Social Media Skills and Social Media Strategies Important for Libraries in Africa

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 media could be used in the core functions (i.e. cataloguing, classifications, reference work, etc) of the library. Capacity development in the use of social media in library and information work could do the trick. Regional and national library and information associations should initiative and implement training programmes on social media in libraries for their members. Library and Information Schools in the region also have a role to play. There is need for targeted and focused short courses on social media in library and information work.

From the presentations and discussions, I also noted that most reported use of social media in libraries appeared to be more of personal initiatives by the individual librarians than institutional initiatives or strategies. No wonder there were cases mentioned of difficulties faced by some librarians in institutions where access to Facebook is blocked. Surely, if using Facebook in engaging with library users were part of the library’s overall strategy, the parent institutions would not block access to Facebook. A social media strategy for the library would also avoid situations whereby individual librarians are randomly and haphazardly adopting social media tools for official library work.  If the idea of developing a social media strategy sounds too complicated, answers to some of the following questions would do the trick (from: Getting Social Media Right: A Short Guide for Nonprofit Organizations):

1. What is my organization's mission and can social media help me achieve it?
2. What is the right role for social media in our overall communications efforts?
3. What groups of people might we reach (or create) through social media?
4. How can we help our communities? How do our constituents want to be engaged?
5. What is the real cost of making social media work for us?
6. How can we use social media to raise money for our cause?
7. Who is our competition in the social media space, and how can we differentiate our organization?

Challenges to Open Access and Institutional Repositories in Africa Highlighted

Participants at SCECSAL 2012

Research outputs from Africa should be available, accessible and applicable. This is the only way research can have an impact on the lives of the millions of Africans, and contribute to the global innovation systems. One of the pathways being used to enhance the visibility and accessibility of content from Africa is through open access to information resources stored in digital institutional repositories. Several initiatives are under way on the continent, especially in universities and research institutes. However, individuals involved in the initiatives face several challenges, some of which have been highlighted by speakers at the 2012 Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and South Africa of Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL, in Nairobi, Kenya, 4 – 8 June. The key challenges include the following:

• lack of motivation and incentives for researchers/academicians to submit their works to the institutional repositories;
• absence of institutional policies and strategies to support open sharing of information resources;
• inadequate bandwidth in institutions;
• fear of the un-known resulting in resistance to open access initiatives by researchers, academicians and librarians;
• conflicts/differences between information technology specialists and information/library professionals in the institutions regarding the approaches and software tools to be used;
• unstable power supply in some countries impact on 24/7 provision of access to institutional repositories;
• open access and institutional repository initiatives are seen as additional responsibilities to normal library duties and do not receive the attention required;
• absence of appropriate skills, especially IT skills, in libraries and documentation centres;
• absence of clear copyright and guidelines for licensing digital content;
• lack of knowledge about publishers policies on open access and self-archiving.

Sights from SCECSAL 2012, Nairobi, Kenya

SCECSAL 2012 Opening Session

SCECSAL Participants

Presenters loading their PPT files

Mrs Jacinta Were asking a question

Book Exhibition

Thomas Junck Representative of 3M presenting on 3M products and services

Peter Weche from Kenya making a contribution

Bhule Bambo-Thata from University of South Africa

Regional School Library Seminar in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe Library Association, in conjunction with the International Association of School Librarianship (IASL) – Africa Sub Sahara Region, hosted a Regional School Library Seminar in Bulawayo on 8-9 February 2012.  This event was organized so that school librarians, school library media specialists, teacher librarians, library and information science lecturers, university and polytechnic/college librarians, public librarians, library science students and all those interested in school librarianship could meet and learn from each other, and share ideas and aspirations on all aspects of school librarianship in Zimbabwe, Africa and the world over.
The 2 day seminar was attended by +70 delegates, 3 from South Africa, 3 from Tanzania, 2 from Kenya, 1 from Sweden and the rest were people from the regions in Zimbabwe. The seminar was very well organised.  The organising committee consisted of members of the Zimbabwe Library Association lead by Jerry Mathema,   The Masiyephambili College was a perfect venue for the seminar.

On day one the seminar was attended by 3 officials from the IFLA Africa Section, namely

• Lindi Nhlapo from the University of South Africa in Pretoria, South Africa,
• Victoria Okojie, Registrar, Librarians' Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN),  Abuja, Nigeria, and
• Margaret Tarpley who is presently working as Liaison Officer and Visiting Librarian at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso, Nigeria but is also associated with the Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee,  USA.

We felt honoured to have them in our midst. Victoria Okojie. the chairperson of the IFLA Africa Section, gave a short presentation.

We had an interesting speech by the mayor of Bulawayo who boasted about the number of public libraries which the government is building in townships. The deputy director from the Provincial Education wanted to know if our libraries are child friendly.

The quality of presentations was of high standard. We had a combination of presenters from schools, public libraries, NGOs and universities.

The seminar has come up with resolutions which are being fine tuned by the local organising committee and will be posted on the IASL website.

Prepared by Ms Busi Dlamini
Director IASL (International Association of School Librarianship – Africa Sub-Sahara )
2 March 2012.

