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/

ITOCA -IDS Pre-workshop Information Literacy Seminar in Pictures.

Dear members

Here are the pictures from the ITOCA -IDS Seminar (better late than never Chief Editor). Enjoy!

A Few Photos From IAALD Africa Web 2.0 Workshop and SCECSAL 2010

Dear Friends

I believe you all reached safely  and busy on your desks. OR not yet since Christmas is only two days away thus you could be out there shopping for your family. ... What ever the case Merry X-mas and a Happy New Year!

Mr Justine Chisenga wants to send you some photos on the Web.20 Social Medias Workshop that we had from 1-3 December and others from SCECSAL but I think he is still trying to collect them. If any one took some photos please send a few to him,  I have tried to send photos to him over 3 times but he is not receiving them. As we wait for his photos please see the attached. 

And I am sorry I could not blog the Tuesday Morning SCECSAL Session as I had promised. It was difficult to get to the Internet and even pass by a blocked blog at the University of Botswana on that day.

Regards and Happy New Year

Alice Sebunjo

Highlights from the SCECSAL 2010 Official Opening Session

Source of image: "Libraries must change strategy", Daily News (Botswana), 10 December 2010

By Poloko Ntokwane

Mrs Kgomotso Radijeng: Welcome Remarks

During her welcome remarks the President of Botswana Library Association Mrs Kgomotso Radijeng said that the main focus of the theme “Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance through Effective Information and Knowledge Services” is to interrogate the role that free flow of information can play in contributing to Democracy, Good Governance, social equality and economic growth within our nations. She further highlighted that information and knowledge services are at the epicentre of a world wind of change. According to Radijeng the digital age is revolutionizing the way we live our lives and that access to ICTs is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Technological changes have the potential to revolutionize the delivery of effective Library, Information and Knowledge services. Our challenge as information professionals is to ensure that Governments and businesses are encouraged to invest efficiently, so that the average citizen will have access to the emergent technologies and that these technological and developmental changes enhance democracy and Good Governance. Another important aspect raised by Radijeng is that “Library, Information and Knowledge Services must remain relevant in order to realize their missions. In this regard, SCECSAL member associations must continue to present themselves as willing and capable partners in enhancing Democracy and Good Governance through the provision of effective and efficient Library, Information and Knowledge Services.



Mr Thapelo Ndlovu MISA Botswana –Key Note Address

Giving a key note address at the conference Mr Thapelo Ndlovu of MISA Botswana who is Expression/Media Activist said that it is important that any government must strive to put measures in place that would make it easy for people to access information. He commended Government of Botswana for coming up with such facilities as Kitsong Centres and Nteletsa projects which make communication easier. He said if a person does not have access to information it is impossible to discuss the range of political options that are freely open to them and it will be impossible to vote according to your own beliefs and values. Mr Mpofu stressed the importance of information as central to human development. He said the community at any level, local or broader, use information for their economic, social and political uplifting. In this age a community without a library faces virtual extinction. The absence of information by some in the society could lead to confrontations and even civil disaffections. The speaker said that the internet has effectively become a virtual library and it is important that the library society view it as a positive development that would complement the traditional library.

Mr Shaw Kgati- Minister of Sport Youth and Culture- Opening Speech

Mr Shaw Kgati said there is a need for libraries to shift from being book oriented to information communication technology to cater for all sectors of the society. He said libraries were becoming irrelevant due to social networks making it imperative to re-align their strategies by becoming more innovative and creative. He emphasised the importance of information to the life of any society so it should be shared and made available. The minister said so far in Botswana 17 out of 29 villages enjoy free access to information through connectivity at public libraries and this has been realise through the partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the Sesigo project.

SCECSAL 2010 Official Opening and Report on the Afternoon session

Monday the 6th of December 2010, marked the first day of the much awaited SCECSAL XIX Conference 2010, hosted by the Botswana Library Association at the University of Botswana in the country's capital city Gaborone. The theme of the Conference is "Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance through Effective Information and Knowledge Management".The event was graced by delegates Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho, Malawi and Countries beyond, Southern, East and Central Africa such as Nigeria, the United States of America, Italy and the United Kingdom. The  Official opening ceremony started with a welcome message from the Botswana Library Association President Ms Kgomotso Radijeng followed by the official opening speach by the Minister of Youth Sports and Culture of the Republic of Botswana. The guests were then entertained by some Tswana Traditional songs which was followed by the Keynote Address Presented by TsapeloNdhovu, the Director of MISA.

