Professor Katjavivi to officiate as guest of honour at SCECSAL 2020 conference

Hon. Prof. Peter Katjavivi (middle) with some
members of the National Organazing Committe
for SCECSAL 2020 conference

Honourable Professor Peter Hitjitevi Katjavivi, the Speaker of the National

Assembly of the Republic of Namibia, will be the guest of honour at the opening ceremony of the twenty-fourth Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Library and Information Associations (SCESSAL) to be held in Windhoek, Namibia, from 20 to 24 April.

Hon. Katjavivi has an illustrious career in academia and politics and has contributed immensely to nation building in Namibia.

From 1992 to 2003 he served as the founding Vice-Chancellor of the University of Namibia and transformed a previously segregated academic institution into a national university with relevant programmes that are increasingly accessible to all Namibians. Currently he also the founding Chancellor of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).

He also served as Namibia’s ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, The Netherlands, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the European Union (2003-2006), and ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany (2006–2008).

Hon. Katjavivi was also a Member of the Constitutional Committee (1989-1990) that drafted the Republic of Namibia’s Constitution, and a signatory to the Constitution.

The Namibian Information Workers Association (NIWA) will be hosting the SCECSAL conference for the second time, in the history of both NIWA and SCECSAL, having hosted the fifteenth SCECSAL conference in 2000 on the theme – “Information 2000: a Vision for the SCECSAL region”.

Paper presenters at this year’s SCECSAL conference will come from the SCECSAL region and beyond and more than 350 library and information professionals are expected to attend the conference at the Safari Park Hotel, which was also the venue for the 2000 conference.

Visit the SCECSAL 2020 website for  online registration, Call for International Exhibitors, and Call for Posters (deadline is 28 February 2020).

African Ministerial Conference on Information Access held in Accra

The 3rd Ministerial Roundtable meeting for African Ministers with oversight responsibilities for Libraries was held from 28-30 October 2019, at Labadi Beach Hotel, Accra, Ghana under the auspices of the Ministry of Education. The two-day conference was under the theme, “Libraries on the African Development Agenda: Progress made” purposefully fell within the framework of the AU 2063 Agenda, the Charter for  African Renaissance and the related outcomes of the AU Commission meeting held in Algeria in October 2018. The conference was aimed at providing leadership and guidance on how African governments can integrate libraries in their national development plans and ensure allocation of resources towards the achievement of the development goals. 

Ghana’s Minister of Education Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh
announcing the Accra Declaration

In his address to the delegates, the Host Minister, Ghana’s Minister of Education Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh echoed the core of libraries and information access. The Hon Minister acknowledged that information has become very crucial to every enterprise in life, hence its acquisition, storage, dissemination, evaluation and use needs to be properly positioned. 

Libraries play a role in the organization of the deluge of information available today as a consequence of technological advancement,” he said. The Minister further detailed that the government of Ghana under the leadership of His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo recognizes the importance of libraries in development and has rolled out interventions that have seen a rejuvenated public library service in the country. He concluded by disclosing that reforms have been taking place at public libraries in Ghana including increase in staff strength at Ghana Library Authority, opening up of new libraries, renovating existing libraries, increasing the number of books and adoption of technology in various forms of operations and service delivery.

In his address, AfLIA President Mr Mandla Ntombela highlighted the intention of the continental library body as to equip public libraries, even in remote rural areas of the continent, with 21st Century skills in LIS Sector that includes support of internet-connected libraries. This would have a far-reaching impact in promoting access to online information in a safe environment, with qualified library staff to guide patrons in the best use of the internet as an educational resource. On the future of community libraries, Mr Mandla noted that AfLIA visualizes an expanded community library network playing a vital role in nurturing cohesion because the libraries can provide a safe environment for social interaction, the exchange of information and ideas and development of skills. 

As AfLIA, we exist to empower the library and information community, so that they can positively contribute towards the achievement of the African Development Agenda (AU Agenda 2063) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), through dynamic services that transform the livelihoods of Africans. AfLIA family of information leaders, fully embrace the strategic value of Access to Information  as a fundamental Human Right- Mandla emphasized.

