FORCE11 and The Future we can’t Avoid

It gives me much pleasure to come across the FORCE11 movement. I call it a movement as this represents our collective will to embrace the inevitable future we all must come to. It is better believed on time that it is not going to be business as usual as technology continues to emerge and ravage our modern world. So, we must all be proactive and be ready not only to accept the challenge technology will throw at us but to see how we can adapt to make it work for us. Although, the newer models of research communication are emerging yet the pace remains slow as traditional models still hold sway. The Open access movement is gaining momentum but there is still much to be done. In my opinion, part of that much left to be done is what FORCE11 has come to achieve, taking head-on the future of research communication and e-scholarship to the center burner of scholarly discuss. And we all must join hands; librarians, researchers, publishers and all stakeholders to do this.

Information and communication technology (ICT) continues to exact its telling impact on virtually everything. It has not spared scholarship. Doing research and communicating same has been hugely affected. Going are the days one had to wait twice a year to see the articles of a biennial journal or wait a whole year to see the next conference of a scholarly society organized. The e (electronic-) is taking over. E-conferences, e-seminars (webinars), e-journals and lots more are taking over to further underscore the impact of ICT. In fact, with Open Access and complementary technologies like the Institutional Repository (IR) libraries are even becoming publishers themselves. The social networking technology has also added a new twist to the whole show. Academic Social Networks (Mendeley, ResearchGate, Academia.Edu, etc) gaining strength from open access are also expanding the frontier of research communication in the digital era.

But one other emerging technology that should be considered for the great impact it will have on e-scholarship and research communication in times to come are the Virtual Research Environments (VREs). The VREs are other areas of technology I will like to direct our attention to as we consider the future of research communication and e-scholarship. The VRE is like an amalgamation of several technologies like wikis, blogs, and lots more. The VRE handles well every stage of the research process, from conceptualization to communication. The VRE, allows, within a digital environment the collaboration of researchers beyond the limit of physical borders. 

The VRE like HubZero, Open Science Framework (OSF) and others gives room for collective research. They are good platforms for research collaboration and peer review. In fact, you can see the contribution of every collaborator to the project or research work within a VRE. And real life sharing of research findings is possible within the VRE. This is what I will desire we consider, how the VRE can be used with growing emerging technologies to take us to the future we are envisaging for research communication and e-scholarship. 

I am a librarian with interest in emerging technologies and anything e. I am also passionate about open access. I am a member of the Open Access Week and regular commemorator of the International Open Access Week since I know about it. I am equally a PhD student with interest in Institutional repository. I have gone through the FORCE11 manifesto and convinced that I have a movement to join. Attending the conference will in no small measure grant me first hand information on the future of research communication and enable me to abreast of global efforts being taken in e-scholarship. It will in no doubt enhance my advocacy skill as a librarian with interest in emerging technology in scholarship. It will also empower me to mobilize support for the movement in Nigeria and Africa at large.

I hereby desire to be part of the FORCE2016 in Portland and future activities of the FORCE11 movement.

Kindly consider me for the Travel Fellowship as this will greatly enhance my participation.

The future we can’t avoid is really here; let’s go and consider the FUTURE of research communication!

Thank you.

2015 International Open Access Week: Elizade University at it Again...

ELIZADE UNIVERSITY, ILARA-MOKIN, NIGERIA

Celebrated 2015 International Open Access Week with a Workshop…

Theme: Emerging Research Tools: Focus on Google Scholar, Academia.Edu and Zotero

Date: Thursday, October 22, 2015

Time: 12noon

Venue: Performing and Film Theatre

Participants: All Faculty Members

It was exciting...
Visit http://openaccessweek.org/events/open-access-week-at-elizade-university-emerging-research-tools

National Poetry Day: An Ode to the Heroes

For their rights to place a demand

For their demand of what’s right

Today, 1976, Soweto wailed!

Tears streamed down the cheeks of mothers

When Regina could not save the boy

When the fathers gasped to cope with awe

The awe of children lost to bullets

Unkind barrels that fell the likes of Hector

Hectic moment in the life of a people

People of all colours the like of a rainbow

Who now bow to the wishes of a pardon

Pardon advanced by a “prisoner” of old

That reproached the horror the Isle bestowed

To become the prince of his people by grace!

Written and Dedicated this day, 16^th June, 2015 to the children lost to the 1976 youth uprising in Soweto

By Adegbilero-Iwari, Idowu @ Pretoria, SA. 

