LIAZ at the 1st Southern African Regional Universities Association (SARUA) Conference 2025: Libraries Leading the Future of Higher Education

By Ms. Pauline Namulomba Nchemba

Ms. Pauline Namulomba Nchemba

We’re thrilled to announce that Ms. Pauline Namulomba Nchemba, Vice President of the Library and Information Association of Zambia (LIAZ), proudly represented Zambia’s library sector at the 1st SARUA Conference held in Lusaka from 21–23 May 2025, under the theme:

“Innovating Higher Education for Sustainable Development across the SADC: Innovation for Impact”

SARUA is a network of higher education institutions in the SADC region that promotes collaboration, innovation, and policy engagement to strengthen regional academic systems and sustainable development. 

The theme for its 1st conference ‘Innovating Higher Education for Sustainable Development across the SADC: Innovation for Impact’, highlights the urgent need for universities to adapt to economic, technological and social shifts. In a rapidly evolving world, collaboration across sectors, including academia, government, industry and civil society, is essential to drive innovation and tackle complex regional challenges.  It must be realized that Libraries and Library associations are catalysts in attaining the aspirations of higher education.

Ms. Nchemba delivered a powerful presentation titled “Digital Libraries and Library Associations: Catalysts for Transforming Higher Education in the SADC Region.”

Her talk spotlighted how digital libraries are revolutionizing access to knowledge offering 24/7, inclusive, and equitable learning opportunities and how library associations like LIAZ are shaping policy, building capacity, and driving innovation across the region.

 Key Takeaways from Her Presentation:

✅ Digital Libraries as Enablers of Inclusion

Digital libraries break access barriers, offering 24/7 equitable access to knowledge, transforming how students and researchers engage with learning and research.

✅ The Evolving Role of Librarians

Librarians are no longer just custodians of books; they are innovation partners and digital stewards, supporting research, teaching, and digital transformation across institutions.

✅ Cross-Border Collaboration

She emphasized the need for shared platforms, regional knowledge exchange, and collaborative digital infrastructure to overcome fragmentation in the sector and boost sustainability.

✅ LIAZ’s Role in Capacity Building and Policy

LIAZ is leading the way in capacity development on critical topics such as Open Science, Research Data Management, and policy engagement through partnerships with the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders.

Why This Matters

The SARUA Conference is a strategic platform for fostering cooperation and solutions for common challenges in higher education. Through her participation, Ms. Nchemba positioned libraries as vital agents of change in shaping education systems that are resilient, inclusive, and future-ready.

In her words:

“Let libraries lead as catalysts for change. Together, we can build a smarter, more inclusive SADC higher education ecosystem.” Ms. Nchemba

The conference was not only an opportunity to showcase the innovations and leadership coming from Zambia but also to forge new networks and partnerships across SADC universities and sectors. It reinforced LIAZ’s commitment to knowledge equity, regional collaboration, and transformative leadership in higher education.

We thank SARUA for this strategic platform and celebrate the rising visibility of Zambian libraries on the regional stage. We are proud of LIAZ’s growing role in shaping the future of education in Africa! 

Together, let’s continue driving impact where libraries lead, knowledge grows, and education transforms.

Foundational principles of conservation for digitisation in libraries and archives workshop

Applications are welcome from everywhere in Africa!

The National University of Lesotho, the Endangered Archives Programme (EAP) Hub for Africa, and the British Library have announced a workshop on conservation for digitisation, to be held from 8th to 10th October 2025 and hosted by the National University of Lesotho.

The EAP is working with a network of regional hubs to co-create and deliver a series of online and onsite training opportunities for institutions, researchers, archivists, librarians, and anyone interested in protecting archival material at risk.

What is the workshop about?

Digitisation in libraries and archives is one of the most effective ways to reduce the handling of original items, increase access and virtually unify materials with collections from other libraries. This three-day workshop, tailored to the needs of your collections, will introduce you to the main aspects of conservation for digitisation of library and archive material, and will allow you to preserve your collections throughout the digitisation process.

What will the workshop cover?

The workshop will take place on Wednesday 8th, Thursday 9th and Friday 10th October 2025.

The workshop will focus on the benefits of digitisation, reasons for digitising, digitisation methods and the selection of items. We will cover the scoping for collections, condition assessments and handling of items as well as digitisation workflow. You will be able to learn how to prepare your workspace and how to use relevant tools. We will discuss how to plan for digitisation, how to use guidelines and getting resources. Finally, you will be able to carry out simple stabilisation measures.

A one-hour follow-up webinar, to take place about a month after the course, is part of the workshop.

The webinar is intended as an active participation session, during which the participants will be able to ask for clarifications, share comments and progress about their digitisation projects.

What will you achieve?

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to identify project scopes and decide on suitable materials for digitisation. You will understand what the necessary resources and materials are when planning a project, as well as how to prepare your workspace, handle items and assess their condition. You will be able to undertake simple but effective stabilisation measures such as dry cleaning, removal of staples and unfolding corners, and you will produce a book cradle. Finally, you will understand how to use digitisation guidelines and how to implement strategies for getting resources.

What is the workshop format? 

You will learn through various effective methods including lectures on PowerPoint, group and individual hands-on activities, and quizzes.

Morning sessions will include a combination of theoretical presentations and demonstrations.

Afternoon sessions will be mainly demonstrations and hands on and will cover topics such as how to make a book cradle and an item support cushion and how to carry out simple stabilisation measures such as the removal of staples, unfolding corners and separating pages.

