Library Associations should embrace IFLA/AfLIA programmes

By Kenneth Mangemba

Library associations should embrace and adopt International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) and African Library and Information Association and Institution (AfLIA) initiated programmes to enable them to increase visibility, stakeholder engagement, and to lobby and advocate for the recognition of libraries in advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This was said by Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) president and AfLIA vice president, Mr. Mandla Ntombela at the just ended Zimbabwe Library Association (ZimLA) conference held in Gweru.

LIASA president and AfLIA vice president, Mr. Mandla Ntombela at the just ended ZimLA conference held in Gweru

Addressing delegates at the conference, Mr. Ntombela spoke extensively of the IFLA Global Vision as a credible and rare opportunity that facilitates capacity building for the development and sustainability of the library communities.

The role of library associations is vital towards achieving the IFLA Global Vision and concerted efforts by associations’ leadership should prioritize embracing and implementing the initiatives that has long lasting benefit.  The LIASA president said that such initiatives are essential to advance advocacy and lobbying efforts for the library communities for recognition and improving influence in solving community challenges.

AfLIA partnered with the Global Libraries (GL) Programme of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to roll out the International Network of Emerging Library Innovators (INELI) programme established to support the transformation of public libraries into engines of development and does this by supporting upcoming public librarians to develop innovative services for the benefit of their communities. Participants in the INELI initiative are expected to share the learning experience with other local librarians with the view of promoting learning and equip others with life changing skills to transform the public library network to step-up to the changing operating environment. Mrs. A. Madziwa from the Bulawayo Municipality Library system is a participant to the INELI initiative from Zimbabwe.

Participants who attended the 51th ZimLA Conference in Gweru.

The Library and Information Association of Zambia president, Mrs. Velenasi Mwale Munsanje also spoke greatly of the INELI programme as an enabler that facilitate growth for the public library system through strengthening skills of local public librarians to better serve their communities under strenuous conditions characterized by limited funding and sound infrastructure.

Mr. Ntombela said that partnership with IFLA and AfLIA reposition the library association to achieve the “Africa we want”. The major thrust emphasized by Mr. Ntombela is that IFLA’s professional programmes provide sustainable platforms for initating advocacy for libraries in society, improve services for library users, provide equitable access to information and develop the library and information profession.

In light of attaining SDGs, Mr. Ntombela said that libraries are vital institutions that should actively promote the National development plans through dynamic services that transform livelihood. He therefore gave an interesting story of Jaka Joe Informal Settlement in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa that is involved in the recycling project and challenged other library communities to formulate strategies with SDGs attainment in mind.

“Library associations have a significant role to play in strengthening partnerships with IFLA and AfLIA through developing an effective action plan for strategic positioning on government agenda”, said the AfLIA vice president. He encouraged the library associations to increase lobbying and advocacy initiatives for the development of library and information services infrastructure to achieve a positive influence from government policy regarding LIS. “Library associations should represent libraries and librarianship to the larger society and continual stakeholder engagement should be a top priority that leads to the identifying of sources of local funding for projects”, he said.

The LIASA president implored with library association leaders to be proactive in increasing influence. He said, “Library associations and institutions should enlarge their territory or mission by protecting the future of LIS workers and library users of Africa and throughout the world by developing strategies that will make the sector looks smart and cool.”

The conference keynote address by AfLIA vice president and LIASA president clearly pronounced the role of library associations in developing strong and strategic partnerships that promote influence of the library communities. Several library associations were represented at the conference with representation from Botswana, South Africa and Zambia.

The conference ended on a high note with a report from ZimLA president, Mr. Lantern Fusire highlighting on key achievements accomplished and laying out the various initiatives that the association has planned for the coming year before an elective conference in 2018.

SCECSAL 2018: Second Announcement and Call for Papers, Posters and Workshop Proposals

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.   

ULIA welcomes proposals for papers to be presented at the conference. The papers are expected to include both the theoretical and practical elements of Library and Information Science and Record Management. 

Theme: Positioning Library and Information services to achieve Sustainable development: Innovations and Partnerships.