Carnegie CPD Programme

Enhancing librarians' ICT skills for research enablement in African universities: a Carnegie CPD programme  

The Department of Information Science, University of Pretoria, was awarded a grant by the Carnegie Corporation of New York to offer eight four-week residential continuing professional development (CPD) programmes for qualified librarians from Sub-Saharan Africa, for the period 2014 – 2016. 

The aims of the programme are to:

• Empower the next generation of library and information professionals within Sub-Saharan African countries with hands-on skills to apply current and emerging information and communication technologies (ICTs);
• Build capacity amongst library and information services (LIS) professionals to support and enable researchers.

Eligibility criteria and application process 

A.  Eligibility criteria

Academic librarians and LIS faculty in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda are eligible to apply for admission to this programme. Selection of candidates for this fully funded programme is highly competitive and is based inter alia on the following criteria:

• Current qualifications: at least a first degree in LIS from a government recognised and/or accredited tertiary education institution. Applicants with postgraduate degrees will also be eligible for selection if you comply with other criteria listed;
• Age eligibility 25 – 45 years;
• Work experience 5 – 7 years;
• Exceptions, for age and work experience, will be considered on a case by case basis when accompanied by a strong motivational letter from your manager or director;
• The availability of the required technologies in your current work environment or library;
• Past academic performance;
• Proficiency in English;
• Potential to explore and embrace emerging technologies;
• Willingness and ability to share what is learned with others in the profession;
• Demonstrated commitment of participant’s home institution to supporting sharing and future development activities;
• Willingness and ability to work as a team member;
• Interest in current international library issues.

B.    Application process

The following documents should be emailed to Joan de la Haye at Carnegie-cpd@up.ac.za: 

• A detailed CV (according to the specified template available here) which describes your work experience, current job description and responsibilities: involvement in ICTs combined with support of researchers will be a prerequisite. Also include a detailed description of ICT-related job responsibilities, knowledge of ICT technologies and programmes, and ICT-related training);
• A recommendation letter from your current employer / line manager, highlighting your current levels of technology skills;
• A commitment from your current employer that they will make time available for you to attend the four week programme as well as time to devote to your assignments after completing the programme;
• Academic documents and transcripts;
• Prospective students will be required to write an essay of approximately 1000 words explaining why they:
  • would like to participate in the programme, what they hope to learn from the programme,
  • should be selected for the programme and what they hope to contribute to the programme. 

Applicants should demonstrate the following in their essays:

• Potential to explore and embrace emerging technologies;
• Willingness and ability to share what is learned with others in the profession;
• Demonstrated commitment of participant’s home institution to supporting sharing and future development activities;
• Willingness and ability to work as a team member;
• Interest in current international library issues. 

Please note:

• Your application will be acknowledged within 72 hours. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please follow up.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• All participants are expected to comply with the requirements and adhere to the arrangements of the programme from the initial selection to the completion of the programme.

Grant conditions 

• Only participants from Carnegie countries namely Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda, will be considered for the programme.
• The funding covers books and other academic expenditures, flights, accommodation, and a daily stipend while in Pretoria.
• Medical insurance for non-South Africans, is included.
• Visa applications and personal expenses (for example medicine, laundry, internet top-ups, phone calls, etc.) are excluded. The grant also does not make provision for ICT equipment such as laptops, modems, etc. 

CPD programme themes 

1. Setting the context: Libraries, ICTs and research 
2. Leadership and innovation
3. Advanced Information literacy and advanced information retrieval
4. Social media for research discoverability in an academic environment
5. Mobile technology and mobility
6. Managing and organising information
7. Personal Information Management
8. Open Scholarship and Open Science (OS/S) – Publishing
9. Open Scholarship and Open Science – Institutional Repositories.
10. Open Scholarship and Open Science – Understanding and using research data management
11. Digitisation
12. Evaluating website architecture
13. Cloud services and storage
14. Virtual research environments
15. The next generation librarian 

Programme details 

• The four-week CPD programme is offered only in English.
• The programme is divided into distinct modules offering different information and each presented in a different format. The intention hereof is to provide a variety of activities that will be able to stimulate individual and group participation. These include:
  • Formal presentations
  • Workshops
  • Leadership tools
  • External visits
  • Evening speakers
• Lectures and practical training sessions will take place in the training venues in the Merensky Library of the Department of Library Services and the Tswelopele Smart Venue of the School of Information Technology.
• Free Wi-Fi is available in all training venues.
• All participants will be assessed on inter alia a portfolio of completed exercises done during the four-week programme, a group assignment and presentation on the last day of the programme, and a post-programme assignment.
• A minimum average final mark of 50% has to be obtained in order to pass. A final mark of 75% or higher will merit a distinction.
• The certificate of competence will be conferred on a participant who successfully completes the programme. 