Mr. Mandla Ntombela AfLIA President addressing participants 

The AfLIA supremo also noted that African libraries and information services face huge challenges in the documentation and communication of indigenous knowledge. These include the lack of financial resources, human capacity, technology shortages and the lack of legal frameworks at national and international level to support the library efforts to document and communicate indigenous knowledge. The fast-developing information and communication technologies continue to pose challenges on how best libraries can document and disseminate this oral and community-based knowledge to a globally accepted knowledge base.

Thirty-two (32) African countries were represented at the conference consisting of ministers, Directors of libraries and high-level emerging library leaders on the continent. At the end of the conference, African governments were expected to make commitments to strategies mapped out towards the development of libraries on the African continent. 

                                                 Courtesy of Dr. Sarah Kaddu. 

EASLIS, CoCIS host Workshop on Digitalising LIS Curriculum.

The East African School of Library and Information Sciences (EASLIS), College of Computing & Information Sciences (CoCIS), Makerere University in partnership with King’s College London (KCL) recently hosted a workshop on digitalizing the curriculum from 7th to 9th:, October 2019. The workshop theme was: “Towards an Education Programme for Digital Information Science in East Africa”, attracted a total of 37 participants from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Nigeria, many of whom were academics and practitioners. In her introductory remarks, the workshop coordinator, Dr. Sarah Kaddu highlighted the aims of the workshop as to:  ensure that participants gain a plan of digitalised curriculum in 20th century, identify the key components of the digital curriculum, come up with the requirements of the digitalised curriculum, and, also draft an outlie curriculum an information science programme as they saw it fit.

In his welcome remarks, the Dean of EASLIS Professor Constant Okello -Obura noted that there was need for information professionals to reflect on the current trends, discover what is new in the world, and understand the skills and competencies required for the changing times. He also emphasized the need for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4th IR) skills and competencies which appreciates the new technologies used currently. Professor Obura also highlighted the need to develop smart ways, and to discover methods to make information responsive to the demand for the situation out there in the world.

In attendance, was the Principal College of Computing and Information Sciences (COCIS) Prof. Tonny Oyana who also represented the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academics. In his remarks, Professor Oyana noted that digitalising the curriculum is at the forefront of the College of Computing and Information Sciences. He specified that a lot needs to be done in terms of considering the structured, semi structured and unstructured data.  In terms of disseminating information, Prof. Oyana pointed out that there are different types of consumers for example, children, gender component, old age, and the need to cater for all this audience.

Participants of the Workshop

On issues concerning the level of detail that is required (content), Oyana noted that there are behavioral components determined by the different audiences, such as issues of costs and as well as standards. He advised all the information professionals to be aware of all the laws, polices and standards within the country and beyond. He gave an example of the recent Uganda Data Protection Act that was passed earlier this year. He reminded all the stakeholders that digitalizing the curriculum requires hardware, software and human resources. 

Some of the topics covered during the three day workshop included: The Job Market for Digital Information Experts, the (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums- GLAM),  Resources and Strategies for successful implementation of digital information science education curriculum, practice and research in East Africa, research data management, Computational Archival Science – Computational Methods and Digital Archives and Information Ethics in Digital Archiving among other. Among the facilitators were Mark Hedges and David Jordan from King’s College London. 

The workshop was a huge success and of immense benefit to all the participants. Participants noted that the job market for digital archivists exists; but currently, they are out sourced. It was also noted that in most cases, the records managers are not part of the team that designs the systems and yet they are expected to run these systems. It was agreed that there is a crucial need for LIS professionals to work together with IT professionals. It was evident that there is a huge importance to look at IT as a tool and not as replacing Librarians and or Information Professionals since the role of the librarians/Information professionals is to connect users to the information they need. 

