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Information for Members
Brief
History
The
Botswana Library Association (BLA) a
non-profit organisation for library and information
workers in
Aims and objectives
The aims and objectives of the Association shall
be to:-
q
unite all persons engaged, or interested in library information
work by holding conferences, meetings, seminars etc.
q
encourage the
establishment, improvement and promotion of libraries and information services
q
promote and
encourage bibliographical study and research
q
improve the
status of library and information workers
q
improve the
standards of library and information practice
q
monitor any
legislation affecting library and information workers
q
collect and
publish regularly (as proceedings, journals, bulletins, newsletters etc.)
information of benefit to its members, or for the promotion of the aims and
objectives of the Association
q
assess and offer
recommendations on courses of library and information training
q
do all such
lawful things as are incidental or conducive to the fulfilment
of the above objectives
q
recommend appropriate
salaries and conditions and conditions of service for library and information
workers
Membership
The
Association reserves the right of admission to membership.
Membership is open to:
q
All library
and information professionals (librarians, bibliographers, information scientists,
documentalists) and other persons connected with
the running, administration and management of libraries and information services
who are interested in the aims and objectives of the Association.
q
libraries, corporate
bodies, societies, and other institutions and organisations
which maintain libraries or information services or are interested in them
Categories of membership
Personal member
Institutional
member
Honorary
member
Corresponding
member
Subscription fees are based on type of membership and income received
Organs of the Association
General assembly of members
National
Executive Committee
Editorial
Board
Ad
hoc disciplinary committee
Standing
subcommittees
a)
Professional Development
b)
Editorial
c)
Fundraising
d)
Publicity
The National Executive
The National Executive Committee consists of
The
Chairperson
The
Deputy Chairperson
Treasurer
The
Secretary
The
Assistant Secretary
The
Editor
The
Assistant Editor
Three
additional members
Benefits of being
a member of BLA
q
Professional
recognition due to participation in a professional organisation.
q
An opportunity
to network with colleagues in the profession.
q
An opportunity
to conduct and publish research findings in the association’s newsletter and
journal
q
For those looking
for upward movement in their careers and their profession, BLA gives members
the opportunity to develop leadership skills through serving as leaders in
committees of BLA
q
Members receive
a copy of the BLA newsletter and journal.
q
Chance of becoming
more informed and up-to-date on current issues
q
Librarians who
participate actively are more “marketable” and more likely to be promoted,
and more likely to succeed in their careers.
q
Participation
in workshops and conferences organised by BLA
q
The Association
also sponsors from time to time, its members to attend International conferences
like SCECSAL.
BLA’s
contributions to national development
The 1985 Kanye conference on Libraries and Literacy
provided a basis for the planning of the programme
for the 1986 Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African
Librarians (SCECSAL) VII Conference on Libraries and Literacy which the BLA
successfully hosted. SCECSAL VII brought together a large contingent of librarians
from all over the region and the proceedings of that conference has been used
as a strategic document. In addition, the Kanye
conference
brought
together the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs
and the Ministry of Education to
examine
The
Association has also made recommendations for the programme
offered by the
In
addition, BLA has been engaged in some activities of national importance like
Task Force on the formulation of National Book Policy, National Literacy Advisory
Committee, Copyright stakeholders Forum, Department of Library and Information
Studies (UB) Advisory Board and contributed to the Draft National Cultural
Policy.
Past Activities
q
A draft paper
of the BLA Code of Ethics for librarians and information professionals in
q
In 2000 BLA
organised a workshop whose theme was “Library Advocacy”, sponsored
by United States Information Service.
q
In 1997 BLA
and the Commonwealth Library Association (COMLA) co-hosted a one day workshop
on information technology.
q
In 1999 BLA
organised a workshop on Professional Development. The workshop,
taught participants how to make effective presentations using different ways
and technologies.
q
Seminar and
workshops focussing on the development of professional
standards in
q
Seminar on Status,
Role and Productivity of Library and Information Workers,
q
Standardisation and Harmonisation of Designations
in Library and Information Work,
BLA members honoured
The Association has been honored by the election of Mrs
Margaret Baffour-Auwah, Principal librarian at the
National Library, as the Director of the International School Library Association
for Sub-Sahara Africa for a period of 3 years.
Professor
Thapisa, the first Motswana
Professor in Library and Information profession, Head of the Department of
Library and Information Studies at the University of Botswana, who is also
a member and former Chairperson of BLA, won the MCB University Press Award
for excellence in 2001. He won the award after writing a paper entitled “The
impact of Globalization on
Mrs K. Raseroka, Director of Library Services
at the
Publications
The Botswana Library Association Journal was first published in April 1979.
A newsletter is published regularly. The Association has won a sponsorship
for the publication of the newsletter for three (3) years from the International
Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP). Circulars and Information notes are
released throughout the year to keep members informed of current activities.
A major publication has been the proceedings of SCECSAL VII on Libraries and
Literacy held in
Activities for 2001
q
the Association
held a strategic planning workshop for its Executive and sub-committee members
in March 2001
q
Public Library revitalisation in
q
The fund raising
committee is planning for a number of fundraising activities for the Association
q
The BLA constitution
is being revised and it will be presented to the general membership for approval
at the end of 2001.
BLA and vision 2016:
The Chairperson of BLA represents the Association in the stakeholders committee,
and had attended a retreat for the Forum on an
“educated and informed nation” on
The
BLA is affiliated to IFLA, COMLA and SCECSAL and through this members benefit
from these Associations’ publications and the opportunity to participate in
their activities.
For further details
contact:
The Secretary