Important Dates

Applications open: 28th of September 2015
Applications close: 28th of October 2015
Successful Candidates will be notified by the 30th of November 2015 
The course will commence on the 27st of February 2016

Contact Details 

Carnegie CPD Administration:

Ms Joan de la Haye

Email:  Carnegie-cpd@up.ac.za

Telephone: +27 12 420 2887

Presented in collaboration with the Centre for African Library Leadership.

Funded by:

If This ThenThat IFTTT Trial

Learning the App ITTT https://ifttt.com

Mobile Technologies in Academic Libraries: Access to Elizade University Library OPAC via QR Code

Elizade University Library OPAC via QR Code

EU on the March: VC's Welcome Message to New Students of Elizade University

On behalf of the Founder, Sir (Chief) Michael Ade.Ojo, OON, members of the Board of Trustees, the Governing Council and the University Management Team, I welcome you all most warmly, to an academic institution of truly international standard. These standards are such that would provide you equivalent educational experiences and exposures (but at a fraction of the cost) as you would have in the UK, USA, or in Continental Europe.

Prof Kunle Oloyede

It is the philosophy of the University to produce in you, that Total Man or Woman, who shall be equipped with the relevant knowledge, skills and competencies to compete effectively with any of your colleagues anywhere in the world. To be a Total person demands, and indeed, requires a blend of academic excellence and ethics consciousness which forms the basis of our Vision as a University.

To train you to become the best you can be educationally, Elizade University has gone the extra mile in providing you access to the following distinctive features/ facilities:
i)    ICT-driven Administrative procedures
ii)    Technology-driven library & laboratories
iii)    Air-conditioned Lecture rooms & Laboratories
iv)    World-Class Academics /Instructors from Nigeria, Canada, US, UK, South Africa etc
v)    Internship /work-study /scholarship opportunities for students
vi)    World-Class Hostel accommodation with double occupancy
vii)    24/7 Electricity/water supply & treatment
viii)    Excellent catering facilities & conducive business environment
ix)    Excellent indoor/out-door sporting facilities + an 18-Hole Gulf Course and,
x)    Serene Environment in which the physical facilities are in perfect harmony with nature.

During his recent visit and inspection of our facilities, the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka had this to say of Elizade University: “the crucial element of education, which is standard, could be enhanced with an initiative like Elizade University which is based on strategic planning. The University is nature-friendly and nature integrating. Even though I am not a science person, the laboratories are very good; the students hostels are humane and  a good architecture concept”

Perhaps, most importantly, you will find here in the University, highly dedicated and competent academic and non-academic staff that will guide and direct your training needs along our core values of: Honesty, Integrity, Responsibility and Excellence.

Once again, I welcome you to learn in the best of academic traditions.

Vice-Chancellor

Source: http://www.elizadeuniversity.edu.ng/

Carnegie CPD4: The Group on The Last Day

After all the trainings and exposures, and of course at the end of the final Group Project presentations, we converged on the starecase of the IT Building, Department f Information Science, University of Pretoria to take the last group photo, the one you are seeing below

                                              Beautiful faces, Made in Africa!

http://www.up.ac.za/en/information-science/article/21563/carnegie-cpd-programme

Five Librarians Selected as 2016 IFLA/OCLC Fellows

OCLC, along with the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), has named five librarians selected to participate in the Jay Jordan IFLA/OCLC Early Career Development Fellowship Program for 2016. The program supports library and information science professionals from countries with developing economies.

The 2016 IFLA/OCLC Fellows were announced today at a news conference during the World Library and Information Congress: 81st IFLA General Conference and Assembly in Cape Town, South Africa. The 2016 Fellows are:

• Idowu Adegbilero-Iwari, Elizade University, Nigeria
• Željko Dimitrijević, National Library of Serbia
• Penninah Musangi, Karatina University, Kenya
• Rhea Jade Nabusan, Tarlac College of Agriculture, Philippines
• Shaharima Parvin, East West University, Bangladesh

The Fellowship Program provides advanced continuing education and exposure to a broad range of issues in information technologies, library operations and global cooperative librarianship. With the selection of the five Fellows for the class of 2016, the program will have welcomed 80 librarians and information science professionals from 38 countries.