Workshop participants in a group discussion

It was also noted that presently, there is no curriculum that prepares learners to be digital experts; it only stops at the elementary. Therefore Library and Information Science schools should introduce options in the curriculum so that students can have more time and have hands-on with the digital aspects. On the role of the students, much emphasis was put on changing the mindset of students in order to explore the opportunities for becoming digital experts. Furthermore, some participants felt the need to conduct tracer studies for the digital aspects and the employers’ needs. 

In his closing remarks, Prof Constant Okello Obura noted that LIS schools needed the advice of employers, urging the employers who were present to keep in touch with LIS schools so that they can get the right graduates. He also advised the Uganda Library and Information Association to take up the initiative and support the implementation of this digitalized curriculum.

Courses at SCECSAL 2020 in Namibia

Make your choice.

Are you a library and information services (LIS) professional residing in any of the SCECSAL region countries? Are you planning to attend the SCECSAL conference in 2020?

The SCECSAL Secretariat in collaboration with the Namibia Information Workers Association will organize courses for LIS professionals attending the XXIVth SCECSAL conference in Windhoek, Namibia, 20-24 April 2020.

The following six courses have been proposed. Which one would you participate in?

• Course 1: LibraryThing and the application of mobile technology in library services
• Course 2: Marketing Libraries
• Course 3: Facilitating Multi-stakeholder Processes (i.e. Group Meetings and Events)
• Course 4: Mobile Apps for Librarians
• Course 5: Social media: managing your library’s account in the 21st century
• Course 6: Social Media for the Libraries: Twitter, Blogs and Instagram

Make it known at: SCECSAL 2020 Training Courses

NIWA issues a call for abstracts for XXIV SCECSAL conference in 2020

The Namibia Information Workers Association (NIWA) has issued a call for abstracts for paper and poster presentations to be delivered at the XXIV SCECSAL conference to held in Windhoek, Namibia from 20-24 April 2020.

The them for the XXIV SCECSAL conference will be “Inclusive Libraries and Information Services Toward Achieving Prosperity for Sustainable Development in Africa”.

Abstracts, due by 30 April 2019, may cover any of the 21 sub-themes proposed for the conference, among them the following:

• Access to information: issues, challenges and solutions (e.g. Marrakesh Treaty; Cape Town Declaration)
• African libraries as drivers of the National Development Agenda Building capacities of library and information professionals to contribute toward attaining the 2030 Agenda
• Digital preservation and access 
• Open Data, Open Access and Open Science in development 
• Specialised information services in support of development (e.g. in agriculture, climate change, health, environment, science and technology, industrialisation agenda, etc.) 

Further information is available at the following sites:

Call for abstracts – XXIV SCECSAL Conference (PDF)
NIWA – XXIV SCECSAL Conference website

Training workshops at SCECSAL 2020: call for proposals

The SCECSAL Secretariat today issued a call for proposals for training workshops to be organized during the XXIVth SCECSAL conference in 2020 to be hosted by the Namibia Information Workers Association (NIWA) in Windhoek.

In April 2018, in Entebbe, Uganda, the SCECSAL Council recommended that Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes targeting library and information professionals in the SCECSAL regional should be a regular feature of all future SCECSAL conferences.

The Windhoek conference will, in addition to optional tours on 22 April 2020 also include optional training courses for conference participants.

Individuals and organizations interested in offering courses during the conference should submit their proposals t by 15 February 2019 to:

Mr. John Anbu Paul

SCECSAL Secretariat

Email: john.paul.anbuATgmail.com

Download call for proposals.

Zambia participates in 3rd African Public Library Summit in Durban, South Africa

The Library and Information Association of Zambia (LIAZ) took part in the 3rd Public Library Summit organized by the Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA) in Durban, South Africa, from 3rd to 4th July, 2018 at the prestigious Durban International Convention Centre, on the theme “Driving Development: African Public Libraries Delivering on the Development Agenda”.

LIAZ was represented at the Summit by a six-member team comprising Velenasi Mwale Munsanje, Aggie Kaite Mwanza Mumbi, Raymond Sikanyika, Famous Simpelwe, Debra Mwango Banda and Constantine Mupinde.

