UKZN represented at conference in Uganda.UKZN Represented at Librarians Conference in Uganda
Positioning Library and Information Services to Achieve Sustainable Development: Innovations and Partnerships was the theme of the 23rd Standing Conference of Eastern Central and Southern African Librarians (XXIII SCECSAL) held in Entebbe in Uganda.
UKZN was well represented at the conference and participated actively with staff and students involved in paper and poster presentations.
The conference attracted 213 delegates of whom 97 were foreign, representing Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, South Africa, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Italy, The Netherlands and the United States.
Conference papers and posters were presented and workshops conducted. On the last day there were three expert panel discussions on three trending topics in Library and information sciences -The Gap between Library and Information Science (LIS) Training and Practice; the Contribution of LIS to the Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs), and The Impact of the Marrakesh Treaty on Access to Information by Persons of Disabilities.
UKZN presentations included Professor Ruth Hoskins and Dr John Iwata, a former UKZN postdoctoral student, with a paper on indigenous knowledge; Dr Nsibirwa Zawedde and Mr Nqoba Msibi speaking on records management; and Professor Stephen Mutula and Mr Robert S Buwule presenting a poster on how libraries can support SMEs through research and innovation. Msibi and Buwule are graduate students of UKZN and were presenting part of their research findings with their supervisors.
This conference was also an ideal opportunity for networking, entertainment and enjoyment. On the evening of the first day, the delegates were treated to an opening dinner where delegates feasted and danced to African and local Ugandan music. On the third day, delegates were taken on excursions to different tourist attraction sites.
The Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA) President Dr Sarah Kaddu is now the current Chair of SCECSAL having taken over from Mr John Anbu, the former President of SCECSAL and current President of the Swaziland Library Association.
SCECSAL is a bi-annual conference last hosted by Swaziland in 2016. The next conference will take place in Windhoek, Namibia, in 2020.
Words: NdabaOnline