Morning Session

After the official opening the event moved to the main hall where all the presentation of papers took place. The Morning session was chaired by Professor Patrick Ngulube of the University of South Africa, Department of Information Sciences. The theme for the day was "Freedom of access to information, censorship to information, Internet monitoring and good governance and Information privacy and confidentiality". The session saw presentations of four papers titled:
- Public Libraries in their communities: a catalyst for change by Monika Segbert from Italy;
- The Role of Internet in the Provision of Information for National Devlopment and Political Education: a Hypelink Analysis of SADC E-government Websites by DR Akakandelwa of the University of Zambia;
- Access to knowledge and Information in Botswana: A Development and Gender issue within the Adult Education Context by Bobana Badisang from Botswana; and
- The Level of Utilization of Government Publications in Some School Libraries in Gaborone, Botswana.

Afternoon Session
The afternoon session was chaired by Professor Stephen Mutula on the University of Botswana and it saw the breaking away of groups into two parallel sessions. The theme for the first group was, "Libraries, democratization process and promotion of sustainable good governance in Africa" and that of the second group was, "Libraries, Human Rights, socio-economic, good governace and Democracy".

The first paper in parallel session for Group A with the theme Libraries, democratization process and promotion of sustainable good governance in Africa" was presented by Ms. G T Kabatangare of Uganda and the paper was titled, " Contributions of Makerere University Library towards Democracy and Good Governance in Uganda since 1996".

Ms Kabatangure first highlighted on the general perspective of IFLA that libraries play an essential role in the functioning of a Democratic Society. She then went to give a general background Makerere University and  highlighted the main role of Makerere University is ensuring that the library remain effective to the University curricular through initiating innovative ways, planing and implementation of activities that enable the Library to achieve its  objectives . The paper went on to mention the various resources that are found in the Makerere University Library which include databases, vitual resources, hard copy books etc.

The main commitment of the University towards democracy is seen through facilitating access to variety of materials on democracy and good governance and the key achievements towards this goal is seen through some of the actions listed below:

-    Automation to enhance access to a wide range of information

-    Placing of reading materials on different sub-sections to ensure users within those sections have access to the materials

-    Computerization which has eased access to resources from different locations

In trying to achieve its commitment of facilitating access to a wide variety of materials the Makerere Library is facing the following challenges

-          Inadequate funding

-          Low internet bandwidth

-          Growing student numbers; and 

-          Limitation of resources

These problems can be addressed through the following solutions:

-          Increased funding

-          Strengthening network capabilities

-          Lobbying for increase in resources

The second paper for the afternoon session in the parallel group session was presented by Mathew Moyo  of Fort Haire University in South Africa and the paper was titled, "Libraries democratization process and promotion of sustainable good governance in Africa; a case study of Kenya and Zimbabwe'.  Zimbabwe and Kenya are used in the study basing on the fact that they faced similar polical challenges that led to the formation of unity governments in both countries.

The paper first highlights the Librarian's role of provision of information to the users, and then went forward to give a background of libraries in both countries. In Kenya Libraries where started in the 18^th Centurion and the Library Services Act was enacted in Parliament in 1965 and in Zimbabwe Libraries where initiated before independence and the Library and documentation services Act was enacted in Parliament in 1985. The paper lists the following as roles of Libraries in democracy:

      -          Informing people

-          Provision of  access to  wide range of information, freedom to access of information

-          Collecting, storing and disseminating relevant information

The paper state that Libraries can acquit themselves to provide information to the community by

placing themselves in advance to gain the confidence of the elctorate

Problems faced by Libraries in Kenya and Zimbabwe include

-          Insufficient Funding

-          High staff turnover caused to the economic hardship

 The third paper of the session was presented by Ms Margaret Boffor Awuah of Botswana and it was titled, "School Libraries in Africa" The paper speaks about the initiative of the African Network for School Libraries, an organisation aimed at the provision of Libraries in every Primary School Library in Africa. The vision for the Network is ALIS:

      A     -              A

L      -              Library

I       -              In every

S      -              School

The Methodology which the Network is adapting to ensure that its vision is met is the lobying of a change in the curriculum of teachers so it include aspects of running a library, thus equiping them to be Teacher/librarians so the concept of library is introduced to Children at grassroots levels.

 The Network's main objective is to build expertise in school libraries

The network has built a facebook page inorder to reach out to the different stakeholders and is currently looking for funding.