The Minister of Arts and Culture in South Africa, Honorable Nathi Mthethwa, officially opened the Summit which was hosted by National Department of Arts and Culture through the National Library of South Africa (NLSA) and Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA). Honorable Mthethwa explained that the theme for the Summit was a call to action and a commitment to improve the socio-economic development of African countries and the continent, and emphasized that more coordinated support to libraries would ensure better investment in public library infrastructures.

The two-day Summit saw about ten papers and seven ignite talks being conducted. Zambia made two

Allan Hagwelele sharing his ignite talk as the sign language interpreter follows

presentations; by Ms. Munsanje who presented a paper entitled “Public Library Services in Zambia and the Development Agenda ; and by Mr. Allan Hagwelele  who did an ignite talk entitled “Going beyond the books” in which he shared with the delegates how his experience through the Young African Library Innovators (IYALI) programme had positively impacted on his work at Choma Provincial Library in the Southern Province of Zambia.

Mr. Hagwelele was a beneficiary of the IFLA partnership with the Electronic Information for Libraries Public Library Innovation Programme (EIFL-PLIP) and AfLIA to support 15 participants in the second Young African Library Innovators initiative (IYALI) programme. IYALI is a peer learning and international networking experience for African public librarians.

Other key persons that attended the summit included Glòria Pérez-Salmerón , President the International Federation of Library Association and Institutions (IFLA) as well as the IFLA Secretary General, Gerald Leitner. AfLIA’s President John Tsebe as well as the Vice President Mandla Ntombela who is also LIASA President were also in attendance.

The Zambian delegation team also attended the Gala dinner that was hosted to celebrate 200 years of National Library of South Africa and which was also graced by Honorable Minister Mthethwa.

LIAZ Secretary General Aggie Kaite Mumbi represented Zambia during the IFLA Global Vision Meeting for the African region which took place at Onomo Hotel in Durban from 7 – 8th July.

New NEC for ZimLA

By Kenneth Mangemba

The 52nd Zimbabwe Library Association (ZimLA) Annual conference ended on a high note last week with an election that dissolved the National Executive Council (NEC) led by Mr. Lantern Fusire. A new NEC was elected with Shadreck Ndinde elected President of ZimLA.

The new ZimLA National Executive Council for ZimLA.

Shadreck Ndinde was the Vice president in the previous Council and has a vast of experience having been involved at branch level as ZimLA Masvingo branch Chairperson for several terms. The incumbent president encouraged ZimLA members and the information professionals at large to support the growth of the library association through utilization of talent and skills to foster cooperation in various ZimLA programmes.

    

The Annual General Meeting adopted a new clause in the Constitution, to have the position of President-elect, abolishing the position of vice president, of which Jerry Mathema won the vote from Matebeleland branch. The president-elect will take over as President of ZimLA when the term of incumbent president expires. The new clause gives room for a succession plan to enable smooth transfer of projects and activities. Under the old constitution, a new president would come in and take a completely new direction making it difficult to continue with projects and other ideas for ZimLA.

Charles Poterai and Praymore Tendai retained their positions as Treasurer and Advocacy Officer respectively. Another new comer is non-other than the ZimLA Mashonaland Branch Secretary, Alice Parakokwa. The position of Editor was also won by Bruce Nyabadza from Mashonaland branch. The new executive will be in place until 2020.

Incoming NEC members are expected to relinquish branch positions as they assume the new roles. Branches are therefore expected to ensure they have new members coming in to fill the vacant positions through a vote or appointing members.

A full meeting is expected to be held for a handover and takeover briefing soon. About 34 members attended the AGM despite a high attendance for the conferencing days. This indicates need for membership mobilization to ensure that more registered members attend the AGM as directed by the constitution. The next ZimLA election will be held in 2020.

Need for alternative funding for libraries: Prof Mavodza

Professor Judith Mavodza.