Call for Papers, Africa Section Open Forum, WLIC, Helsinki, Finland, 2012

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 Africa: the role of librarians

Submission Guidelines:

The proposal must be the original work of the author(s) and should be written in either English or French. Each abstract must contain:

•  Title of proposed presentation
• Outline of the proposed presentation (no more than 350 words)
• Name(s) of presenter(s)
• Position or title of presenter(s)
• Presenter(s) employer or affiliated institution
• E-mail address, Telephone/fax numbers
• Short biographical statement of the presenter/s, with digital photograph

Please send proposals by January 14, 2012 by email to:

Rosemary Gitachu

Secretary, IFLA Africa Section,
e-mail: gitachur@yahoo.com

Important Deadlines:

January 14, 2012: Deadline for submission of abstract
February 18, 2012: Notification of acceptance/rejection of paper
May 16, 2012: Deadline for submission of full paper

All proposals will be evaluated by a refereeing team of the Standing Committee of the IFLA Africa Section

Travels and Costs:

Please note that all fees, including registration for the conference, travel, accommodation etc. are the responsibility of the authors of the accepted papers. Presenters are advised to approach their parent organizations for sponsorship.

For information on the IFLA Africa Section, please see
http://www.ifla.org/en/africa

Tanzania Marks World Food Day at National Level in Lindi



Dr. Mponda (second left) of Naliendele
Agricultural Research Institute
stressing a point during exhibitions 

 Today, Tanzania joined other countries worldwide to mark the World Food Day. The colourful event took place in Lindi region about 450 km south of Dar es Salaam. The commemoration was preceeded by a week long of exhibitions from various agricultural stakeholders. The theme of this year's cerebrations is - Food prices from crisis to stability.  The Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Cooperatives collaborated with other sector ministries(- livestock and fisheries Development), international organisations (- World Food Programme (WFP), Food and Agrculture Organisation (FAO) of United Nations ) and Lindi region to organise the event. Leaving alone the presence of government leaders and agricultural experts the most important message was to remind Tanzanians on the importance of access to food by every body. However, the messages were touching some of the challenges which have denied other people from getting adequate food and in balanced amounts. In recent years, food prices have been rising thus denying other people from this important right. Actually, this situation needs in some way to be addressed by concerned parties- governments at all levels and the people up to the grass roots. Most importantly, is to ensure increase in production and productivity at farm level, reduce post-harvest loses and using the food wisely at the household level. In this event the government of Tanzania expressed its commitment on this important obligation to its people. Likewise, the people especially farmers and livestock keepers were challenged to take their parts so that together food is made available to all at all times. 

Zambian Librarian Turns to Farming

Mr. Hephias Mweemba Hamakanda, a former librarian with the Zambia Library Service and and one time  excutive member of the Zambia Library Association,  has turned to farming.

SCECSAL XX Conference, Nairobi, Kenya, 2012

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.

Developing Knowledge for Economic Advancement in Africa: 2nd International Conference on African Digital Libraries and Archives (ICADLA-2)

The 2nd International Conference on African Digital Libraries and Archives (ICADLA-2), hosted by the University of the Witwatersrand, will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 14 – 18 November 2011.

The theme of the conference is Developing Knowledge for Economic Advancement in Africa.  

For more information, visit the ICADLA-2  website.

Participation is invited from all African countries, private and public international development organisations, and other countries aiding Africa

Sights from ZLA 2011 AGM

A fishing boat on Lake Kariba

View of Lake Safari Lodge from Lake Kariba

ZLA 2011 AGM delegates on a boat cruise

ZLA Honours 5 Individuals

Dr. Chifwepa receiving his certificate

On 13 August 2011, the Zambia Library Association honoured five individuals for their contribution to the development of the library and information profession in the Zambia and support to ZLA. The five, who were presented with Honorary Membership Certificates, are:

• Professor Maurice Lundu
• Dr. Justin Chisenga
• Dr. Vitalicy Chifwepa
• Dr. Hudwell Mwacalimba
• Mr. Charles Lungu

The certificates were presented by Ms. Francina Makondo, ZLA President, at a Cocktail Party held at the Lake Safari Lodge, in Siavonga.

Francina Makondo re-elected as ZLA President

A smiling Ms. Makondo after the elections

Zambia Library Association members have shown confidence in Ms Francina Makondo and her Executive Committee by re-electing them back into office. Ms. Makodo was un-opposed for the post of  President of the Zambia Library Association (ZLA) at the just ended ZLA Annual General meeting. About 100 members of the Association met on 13 August 2011, at Lake Safari Lodge located on the banks of the Lake Kariba, to deliberate on the affairs of the Association and to elect members of the Executive Committee for 2011/2013, which comprise the following individuals:

• President: Francina Makondo (University of Zambia)
• Vice President: Charles Banda (Copperbelt University)
• Secretary: Otila Malasa Shikati (National Institute of Public Administration)
• Membership Secretary: Kennedy L. Mutila (Ministry of Education)
• Publicity Secretary: Eric Simukonda (The Post Newspapers Ltd)
• Treasurer: Bishop Phillip Banda (Zambia Revenue Authority)
• Vice Treasurer: Lembani Dambo Chagona (ZCCM Investments Holding PLC)
• Project-Coordinator: Muswa Suuya (National Assembly)
• Editor: Dr. Akakendelwa Akakadelwa (University of Zambia)
• Committee Member: Mirriam Mumba (Zambia Environmental Management Agency)

The only new member to the Executive Committee is Mr. Eric Simukonda who was elected as Publicty Secretary.