A Report on Strengthening Information Literacy Interventions; Using Creative Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Sunday 5th December, 2010 saw a gathering of eminent librarians, information specialists, development experts, etc to participate in the above workshop. The day-long workshop which was held in one of the meeting rooms at the Students Centre of the University of Botswana was organized by Information Training Outreach Centre for Africa (ITOCA) and Institute of Development Studies (IDS) of UK. The workshop had four parts; these were:

• Paper presentations
• Panel discussions
• Group discussions
• Plenary

The workshop was ably facilitated/chaired by Dr Mark Hepworth, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Information Science, Loughborough University in UK. Among the participants were six persons who participated in the Web 2.0 and Social Media in the Agricultural Environment workshop from 1st - 3rd December, 2010; these were Dr Doris Matovelo, Gray Nyali, Alice Sebunjo, Mercy Moyo, Blessings Chataira, and Geoffrey Salanje.

During the paper presentations, participants listened to four papers on:

1. Availability, access and use: re-understanding the e-journal problem by Jonathan Harle, Programme Officer (Research and Libraries) ACU, UK and Kondwani Wella, College Librarian, Kamuzu College of Nursing, University of Malawi.
2. Building searching skills using learner-centered approaches in an African context by Siobhan Dugigneau, Information Literacy Manager, British Library for Development, IDS, UK and Gracian Chimwaza, Director, ITOCA, South Africa
3. Building capacity: lessons learnt from an intensive training health information training programme in Vietnam by Peter Burnett, Head of Library Development, INASP, UK.
4. An institutional approach to embedding IL programmes across the curriculum: University of Botswana case study by Babakisi Fidzani, Deputy Director of Library Services, University of Botswana.

These papers stimulated alot of discussions, comments and questions among the participants.

These were followed by a panel discussion whose panelists were Dr Silas Oluka (DeLPHE project/ University of Botswana and Copperbelt), Dr Akakandelwa Akakandelwa (University of Zambia), Elizabeth Mlambo (Univeristy of Zimbabwe), Siobhan Duvigneau (Institute of Development Studies, UK) and Bettie de Kock (Univeristy of Pretoria, South Africa). The panel was chaired by Julie Brittain. Panelists briefly participants what there institutions are during in the promotion of information literacy.

Partcipants were then split into three groups based on their lnterest of the topics under discussion. The topics were: Pedagogical innovation and assessment of training (pre and post assessment); Use of new technologies in information literacy; and Embedding information literacy programmes into institutions.

Finally, the workshop had a lively plenary after group reports. Then, the workshop facilitator summarized the findings from the three groups.

It was clear from the worshop that information literacy was beyond library orientation or library user education; and that all types of libraries should embark on information literacy.

SCECSAL Comes to Botswana for the Second Time

For the second time since the establishment of the then Standing Conference of Eastern and Southern Africa Librarians (SCECSAL) in 1974, the Botswana Library Association will be hosting the SCECSAL Conference from 1 – 3 December 2010. Librarians in Botswana last hosted SCECSAL in 1988 under the theme Libraries and Literacy. The theme for SCECSAL XIX Conference to be held at the University of Botswana in Gaborone is Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance Through Effective Information and Knowledge Services.

About 40 papers will be presented at the Conference (now called Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Library and Information Associations) by library and information specialists coming from as far as the United States and Italy. Papers to be presented include:

• Towards a democratic society: the role of Libraries in facilitating Social Equality andEconomic growth in Uganda - Caroline Kobusingye and Monica Naluwooza (Uganda).


• Making of a Botswana Information Society Through Access to Information Communication Technologies - Sebusang E.M. Sebusang, Tshepo Maswabi, Tiroyamodimo Sethate Resego Taolo (Botswana).


• Public libraries in a world society – what’s happening - Sarah Webb (USA).


• The Role of Internet in the Provision of Information for National Development and Political Education: a Hyperlink Analysis of SADC E-government Websites - A. Akakandelwa (Zambia).


• Supporting Human Rights in Africa: The Library of the African Union Court on Human and Peoples Rights - Fidelis K.Mutisya (Tanzania).


• Open Source Software deployment at the National Library of South Africa with reference to Suse Linux migration - Lesiba S Ledwaba & John K Tsebe (South Africa).


• Open access to information as a means of creating an enabling environment to democracy and good governance: the case of Chancellor College Institutional Repository - Dickson Vuwa-Phiri &Francis Kachala (Malawi).


• Public Libraries in their communities: a catalyst for change - Monika Segbert (Italy).

Over the years, SCECSAL Conferences attract a lot of interest from several professionals in the field in the SCECSAL region, the rest of Africa and outside Africa. The SCECSAL XIX Conference will be no exception.