By Kenneth Mangemba

The 52^nd Zimbabwe Library Association (ZimLA) conference underway in Mutare got a boost from Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and Manicaland Provincial Affairs representatives. Running under the theme “Libraries in Transition: Emerging Trends and Technologies”, the conference has created a platform to iron out issues affecting growth of library and information institution in Zimbabwe.

 

The keynote address by Professor Judith Mavodza from United Arab Emirates accentuate on the need for library and information professionals to look for alternative funding sources for a sustainable service provision. She noted that information professional should re-assess services they are providing in the wake of emerging trends and technologies to ensure they are within the expectations of our users.

Delegates at the ZimLA conference in Mutare.

Prof Mavodza noted the impact of library spaces which are technologically-enhanced. She said that, “These spaces are becoming more active virtually, and creating more individual user experiences.” Indeed the emerging trends and technologies have transformed the entire library and information fraternity increasingly forcing librarians to ask for more funding. Prof Mavodza said Librarians should build advocacy skills that will enable them to seek alternative funding sources. She said there are private international funders such as the Elsevier Foundation’s Innovative Libraries in Developing Countries program that awards grants to libraries for improving access to and use of scientific, technological and medical information, and the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation Global Libraries program to expand technology access in public libraries. 

 The desire to fulfill the transition in libraries hinges around sustainable funding for libraries in Zimbabwe. Prof Mavonda said the current climate of extreme budget cuts can be circumvented through shifting away from local ILS models to a cloud-based service and many other strategies that strengthen consortia involvement in library work.

The conference has shown the significance of the library association with a record attendance of a hundred plus delegates from local and regional library and information professionals.

Zambia celebrates 2018 National Library Week

By Velenasi Mwale Munsanje

Guest of Honour chats with exhibitors
as LIAZ Vice President Mr. Jabulani Moyo,
on his right, looks on

National Library Week is an annual event commemorated around the world at different times. The significance of this event is to create public awareness on the importance of libraries by giving an opportunity to libraries, documentation/information centres to showcase their resources, facilities, events and services through different programs and events to the community. The event also provides the community with the opportunity to find out about the wide range of services which libraries and other information providing institutions offer as well as recognize the vital role they play in research, education and entertainment.

National Library Week in Zambia does not only provide libraries with a way to promote their services and raise awareness of the vital role that libraries play in society, but also  encourages literacy and provides people with access to information.

As well as attending events, National Library Weed attendees can check out their local libraries and inquire about their services available to find out new ways to utilise the facility. Presentations include a variety of topics that affect citizens such as drug abuse, environmental issues, sexual harassment, etc.

The Ministry of General Education in partnership with Library and Information Association of Zambia (LIAZ), yet again, partnered this year to celebrate this important event. In the recent years, the hosting of the main launch of the National Library Week has been rotating in the various provinces in Zambia. This has given an opportunity to the host provinces to have a national activity with much more impact on the local community.

The National Library Week celebrations took place in various provinces from 4th to 8th June, 2018.The main official launch was held on 6th June, 2018 in Kasama, in the Northern Province. The theme for this year’s National Library Week was “Libraries Lead.” The Northern Province Minister, Honourable Brian Mundubile officially opened the National Library Week that was hosted by Kasama Provincial Library. In his speech, the Honourable Minister echoed that the National Library Week was a great opportunity to talk about the how libraries lead in everything about our lives. He emphasised that libraries lead us to community exploration, heritage, academic success, innovation and our overall future. He observed that Librarians have long been trailblazers when it comes to issues like equity of access and intellectual freedom; beyond that, Librarian’s services and expertise help lead people to achieve their goals and improve their quality of life.

The award for the best exhibitor was grabbed by Road Development Agency (RDA) with the second position going to Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA). ZRA has been the best National Library Week exhibiting organization for the two previous years.

Although Northern Province was the official host of this national event, various celebrations were held in other provinces. These included Lusaka, Western, Luapula, North-Western, Eastern and Southern Provinces. Each province had a Guest of Honour that graced the occasion with various libraries exhibiting their services.