Librarians Advised to Innovate or Become Irrelevant

Dr. Vitalicy Chifwepa delivering the keynote address

Librarians in Zambia have been called upon to be innovative or they will find themselves irrelevant in the fast changing information environment. Speakers during the morning session of the first day of the Zambia Library Association (ZLA) Annual Conference, at Lake Safari Lodge in Siavonga, urged information professionals in the country to move from the notion of “business as usual”, to take up the reins and drive the information profession in the country. Discussions at the conference showed that developments in the world information environment, among others, have resulted into:

• Several competing professions in the information environment resulting in certain jobs which hitherto use to be a preserve for librarians being carried out by other professionals;

• Modern information and communication technologies such as the Internet and Web 2.0/social media have opened up new sources of information to potential library users

In his keynote address, Dr. Vitalicy Chifwepa, University Librarian at the University of Zambia, called upon librarians in the country to have foresight, be alert and catch-up with the changing and up-coming technologies that are having an impact on the delivery of library and information services. Librarians in the country need to move at the same pace as their users if they are to provide the services the users will ever require.

Prof. Mary Wagner

Prof. Mary Wagner, during her presentation on Public Libraries: Catalyst for Information Literacy indicated that public libraries are essential infrastructure in a democratic society and should play a key and supportive role an information literate society.  However, faced with the problems of under-funding and poor library infrastructure, public librarians need to innovate and should consider providing targeted services to their communities within the limited resources available. Potentially, public librarians should target children, adults in employment, immigrants and émigrés, and provide ICT facilities for use by the communities.

In his paper on Information Professionals as "Hybrid Managers” in the Knowledge Economy: A Review from the Zambian Perspective, Mr. Sitali Wamundila, a lecturer in the Department of Library and Information Studies, urged information professionals in the country to transform themselves into “hybrids” capable of performing various roles in the information economy, if they are to compete  effectively with other information professionals. There is also need for the information professionals in the country to effect several changes including skills sets, mind sets and professional culture.

Library and Information Professionals in Zambia Take a Glimpse into the Future

Participants at the ZLA Conference, Siavonga, Zambia

About 90 library and information professionals in Zambia are meeting at Lake Safari Lodge in Siavonga at a three-day Zambia Library Association (ZLA) Conference, 11 – 13 August 2011. The theme of the conference - A Glimpse into the Future: Redefining the Role of Libraries in a Fast Changing Environment, will afford participants an opportunity to discuss, among others, the following:

• Professionalism and education for librarians in Zambia;
• Status of libraries in colleges of education in Zambia;
• Public Libraries: catalyst for information literacy;
• Information ethics in the information age;
• Adopting Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in libraries;
• Use of Web 2.0/social media in public university libraries in Zambia

View of Lake Kariba from the Conference Venue Restaurant

Speakers at the conference will include Dr. Vitalicy Chifwepa, University of Zambia Librarian, who will deliver the keynote address at the Opening Session; Professor Mary Wagner, a Visiting Fulbright Scholar at the University of Zambia in the Department of Library and Information Studies, who will make a presentation on Public Libraries: catalyst for information literacy; and Mr. Charles Banda, Reference and Electronic Services Librarian at the Copperbelt University, who will speak about Web 2.0/social media in libraries in Zambia.
Participants at the conference have come from various parts Zambia mainly from public libraries, university libraries, specials libraries, the Department of Library and Information Studies of the University of Zambia and the Zambia Information Communication and Technology College (ZICTC).

Digitisation of legacy collections at ORI Library

As previously agreed on, I will be reporting on events that happen at our Library during the course of the year. On Wednesday (23rd February) amongst much pomp and fanfare, the Library held a launch of a special collection of slides under the theme" documenting and interpreting the !Xo San Cultures. This work is a collection of Dr.Hans Joachim Heinz , a trained parasitologist who came to Botswana in 1961 to study the biology of the bushman in the Okwa Valley and his work focused on documenting the culture and indigenous knowledge of the bushman in the Okavango and Northern Kalahari. In preparation for this event ,the Library staff travelled to Bere, a place where Dr. heinz lived and did most of his slides and brought in 10 members of that community for the launch, who also entertained the audience with some traditional dances. Several speakers praised the good work that was done by Dr. Heinz. However, one issue of concern that was brought up by one speaker was that so many researchers have come into the San communities, got the information they wanted and never give back anything to them, thus the need for practising ethics when carrying out research within these communities.For more on the event, you can see some of the pics on our weblog, Flow on http://flowhoorc.blogspot.com/