Twelve places will be available to take part in both the morning and afternoon sessions. This is due to the practical aspect of these sessions, which only work with a smaller group of participants.

What level is the course, and do you need any particular skills?

This course is aimed at professionals working in archives and libraries. No conservation knowledge is required but is desirable. Furthermore, applicants need the following criteria:

1. That this knowledge is applicable to their immediate job.

2. That they will be able to train others on return to their base.

How can you apply?

Places are limited to 12 participants. Interested applicants are required to complete this application form by the 1st of July 2025 this application form: https://forms.office.com/e/meiDtLU2g4.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply early to maximize their chances of securing a spot.

The workshop will be conducted in English.  Applications are welcome from everywhere in Africa, but please note that we will not be able to cover any travel, accommodation or subsistence costs.

All applicants will be contacted with the result of the application process after the deadline.

A certificate of attendance will be given after participation

Unlocking the Power of Information: LIAZ’s Strategic Workshop Charts the Way Forward

 

By Pauline Namulomba Nchemba

In a rapidly digitizing world, information is no longer a passive resource — it's a driver of institutional growth, innovation, and national progress. From April 23rd to 25th, 2025, the Library and Information Association of Zambia (LIAZ) brought this message to life at its groundbreaking Training Workshop on the Strategic Role of Information in Institutional Development, held at Mika Convention Centre, Chongwe.

Under the theme “Strategic Information Management: Driving Institutional Development and Innovation,” the workshop gathered Zambia’s Directors, Librarians, Records Officers, and Information Professionals for three days of knowledge exchange, reflection, and action planning.

Why This Workshop Mattered

Too often, information professionals work in the shadows, their critical contributions to policy, operations, and service delivery underappreciated. This workshop set out to change that — by rethinking the value of information in institutions and its alignment with Zambia’s 8th National Development Plan (8NDP).

Key goals included:

• Strengthening collaboration between management and information staff;

• Exploring digital innovations that improve institutional service delivery;

• Developing actionable information governance plans;

• Building bridges between institutional goals and national development priorities.

The turnout? A strong 48 participants, including 6 institutional Directors, 2 leading facilitators (Mr. Luanga and Mr. Miti), and a vibrant team of LIAZ staff coordinating the event.

A Day-by-Day Journey Through the Workshop

Day 1: Building Bridges Between Leaders and Information Professionals

The opening ceremony was vibrant, with a warm welcome and official address from Miss Pauline Namulomba Nchemba, LIAZ Vice President. She called for stronger partnerships between technical experts and institutional decision-makers.

Mr. Luanga kicked off with a powerful keynote on leadership in information environments. Plenary discussions identified a common bottleneck: a gap between decision-makers and the librarians and records officers who hold key institutional knowledge. The message was clear — synergy is not optional; it’s strategic.

Day 2: Digital Innovation, Governance, and Research Support

Day Two buzzed with energy as Mr. Miti led participants through a hands-on exploration of digital service delivery. From integrated information systems to smart records management, institutions shared both success stories and stubborn challenges.

Interactive group work allowed participants to draft tailored action plans, aligning digital transformation goals with the reality of their institutional environments.

Day 3: Connecting Information Strategies with Zambia’s 8NDP

The final day zoomed out to a national lens. How can institutions use strategic information management to directly support Zambia’s developmental priorities in health, education, governance, and innovation?

Participants worked on aligning their internal action plans with the 8NDP and discussed how libraries and records systems can be levers for transparency, accountability, and public service delivery. The event closed with a certificate ceremony and final reflections from participants eager to implement what they learned.

Tangible Outcomes and Lessons Learned

✨ What did the workshop achieve?

• Participants left with a sharper understanding of the strategic value of information in decision-making.

• Institutions drafted actionable roadmaps for information governance and digital innovation.

• A new network of collaboration among Directors, Librarians, and Records Officers was born.

• The workshop spotlighted real institutional challenges — from siloed operations to budget constraints — and offered clear paths forward.

What’s Next? Recommendations from the Workshop

✅ For LIAZ:

• Collaborate with sector leaders like ZAPSO and higher education boards to engage top management.

• Launch specialized trainings on topics like Emotional Intelligence for Information Professionals and Integrated Library and Information Management Systems (ILIMS).

• Enhance national visibility through media, policy engagement, and institutional partnerships.

• Develop follow-up mechanisms to monitor the implementation of workshop action plans.

✅ For Institutions and Participants:

• Push for budget lines dedicated to information systems.

• Create cross-functional teams (Librarians, Records Officers, IT staff) for integrated digital transformation.

• Implement peer-to-peer learning sessions to cascade knowledge within institutions.

• Share the workshop learnings at board meetings, staff forums, and academic councils.

In Conclusion: From Insight to Impact

The LIAZ training workshop didn’t just fill knowledge gaps — it inspired transformation. It demonstrated that information is not just data stored in a file cabinet or on a hard drive; it's a living, breathing force for innovation and development.

As Zambia charges ahead with its national development goals, LIAZ remains a critical partner, championing information professionals and systems as catalysts for institutional success.

Follow LIAZ for more updates on training, capacity-building, and partnerships at www.liaz.org.zm

 Got feedback or want to collaborate? Email us at liazsecretariat@gmail.com

#InformationIsPower #LIAZ2025 #StrategicInformation #DigitalTransformation #ZambiaDevelopment #LibraryLeadership