SCECSAL adopts amended constitution

The SCECSAL General Council, following virtual consultations held on 29 and 30 May, has adopted an amended constitution which has put in place a new governance structure and formalises the resolution of the SCECSAL General Assembly, made in 2016, to establish a permanent SCECSAL Secretariat.

The new SCECSAL governance structure will be composed of the SCECSAL General Council, the highest decision-making body made up Presidents/Chairpersons of the SCECSAL member Associations; the SCECSAL Committee of Focal Points, composed of representatives of the member Associations, to be responsible for day-to-day SCECSAL business; and the SCECSAL Secretariat.

The amendments to the constitution also give power to the General Council to suspend member Associations failing to fulfil their SCECSAL constitutional and financial obligations; and authorises member Associations hosting SCECSAL conferences to charge higher registration fees to participants who are not members of their national library (information) associations, a move aimed at encouraging library and information professionals to participate in activities of their national associations.

The constitution also makes provision for organizations and associations from within or outside the SCECSAL region, that are involved in or have an interest in the development of the library, information and knowledge profession in the region, to join SCECSAL as SCECSAL Affiliates.

Work on amending the constitution began in June 2016 and was finalised at the face-to-face meeting of the SCECSAL General Council held in Entebbe, Uganda, on 23-24 April 2018.

Download a copy of the constitution in PDF.

IAALD and ITOCA announce updates on upcoming fourth Africa Conference

IAALD Africa and ITOCA have announced updates on the upcoming fourth IAALD Africa Conference to take place from 30 May - 1 June 2018 at the Leriba Hotel, Centurion, Pretoria, South Africa.

The theme of the conference will be Agricultural Innovations, Information and Knowledge: Catalyzing the Attainment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union Agenda 2063.

Paper presenters from South Africa, the United States, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Tanzania, the Gambia, among other countries, are scheduled to speak at the conference and will cover sub-themes including e-agriculture and services, access to agricultural information, knowledge management services, capacity development for farmers, empowering women and youth, and open data for agriculture and nutrition.

Participants at the conference will also have an opportunity to register for one of the following CPD (Continuing Professional Development) training free of charge:

• The ‘Knowledge Management Ecosystem’ concept and tools Workshop (KME), 
• Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Workshop (MEL) 
• Grant Writing & Resource Mobilization Workshop (GWRM)
• Developing and Managing Open Data Repositories (ODR) Workshop

The conference programme is available on the IAALD Africa website.

Individuals wishing to participate in the conference and in nay of the above CPD courses should register at:

• Participants within South Africa: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q22JZHW
• Participants outside South Africa: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IAALDconference

For further inquiries, please contact the conference coordinator, Ms Amanda Makwangwaidze at amanda@itoca.org

Vacancy for a librarian at Lesotho College of Education

The Lesotho College of Education (LCE) invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Librarian at Maseru campus. Interested persons may access additional information on the job from the Registrar’s Office based at the Administration Building of the LCE Maseru campus and the College’s website.

A copy of the advert is available HERE.

LIAZ clinches "LOCAL" deal

By Raymond Sikanyika

WorldReader Programme Manager, Benson Mbuthia,
demonstrates how to use an e-reader to Luanshaya
Deputy Mayor Golden Mulenga

One of Library Association of Zambia’s (LIAZ) strategic objectives is to develop capacity building strategies for innovative library services. To ensure that this is attained, LIAZ works in partnership or collaboration with regional and international organizations which have
been instrumental in helping the Association build capacities of its member librarians. 2018 has seen the partnership between LIAZ and Worldreader which has culminated into the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two organizations. The understanding has seen the birth of Local Content in African (LOCAL) Project in Zambia.

The LOCAL project is a collaborative program between Worldreader, the African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA), Library services in Ghana, Uganda and Zambia funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Worldreader is pairing digital technology and locally- created e-books with extensive training, capacity building, and support to help library systems develop the resources and knowledge they need to improve their ability to help children access and read content in their mother tongue.