"The IFLA/OCLC Fellowship Program has made a profound difference in the lives of many of the librarians selected," said Skip Prichard, OCLC President and CEO. "Many who have completed the program go on to serve in leadership roles and have had a significant impact on those they serve in their home countries. The Fellows are truly committed to serving libraries and promoting the evolution of librarianship around the world."

During the four-week program, the Fellows participate in discussions with library and information science leaders, library visits and professional development activities. The program is based at OCLC headquarters in Dublin, Ohio, USA.

"This is one of the best opportunities available for librarians in the world," said Masimba Muziringa, University of Zimbabwe Libraries, who was a 2015 Fellow. "You get to understand best practices in librarianship. You also get to understand the trends. All of our visits gave us a broad spectrum of American lifestyle, cultural values and best practices within our profession."

The selection committee for the 2016 Fellowship program included: Fiona Bradley, IFLA; Sarah Kaddu, National Library of Uganda; Nancy Lensenmayer, OCLC; and Susanne Riedel, Universitätsbibliothek Bielefeld, Germany.

Application information for the 2017 Fellowship Program is available on the OCLC website. Information about Fellowship Program sponsorship opportunities for interested organizations is also available on the website.

About IFLA

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users. It is the global voice of the library and information profession. Founded in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1927 at an international conference, IFLA now has 1,500 members in approximately 150 countries around the world. IFLA was registered in the Netherlands in 1971. The Royal Library, the national library of the Netherlands, in The Hague, generously provides the facilities for IFLA headquarters. More information can be found at www.ifla.org/.

About OCLC

OCLC is a nonprofit global library cooperative providing shared technology services, original research and community programs so that libraries can better fuel learning, research and innovation. Through OCLC, member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the most comprehensive global network of data about library collections and services. Libraries gain efficiencies through OCLC’s WorldShare, a complete set of library management applications and services built on an open, cloud-based platform. It is through collaboration and sharing of the world’s collected knowledge that libraries can help people find answers they need to solve problems. Together as OCLC, member libraries, staff and partners make breakthroughs possible.

Source: http://www.oclc.org/news/releases/2015/201523dublin.en.html

IFLA Publishes a Statement on Privacy in the Library Environment

At its 14 August 2015 meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, the IFLA Governing Board endorsed an IFLA Statement on Privacy in the Library Environment. The FAIFE Committee oversaw preparation of the Statement and benefitted from consultation with IFLA units and various Internet civil liberties advocacy organisations. 

This new Statement on Privacy in the Library Environment is intended to give guidance to libraries and information services in an environment that includes mass surveillance by governments and routine user data collection by commercial interests that provide content or services through the Internet. Risks to library users' privacy might arise through their use of search or social media applications on the Web or their use of library platforms and content that collect data on end users.

The statement describes current challenges to the protection of user privacy for libraries and information services, outlines relevant international statements of privacy as a right and identifies related IFLA policies. Finally, the Statement on Privacy in the Library Environment offers recommendations to libraries and information services around both advocacy for privacy protection and practical measures to protect user privacy in libraries. It recognises that libraries and information services have little ability to affect some kinds of data collection about their users, and encourages appropriately adjusting local library data collection practices, considering privacy concerns in procuring platforms and services, informing and educating users of risks and best practices, and participating in community efforts to promote the protection of privacy. 

Read the statement: [PDF – English

Source: http://www.ifla.org/node/9803

Nuffic Fellowships

The Netherlands organisation for international cooperation in higher education (EP-NUFFIC) offers fellowships to participate in training courses in The Netherlands. The aim is to promote capacity building within organisations in eligible countries via training and education for professionals. This is initiated and fully funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the budget for development cooperation. Nuffic offers NFP en MSP fellowships:

The Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NFP) for short courses offers scholarships for participants living and working in one of the following 51 countries. For more information about a NFP Scholarship, please see:http://www.studyinholland.nl/scholarships/scholarships-administered-by-nuffic/netherlands-fellowship-programmes.

The MENA Scholarship Programme (MSP) aims to contribute to the democratic transition in one of the 10 participating countries in the Middle East and North Africa region. It also aims at building capacity within organisations by enabling employees to take part in short courses in various fields of study. For more information about the MENA Scholarship Programme, see:http://www.studyinholland.nl/scholarships/scholarships-administered-by-nuffic/mena-scholarship-programme.

(Applicants from Egypt and Jordan are eligible for both NFP and MSP Scholarships. You can only apply for one of the two. If you meet the eligibility criteria of MSP, we recommend that you apply for a this Scholarship.)

