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This report is meant for my sopnsors, IFLA/ALP and DANIDA, however, copies will be given to two other audience; Botswana Library Association and my employer, Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA). The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the highest international body representing the interests of librarians and their professional services. IFLA holds Annual Council and General Conferences in different parts of the world. It is during these sessions that librarians from all parts of the world meet, share experiences, discuss professional issues and standards of international importance, learn best practices from one another to avoid duplication of efforts and pit falls. As good as it sounds, it is sad to note that not all librarians or library associations find it easy to attend these conferences. For one, members from the less developed world will find it difficult to express interest to have the conference held in their countries due to its magnitude in relation to infrastructure required. It is therefore, more often than not that the conference will be held in countries far away from them which in turn introduces a major barrier to attendance due to costs involved and sometimes the unfavourable exchange rates.
It is the above scenario that makes me feel particularly
privileged to have been one of the few from the developing countries,
especially from
2. Sessions and meetings attended during the conference period
I arrived late on
·
· Council meetings
· Special meeting convened by the IFLA President-elect
· Newcomers’ session
· Workshop on Knowledge management
· Round Table for the Management of Library Associations
· Special meeting convened by the Commonwealth Library Association (COMLA)
· Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression
I. A better and broader understanding of the professional networks and structures
The newcomers session was an eye-opener to the operations of IFLA and its relation with other professional structures such as, in this case, Botswana Library Association, Standing Conference of Southern, Eastern and Central African Librarians, and COMLA.
II. A better understanding of the role of IFLA and its structures
Although I had visited the IFLA web site several times and
had a general idea of what IFLA was, I had no idea what was in it for small
library associations that always have trouble paying subscriptions. I learnt
that such library associations can be helped through the various IFLA organs.
During the Africa Session, I heard about the possibility of regional projects
sponsored by ALP. The Round Table on the management of Library Associations was
particularly interesting for me. I listened and participated in the discussions
of experiences of people I can identify with. I learnt about the concept of
library associations twinning. The
Not only did I meet several chairpersons of library associations and discussed issues pertaining to the development and maintenance of the associations, but I also met such other people like the President of COMLA Ms Elizabeth Watson and the COMLA Executive Secretary Ms. Norma Y Amenu-Kpodo.
IV. Some information of the new dimensions of the profession
The presentation on knowledge management expanded the scope of the information services provision as I have always narrowly envisaged. Although I cannot say the presentation gave a comprehensive model, it was a good introduction and I intend to investigate more on the subject. I believe that taking on further responsibilities over and above the institute’s expectations of traditional service will help build the librarian’s esteem that we need so badly.
4. What do I bring back from the conference
When I applied for the grant, I mentioned three
beneficiaries. These were, my library Botswana Institute for Development Policy
Analysis (BIDPA)
Good library services depend much on the networks we make everyday as we interact with professional colleagues. The current environment and advanced communication infrastructure has eased information retrieval across the globe. The contacts I have made during the conference are valuable to my institution. These will increase the scope of our information resources and also enable exchange and sharing of good practices.
VI. African Virtual Library Initiative
Unfortunately this initiative seems to have been abandoned
from the source. On trying to sound the organiser on the possibility of meeting
in
VII.
I am concerned about the state of our library association and I made an effort to gather as much information and advise as I could. I will be making a presentation of the ideas I got to the Executive Committee. Highlights of this presentation entail the following:
Ideas from the Round Table on Management of Library Associations and the COMLA meeting
Target students of
library studies
Make presentations and distribute information to first year students
The University of Botswana Library Teaching Department usually requests attachments for students. If all heads recognise the importance of the professional association maybe membership of the library association can be made a prerequisite for such attachments
Members of the library association can offer to mentor students and for this too membership would be a requirement
Lower subscription rates for people who were BLA members as students and are in the first year of work.
Once students join the association, they are likely to continue as active members and this would give us the much-desired continuity in the association.
Target other workers
Librarians in the country recognise the importance of meeting up with fellow professionals from other countries. The Standing Conference of Eastern Central and Southern African Librarians that is held every two years is well liked by many. BLA may state, as a rule, that only members who have been paid up for the past two years can get support from the association to attend the conference.
We have always concentrated on local fundraising activities that barely make enough money to run the affairs of the association. I am going to propose that we include looking outward in both our fundraising activities and marketing efforts.
COMLA funds activities that have an impact on the civil
society.
Ø Directly taking the vision to the people in rural areas. This would entail repackaging and translation of information in booklets. For instance make a video in local languages
Ø The actual education of the nation. At this level I am thinking about taking government programmes to the disadvantaged groups. This would again entail translations and presentation of information on audio and visual formats.
d) Advancement of Librarianship (ALP)
Again there are several possibilities.
Most library associations in the SCECSAL region are experiencing similar difficulties that hinder their progress. Perhaps if we put our heads together we can overcome some of them. A well-planned workshop could go a long way.
Again avoiding inward looking, a workshop to benefit more people in the region could be held. An example can be given of a workshop to train reference librarians in the use of electronic formats including the Internet.
The example of library association twinning by Zimbabwe
Library Association (ZLA) and the Swedish Library Association has made
impressive strides especially for ZLA. Botswana Library Association has a
strategic plan. I am going to suggest that we use this to look for partners.
BLA can also learn from the experiences of
5. Observations and suggestions
I am grateful that ALP is doing such a wonderful job to
secure travel grants to IFLA conferences and I hate to find myself having to
ask for more. I would, however, like to suggest that ALP introduces mentoring
for First Timers sponsored through their programme. In each region there are
some who have been to IFLA several times. I suggest that as soon as selections
have been made these people be approached to act as mentors for new people.
This way First Times can, with guidance, get the most out of the
conference. I am sure that people like
Mrs Raseroka of
Through ALP DANIDA and other sponsors are doing a good job of sponsoring First Timers to IFLA. It is certain that most of the people sponsored will never attend any successive IFLA conferences. During the SC Africa Session, which a few of us requested permission to attend, it was observed that new faces were seen each year. Appearing once does not, except in extremely exceptional cases, groom professionals from the developing world to participate meaningfully in IFLA activities although they may have the interest to do so.
I would like to suggest that IFLA/ALP finds a way of selecting a few First Timers each year and recommend them for the DANIDA sponsorship for ALP and two or three more annual IFLA conference. I am sure that if the selection is based on merit of some sort, after attending two or three conferences the incumbents would have a thorough understanding of IFLA and that their presence and participation would have been felt which would make it easier to solicit funding form elsewhere. With this type of continuity, ALP and DANIDA can have more meaningful results of people who make it into meaningful positions and have significant contribution to the highest global professional body. This would also help bring in more diversity by increasing the number of role players from the developing countries.
My sincere gratitude goes
to DANIDA through IFLA/ALP for according me this wonderful but rare opportunity
to attend annual IFLA conference. I was not so sure what to expect from the
conference but I can say, now, that my expectations were exceeded. I discovered,
I learnt and made new contacts. I hope to be able to steer my library association
into action by bringing in some of the ideas I got from colleagues from around
the world. I would like to participate in any way possible, in the Africa
Session and in the Round Table for Management of Library Associations (RTML).
For these I will contact Mrs. Jacinta Were and Ms Christina Stenberg