The goals of the project include:

• Increased reading material in Zambian languages; 
• Children come to libraries more often to access library services; 
• Librarian skills, knowledge, and capacity to promote reading is increased;
• Libraries play an active role in creating and supporting reading culture, serving as agents of change, and centers for development and literacy.

LIAZ made a call to all public libraries in Zambia to apply to take part in the project. After a call was done, 19 libraries responded from which 10 were selected to undertake the project. These 10 will receive 50 e-readers each and its Librarian's capacity built to manage the project. The first phase of the training for head librarians took place from 2nd to 5th May, 2018 at Cresta Golfview Hotel in Lusaka. The libraries that are benefitting from this initiative are: Lusaka City Council Public Library, Matero Public Library, Chilenje Public Library, Mtendere Public Library, Ndola City Council Public Library, Helen Kaunda Memorial Public library, Kitwe City Council Public Library, Chililabombwe Municipal Council Library, Chingola Municipal Council Library and Kalulushi Municipal Council Library.

Participants from the selected public libraries across Zambia that attended
WorldReader training workshop held in Lusaka

The Project will see the above libraries receive 50 e-readers each which will have 100 English titles and 100 locally purchased local language titles that will sit on them. The project targets library users aged between 0 to 12. Worldreader will ensure that the librarians are given the much needed skills to manage this project through training as already indicated above. 

LIAZ is hopeful that this project will impact positively on the communities that these piloting libraries are sitting in. It is a considered view of LIAZ that the library users who are being targeted by the project will immensely benefit from it. E-readers which make part of the ICT gadgets in this fast changing e-world will go a long way in bringing excitement in the participating libraries. LIAZ is therefore convinced beyond doubt that e-readers will add value in the libraries. It is anticipated that the LOCAL project will result in an increase in the amount of time children read, an increase in the amount of enjoyment children get out of reading, and an increase in the amount of time children spend in the libraries.

Uganda and Lesotho ratify the Marrakesh Treaty

Expert panel discussion on the Marrakesh treaty during SCECSAL 2018 

The Republic of Uganda and Kingdom of Lesotho have become the 36th and 37th countries respectively in the world to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty. 

It’s exactly two weeks today since the SCECSAL 2018 general assembly resolved that all member countries who are signatories to the Marrakesh Treaty push for the ratification of the multilateral agreement. 

During the Expert Panel Discussion on the Marrakesh Treaty on the 27th April 2018 in Entebbe Uganda, it was unanimously agreed that member countries should take on this task seriously and this will form the basis for future discussions like in Namibia 2020. 

The massage was well received as two SCECSAL member countries Uganda and Lesotho have joined the ever growing list of countries who have ratified the treaty. Other countries in Africa who have already ratified the treaty are: Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Tunisia and Mali. 

During SCECSAL 2018 in Entebbe, Ms Beatrice Guzu the executive secretary National Union of Women with Disabilities said: "Before the treaty, one could not access information from other countries in a format suitable for blind persons. This situation resulted in reproducing what was already available at an extra cost just because sharing such material is blocked by the copyright jurisdiction". 

The treaty therefore acknowledges the legitimate commercial interest of the publishers who have that as a living and argued that by this sharing; no one is injuring the publishers because they are not publishing it in accessible formats for blind persons. 

In other words their target population excludes the blind which would by no means reduce their profits if the treaty holds.  Before the treaty, less than 5% of all books published were made accessible to the blind in the world. It was difficult to have current books in accessible formats including Braille, audio or large prints. 

Accordingly, global uproars have called for ratification in all member countries. This would ensure that published material in accessible format can be exchanged across the borders of those countries that have ratified the Treaty.  In response to the global calls, Uganda and Lesotho have joined the list of countries to ratify the treaty.  

This is a very strong statement in the history on the two African countries and for visually impaired persons and persons with print disabilities. 

We congratulate the two countries and we look forward to domesticating this into the respective national legal framework. 

The said treaty will enter into force, with respect to the Republic of Uganda, on July 23, 2018 and with respect to the Kingdom of Lesotho, on July 30, 2018.

Congratulations to all!