How to apply for Nuffic Fellowships

A new fellowship application deadline opens 1 September 2015!

By following the steps as outlined below, you will ensure that your application meets the requirements to qualify for a Nuffic scholarship. All these steps need to be taken before the deadline of 20 October 2015!

Please read the instructions carefully and prepare all the documents in advance. There are many applicants for Nuffic Scholarships and only applications that comply with all the prescribed requirements will be assessed. You are personally responsible for the quality of your application!

The following courses are from 1 September open for Nuffic scholarships. More information about the content of the courses will be published soon.

Integrity and Anti-Corruption (7 – 18 March 2016)
Multilevel Water Governance (4 – 15 April 2016)
Citizen Participation and Inclusive Governance (23 May – 3 June 2016)

All supporting documents must be uploaded in PDF format and must not exceed 2 MB. The following instruction can assist you: Instructions to convert documents to PDF(If you encounter problems converting documents, please contact us atinfo@thehagueacademy.com)

Step 1:      Check eligibility

In order to qualify for a NFP Scholarship, you need to meet the following selection criteria. You must:

• be a national of, and working and living in one of the 51 countries on the NFP country list;
• not be employed by an organisation that has its own means of staff-development, for example:
  multinational corporations (e.g. Shell, Unilever, Microsoft),
  large national and/or a large commercial organisations,
  bilateral donor organisations (e.g. USAID, DFID, Danida, Sida, Dutch ministry of Foreign affairs, FinAid, AusAid, ADC, SwissAid),
  multilateral donor organisations, (e.g. a UN organization, the World Bank, the IMF, Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank, IADB),
  international NGO’s (e.g. Oxfam, Plan, Care);
• must have an official passport that will still be valid after completion of the training;
• must not receive more than one fellowship for courses that take place at the same time;
• English Language skills: The short courses are taught in English. Therefore, it is important that your English language skills (writing and speaking) are good.
• Work experience: Minimum of 2 years of experience required, working with or for local or regional authorities. It is to your advantage if the work/experience is related to the content of the training.

To be eligible for a MSP Scholarship you must meet the selection criteria mentioned above. Furthermore you:

• must be a national of, and working and living in one of the countries on the MSP country list valid at the time of application;
• must have an official passport that will still be valid after completion of the training;
• must not be over 45 years of age at the time of the grant submission.
   

Step 2:      Prepare a Government Statement

For some countries, applicants must provide a government statement that meets the requirements of the country in which the employer is established. Please check theOverview Government statements to determine if you need a Government statement.

If you do need a Government statement, you have to provide one using one of the following prescribed formats: NFP Scholarship or MSP Scholarship (MENA)

Prepare this document in advance and convert it to PDF (less than 2 MB). You will need this document when you complete your Scholarship Application in the second phase.

Step 3:           Prepare your Employer Statement

All applicants must provide an Employer Statement according to the format that Nuffic prescribes. Your Employer Statement consists of 3 parts and together this must form 1 (one) PDF document which is no larger than 2MB.

The 3 parts are:

• Declaration by your employer (Permission to participate)
• Motivation by your employer and your own motivation
• Implementation plan (with clear goals and deadlines)

Important notice:

• If your employer statement misses 1 or more parts, your application will be discarded.
• Please click see the following Example of an Employer Statement (including guidelines about the quality of the statement).
• Should you encounter problems converting your Employer Statement into 1 PDF document, please mail us at info@thehagueacademy.com and we will assist.

Please use the following format: Format Employer Statement (in pdf)
(After you have completed and confirmed your application with The Hague Academy, you will receive an admission email from us including this same Format Employer Statement in Word. You can download this and use it to complete your personal Employer Statement in the Nuffic database called Atlas)

Step 4:           Prepare a copy of your passport

You need a passport that will still be valid during the period of the training you are applying for. Prepare a scanned copy in PDF (not exceeding 2MB).
 

Step 5:           Apply for admission with The Hague Academy

• Please read the Obligations for NFP and MSP applicants carefully before you start your application
• Apply with The Hague Academy by completing the online application form you will find via the following link: will be available from 1 September 2015!
• After completing this form, you will receive a registration code, a link and instructions to complete the final stage of your application.

Step 6:           Registration for a Nuffic (NFP or MSP) Scholarship (final step)

After completing your course admissions with The Hague Academy for Local Governance, you need to apply for a NFP or MSP Scholarship in the online Nuffic database called Atlas.

