Final SCECSAL conference and tours' programmes released

The final programme for the XXIII SCECSAL conference has been released and more than 50 library and information experts are expected to present papers or participate in the expert panel discussions at the conference.

The XXIII SCECSAL conference, to be held in Entebbe, Uganda, from 23 to 27 April, is expected to attract participants from within and outside the SCECSAL region.

The Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA), host for the conference, has also released the programme for the conference tours planned for Wednesday, 25 April 2018.

The tours, classified into two categories, will include visits to the Namugongo Martrys' Shrines, Uganda Museum and Buganda Kingdom Kasubi tombs, all under Category I; and to the Source of the Nile and Sezibwa Falls and the Crocodile Village – Buwam, under Category II.

The cost per person, to be paid to ULIA, is US$20 for Category I tours and US$40 for Category II.

Conference delegates planning to go on any of the tours should indicate their preference to secretariat@ulia.org.ug not later than 20 April 2018.

Preliminary programme for XXIII SCECSAL conference is out

The Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA), host for the forthcoming XXIII SCECSAL conference, has published the preliminary programme for the conference.

The 2018 conference, to be held from 23 to 27 April, in Entebbe, Uganda, will be a mixture of paper presentations in plenary and parallel sessions, workshops, expert panel discussions and excursions.

ULIA has scheduled keynote addresses and they include an address by Mr. Augustine Omare-Okurut on Positioning LIS to Achieve SDGs; Dr. Shana Ponelis who will speak on Broadening Innovations in LIS Education; and Dr. Cornelius Gulere on Whose access? Whose tools? Whose information? Creative LIS Partnerships to achieve SDGs.

Several sessions on different themes are also planned during the five-day event including on SDGs and Libraries and Information Services in the SCECSAL Region; Open Science, Open Data and LIS and SDGs; ICTs and Library and Information Services; Effective Records Management to Fight Corruption, and Library and Information Services to Improve Health Care, among others.

Three Expert Panel discussions are included on the programme and will focus on the following topics:

• Is there a gap between LIS education and practice in the SCECSAL region? 
• Contributions to SDGs in the SCECSAL region: are LIS institutions and professionals on the right track? 
• Marakesh Treaty and its impact on access to information by persons with disabilities

Departing away from the normal practice of holding SCECSAL Council Business Meetings on the last day of the conference, the 2018 Council meeting will be a pre-conference event on 22 April, an arrangement that will ensure that the Council has enough time to discuss all the agenda items.

Wednesday, 25 April is reserved for excursions during the day and a Cultural Event in evening at which the SCECSAL Author of the Year and SCECSAL Excellence Awards be given.