Sub Themes:
1. Inclusive library and information services for national development
2. Universal literacy through library and information services
3. Broadening LIS partnerships to achieve SDGs
4. Innovations in LIS Education
5. Innovations in the delivery of Library and information services
6. Trends in Gender and information services
7. Library and Information Services advancing open governance
8. Agricultural information services and food security
9. Bettering health through Library and information services
10. Open data, Open science and Intellectual property
11. Data science and LIS institutions
12. Cloud Computing and Information management
13. Indigenous knowledge and preservation of cultural heritage
14. Effective records management to fight corruption
15. Promoting Information Ethics for sustainable development


Requirements for submission of Abstracts for papers:
Abstracts of not more than 300 words, must address the theme and sub-themes, and should have the following details:
i) Title of the abstract;
ii) Name(s) of the author(s) with official titles or professional role;
iii) Author’s affiliated institution;
iv) E-mail contact of the corresponding author, and;
v) A maximum of four keywords.

The abstracts must be submitted to email: scecsal2018@ulia.or.ug 

Important Dates: 
Submission of Abstracts:      30th April 2017
Notification of acceptance:   June 2017
Submission of full paper:      September 2017
Review of submitted paper: October 2017
Submission of camera ready paper:  December 2017

Call for Posters

ULIA welcomes proposals for Posters to be presented at the conference. The posters are expected to include the practical elements of Library and Information Science and Records Management. 

Poster Presentation Format and Guidelines

1) Your topic could be described on a printed poster with text. 

2) The language of the conference is English and therefore text on the posters should be in English. 

3) The recommended standard poster size should range from 841mm wide x 1189mm high 900mm wide x 1900mm high. If you also include text, it should also fit within the recommended area 

4) It is important that applicants describe in their abstract how they intend to present the project in the poster format – what kind of visual materials they will use, for example, photographs, data samples, graphs, et cetera, and how these illustrate the project or a particular aspect of the work. The poster has to be an experience in itself for the one who looks at it – and should show awareness of the format of a poster-session and its purpose to engage the viewer in conversation.

5) The abstracts should be in a structured format (Introduction, methods, findings, conclusion and recommendations)

6) The poster should focus on either the general conference themes or one of the sub-themes

7) Presenters of a poster will be expected to be present on 23rd – 28th April 2018 in order to explain their posters and to hand out any leaflets, or other information materials, they have available for viewers of their poster. Each presenter can therefore only present one poster. Any organization that submits more than one application should indicate a priority to their submissions or confirm there will be enough staff members available for the presentation.

8) A jury representing the SCECSAL Program Committee will review all submissions and decide which posters will be accepted.

Poster proposal submissions should be made to the email: scecsal2018@ulia.or.ug  as a file attachment with the subject of SCECSAL2018 Poster Proposal

Important Dates
Proposal Deadline - 31st July 2017
Notification of Acceptance - 31st August 2017

Call for Workshop Proposals

ULIA welcomes proposals for workshops to be conducted during the conference. 

Organization and Submission Procedure

The aim of the conference workshops is to emphasize emerging topics of particular interest to the conference attendees not specifically covered in the main Conference. Each workshop may include a mix of regular papers, invited presentations and panels that encourage the participation of attendees in active discussions.

Proposal submissions should be made to the email: scecsal2018@ulia.or.ug  as a PDF file attachment with the subject of SCECSAL2018 Workshop Proposal.

Priority will be given to proposals that not only address an exciting topic but also promise a creative format likely to generate lively interactions and foster new ideas. Examples include bringing practitioners and researchers together, as well as facilitating multi-disciplinary discussions that can lead to high impact and transformative exploration. 

Proposal Template

Each workshop proposal (maximum 1-2 pages) must include:

1. Title of the workshop (Within the main conference sub themes)

2. Description of the technical issues to be covered, emphasizing the timeliness of the proposed workshop

3. Number of participants not exceeding 30 per workshop.

4. Workshop Organizers (names, affiliation and contact information)

5. A short biography of the organizers (up to 200 words)

6. Names of potential participants, such as program committee members and invited speakers 

7. Planned format of the workshop, including

a. Duration of the workshop: Half-day, Full-day and tentative schedule

b. Preferred day of workshop: Between Monday 23rd and Saturday  28th April 2018

c. Unique, creative and novel workshops formats are strongly encouraged and will be given particular consideration.

8. Equipment required

Important Dates

Proposal Deadline:                   31st July 2017

Notification of Acceptance:     31st August 2017

Registration Details:

Early bird registration- Feb 2017- Jan 2018     -           $360  

Late Registration -      2018 -30 Mar 2018              -          $400 

On-site Registration   - 1st April 2018 - 24 April 2018     -  $430

For more information about the conference please visit the links below:

http://www.scecsal.org/
http://www.ulia.or.ug/