty third Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL XXIII) to be hosted by the Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA), in Entebbe, Uganda.    SCECSAL is a bi-ennial conference founded in Nairobi in 1978, after the dissolution of the East African Library Association. It is the biggest conference for Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals on the continent and its purpose is to provide a platform for learning and sharing experiences on LIS developments in the region. Currently the conference has Library and Information Association members from the following countries:  Angola,...

Most librarians in Africa should acquire skills that would enable them make use of social media in their work. They also need to develop suitable social media strategies for their libraries. These are my views after listening to the presentations and discussions on Potential of Social Media and Library 2.0 in Provision of Information at the twentieth Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and South Africa of Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL) in Nairobi, Kenya, 4 – 8 June. While several speakers at the session highlighted the major potential applications of Web 2.0 in libraries, and gave examples of libraries that are using social media, practical and concrete illustrations from libraries that using, the tools on the continent, except for one or two cases, were largely missing. This resulted in questions on: how social media could add value to library and information work in Africa; what social media tools are suitable for library and information work; and how social med...

The XXth Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and South Africa Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL) 2012 conference will take place at Intercontinental Hotel , in Nairobi, Kenya from  4th– 8th June 2012 to address the Theme: Information for Sustainable Development in a Digital Environment. For details, visit Kenya Library Association (KLA) website.

The Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA) has held its inaugural workshop for the International Federation of the Library and Information Institutions (IFLA)'s International Advocacy Programe (IAP) at the Uganda Christian University, in Mbale, from 24th to 26th July 2017. The IAP is IFLA's a " new capacity-building programme designed to promote and support the role libraries can play in the planning and implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda and the SDGs ". The inaugural IAP workshop attracted fifty participants from: Kumi University, Mbale School of Hygiene, Uganda Technical College-Elgon, St. Aloysuis CPTC, Mbale SS, Pallisa Public Library, Kapyoyon High School, Busitema Uiversity, UCC-Soroti, IUIU Mbale, Wiggins Sec School, Masaba SS, UCU-Mbale, Soroti Public Library, Busia Public Library, Kamuli Public Library, Mbale Public Library, Nambi Sseppunya Community Resource Centre, Tororo Public Library, Busolwe Public Library, DWW Children Library and Res...

By Erick Nelson Haumba Kampala, Uganda If anything has to be discussed about SCECSAL 2016, it has to be my personal experience and feel of the just concluded conference in eZulwini, Swaziland, held from 25 to 29 April. Under the theme “Digital transformation and the changing role of libraries and information centre’s in the sustainable development of Africa ”, the Sub-Saharan region and the African continent as a whole experienced one of the best library and information service (LIS) fraternity showpieces of all times. Eric Nelson Haumba presenting a paper at SCECSAL 2016 The approach and focus during the conference days was broad, enriching and focused on the changing role of libraries in the sustainable development of our continent which was spot-on with our expectations. In the academic setting, it’s extremely hard to disagree that the quality of the papers and conference proceedings was tremendously high. You could not hear of any corridor talk expressing any sort of d...

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...

The Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL) is pleased to announce three vacancies for Volunteer Programme Officers within the Secretariat. These positions are central to advancing SCECSAL's mission of strengthening library and information services across the region, and we invite qualified, committed, and passionate professionals to apply by 15:00 GMT on Friday , 14 August 2026 . The Vacancies a). Programme Officer – Finance and Administration This role supports the financial management and administrative operations of the Secretariat, ensuring sound governance and the efficient day-to-day functioning of the organisation. ·        View the full vacancy announcement b) Programme Officer – Programmes and Projects This role leads the design, coordination, and implementation of SCECSAL's programmes and projects, working closely with member associations and partners to deliver the...

From 1 - 3 December 2010, the IAALD Africa Chapter organized a training workshop on Web 2.0 and Social Media in the Agricultural Environment as a pre- SCECSAL 2010 conference event. The workshop was held at the Centre for Academic Development of the University of Botswana in Gaborone. Seventeen participants from the following SCECSAL member countries took part in the workshop: Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. To continue practicing their skills on blogging, the participants decided to setup SCECSAL Forum: as tool for collaboration on reporting on the activities and events in the library and information fieldtaking place in the SCECSAL region. to promote the use of Web 2.0 tools among library and information professionals in the SCECSAL region. The Forum is open to individuals in the SCESAL region wishing to report on library and information activities taking place in their countrie. Join the Forum and become a social reporter. Contact: Justin Chisenga

Representatives of SCECSAL member Associations who took the bold decision to establish a permanent secretariat for SCECSAL [Photo: Justin Chisenga] The General Assembly, the highest authority of the Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL), resolved on 29 April 2016 at its XXIInd meeting in Ezulwini, Swaziland, to establish a Permanent Secretariat for SCECSAL. The 11-member General Assembly also resolved to amend the SCECSAL constitution to pave the way for the establishment of the Permanent Secretariat and to put in place mechanisms to ensure proper coordination of the Forum’s activities, and monitoring implementation of its resolutions and decisions. The members also resolved that the Swaziland Library and Information Association (SWALA) would henceforth temporarily host the SCECSAL Secretariat until such time as a permanent secretariat is established and becomes operational. SCECSAL, established in 197...

The IFLA annual congress will take place in Helsinki, Finland from 11th -17th August, 2012. The Congress offers an opportunity to present library research outcomes and innovations in a multi-disciplinary international forum. In line with the theme of the 78th IFLA WLIC, Africa Section chose the theme: 'Africa Libraries now on open access agenda' . IFLA Africa Section invites Librarians, Information Scientists and other stakeholders to submit proposals (abstracts) for papers at the Africa Section Open Forum session in Helsinki, Finland. Theme: " Africa libraries now on open access agenda ”   Sub-Themes: Open Access for all in Africa libraries Social networking in Africa libraries Information literacy in Africa libraries on open access agenda Indigenous knowledge for all in Africa libraries Policy issues in open access agenda Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for Africa libraries open access agenda Integration of open access agenda and libraries in Af...