Call for papers for ZimLA 48th Conference and AGM, Vic Falls June 23 - 26, 2014

The Zimbabwe Library Association (ZimLA) has send out a 3^rd and final call for papers that is closing on March 28, 2014 for the upcoming 48^th Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) that is  penciled for Victoria Falls to run from June 23 – 26, 2014.

A group photo for the participants of the ZimLA 46th Conference in Kadoma held at the Kadoma Hotel in 2012.

The theme of the conference is ‘Working smarter and adding value: Library services in a new paradigm’. The announcement noted that the internet has opened a new world to information seekers from academic, researchers, business communities and even those with a casual information need. It is against this context that libraries should add value to their services in this new paradigm.

ZimLA further noted that the question that arises from many views is that; Is the library still playing an indispensable role in today’s information society? The announcement states that “It is against this backdrop that the Zimbabwe Library Association (ZimLA) invites interested professionals from the broad, interdisciplinary Library and Information Science field to submit abstracts of papers to be presented at its 48^TH Conference and AGM. These papers should attempt to address the above main theme but stemming from, but not necessarily limited to the sub-themes listed below.”

Sub-Themes

·         Innovation in library services

·         Information literacy and lifelong learning

-       In different types of libraries

-       (approaches/models in academic and school curricula

-       As a vital life skill

-       In protecting Intellectual property and Copyright

·         Embedded librarianship

·         Responsiveness to changing information and technology landscape

·         Information brokering and infopreneurship

·         Community librarianship

·         Library out-reach services

·         Corporate librarianship

·         Use of social media in library services

·         Changing roles of librarians

·         Proactive librarianship

·         Knowledge management

·         Open access

      

      In 2012 the ZimLA annual conference was held in Kadoma under the theme " Information Professionals at the Crossroads: Opportunity for Change” and was attended by a number of regional fellows from Malawi and South African including the then LIASA President Naomi Haasbroek. In 2013 the 47^th conference was in Mutare at the prestigious Golden Peacock and was attended by regional exhibitors from South Africa. The conference was held under the theme “Informing Zimbabwe Developing Zimbabwe: libraries powering development.” 

     Abstracts for the 48^th conference are being sent to the following contacts:

     Ronald Munatsi [ronaldmunatsi@gmail.com]

     Lantern R Fusire [lantern.fusire@nust.ac.zw; fusirelantern@gmail.com]

     Harriet R Ncube [hrncube@nrz.co.zw; hrncube@gmail.com]

Zimbabwe Library Association 46th Conference slated for Kwekwe

Zimbabwe Library Association (ZimLA) remains the official librarian’s representative in Zimbabwe taking over from the Rhodesia Library Association. It has been in existence for more than four decades. The recent readmission in to the IFLA community does send a positive signal to local librarians who had despaired on the role of ZimLA in professional activities. The recent announcement of the 46^th ZimLA conference staged for Kwekwe in May is again a boaster to the activities of ZimLA which due to a number of reasons – known to you – have failed to take place. I am positive that this is a new start after social-economic challenges that have handicapped the professional association’s mandate.

Now what’s the way forward? The way forward is for every LIBRARIAN/INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL to put weight behind the organisers of the workshop through submitting abstracts and attend the workshop in big numbers. But perhaps you have to be a registered librarian with ZimLA. Way to go indeed! Our Professional association has suffered much due to lack of support not financially but support in regard to membership. Please not that the vitality of any association is the support from membership. What role does membership play? You may ask. Membership is the support, it is the programmes, and it is the success of the association. So for the association to play a pivotal role in professional representation you should first be a member then take part in the activities. Then we have librarian’s association.

Basically the 46^th ZimLA Conference is the opportunity to fine tune LIS/Ram issues in the Zimbabwean LIS/RAM landscape providing a platform for sharing ideas and best practices in the information age. You have realised that  keeping abreast with technology is a challenging phase not only in Zimbabwe but in numerous countries world wide. The underlying factors are sharing experiences and harness those ideas to better serve clients with limited resources whilst meeting expectations. This lead to the notion that technology is a leading threat to the library sector which the conference seek to address. If you cannot beat them join them, people say. If you view technology as a threat, utilise it to gain advantage. Utilise its strength to manage and increase job satisfaction.

You have a lot to learn by attending the 46^th ZimLA conference. The main theme of the even its “Information Professionals at the Crossroads: Opportunity for Change.” Indeed this time and age provide numerous opportunities for librarians to prosper and innovate in their respective spaces.

What you have to do? Play your part. Prepare to share experiences with others at the 46^th Conference, prepare your abstract and submit it to zimlanec@gmail.com before May 4^th 2012 and book yourself a place to present. Further to that pay your subscription to be a bona fide member of ZimLA your professional association. Don’t be left out! Be part of the growing family.

Masiyephambili College to host Zimbabwe school library conference

The Zimbabwe Library Association (ZimLA) is joining hands with the International Association of School Librarianship Africa Sub Sahara region to host a Regional School Library seminar at Masiyephambili College in Bulawayo from the 8^th – 9^th of February 2012.The event will allow school librarians, school library media specialist, LIS lecturers library science students and interest people to meet, learn and share ideas an all aspects of school librarianship in Africa.

The theme is: ‘School libraries in Africa in the 21st century: learning from each other.’ Sub-themes are: information literacy skills across (from print to ICT; national school library policy; school libraries for reading skills; regional school library cooperation in Zimbabwe/Africa cooperation; joint school/community library cooperation; mobile library service in Zimbabwe/Africa; creative ideas for school libraries with limited resources: best practices; a library in every school campaign; any other topics related to the main theme (e.g. dissemination of HIV and AIDS information in school libraries).

The first call for papers has been announced and the abstracts should be no more than 200 words and should be submitted to zimlanec@gmail.com . The deadline is 31 October 2011. Conference presenters and participants will come from Zimbabwe, SADC, Africa and beyond.