• You will have to answer amongst others the following 3 questions in Atlas:Question 1: What is the issue or problem you want to address in your country?Question 2. How will this training course enable you to address this issue?Question 3. How will you address this issue with your position within your organisation?
• Please read the ‘Quality Guidelines for your motivation in Atlas’
• Pay careful attention to the formulation of your answers. Be specific and base your answers on factual information. Through the various stages of the application, the answers to these questions will be closely scrutinized.
• Upload the supporting documents that you prepared in Steps 1-4.
• Please note: It is not possible to temporarily save once you have started your scholarship application. You need to complete it in one session. Therefore it is important that you have all the supporting documents ready.

More at http://thehagueacademy.com/blog/2015/05/nuffic-fellowships/

Smithsonian Launches Public Access Plan for Research

The Smithsonian has released its Plan for Increased Public Access to Results of Federally Funded Research, based on the principles outlined by the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Through the new plan, all applicable publications and supporting data resulting from federally funded research will be available through the Smithsonian Research Online (SRO) website or CHORUS, a nonprofit membership organization that helps federal entities increase public access to research. The plan will take effect Oct. 1 and apply to articles submitted to publishers on or after that date.

In addition to its many museums, the Smithsonian is world renowned for its research programs. Scientists and researchers at the Smithsonian study a variety of topics across disciplines as varied as art history, cultural anthropology, astrophysics and biodiversity and endangered ecosystems.

The public will be able to access qualifying manuscripts through either SRO or CHORUS after a designated waiting period. SRO will archive accepted manuscripts collected under the plan. It will also archive PDF copies of final publications when permitted by publishers. If the publishing journal is a member of CHORUS, both SRO and CHORUS will link to the publisher’s public access version of the article.

“The Smithsonian considers public access to be an extension of its mission to ‘increase and diffuse knowledge,’” said Scott Miller, the Smithsonian’s Deputy Under Secretary for Collections and Interdisciplinary Support. “We’re proud this plan allows us to make these publications available to everyone.”

“CHORUS is honored to work closely with the Smithsonian Institution and be part of their public-access solution,” said Howard Ratner, executive director of CHORUS. “Our agreement formalizes a collaboration that will soon begin to yield benefits for the public. By leveraging existing infrastructure with new services and technologies, CHORUS helps minimize the Smithsonian’s administrative compliance efforts and maximizes identification, discovery, access and monitoring of that content.”

This first phase of the plan outlines the policy for public access to publications resulting from federally funded research. In the second phase of the plan, the Smithsonian will develop policies for providing access to data that is generated from federally funded research.

http://newsdesk.si.edu/releases/smithsonian-launches-public-access-plan-research

Cape Town Declaration (IFLA WLIC 2015)

Cape Town, South Africa—14 August 2015

Ministers and country representatives from Angola, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote D’Ivoire, Lesotho, Guinea, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, South Sudan and Swaziland met to discuss the status of libraries and implementation of access to information agenda at a meeting on 14 August 2015 in Cape Town, South Africa—just ahead of IFLA WLIC 2015.

IFLA President Sinikka Sipilä, African Library Associations & Institutions (AfLIA) President and national librarians were also present.

The group deliberated on the status of libraries on the African continent and the progress required to meet the global sustainable development goals.  

The resulting document is the Cape Town Declaration.

We thereby commit to: 

• Provide the necessary resources for the development of African libraries to respond to modern day challenges and provide access to emerging technologies; 
• Support the establishment of a Pan African library organisation to provide a platform for networking and resource mobilisation; 
• Encourage the establishment of institutional partnerships between libraries in the continent for exchange of knowledge and experiences; 
• Fast-track implementation of continental innovative strategies to improve ICT and knowledge management;
•  Encourage the implementation of fair and balanced copyright laws to facilitate access to information for all; Fast-track the implementation of the outcomes of Library Summits held in 2011, 2013 and 2015 respectively; 
• Support the work of the African Library and Information Association and Institutions (AFLIA); and National Libraries, National Library Services, National Library Associations and Councils; Encourage the use of e-books and virtual libraries more effectively to facilitate cultural and scientific exchange and encourage a culture of reading in the continent; 
• Promote library policies on access to information as part of a universal human rights approach as well as rights of people to knowledge; 
• Encourage the development and promotion of local content in African libraries as part of the promotion of African Renaissance and Pan Africanism;
• Encourage the sharing of skills, collection and preservation of African stories from our own communities; Commit that the African Ministers responsible for arts and culture, libraries and access to information will meet regularly; Adopted In Cape Town, Republic of South Africa on 14 August 2015.

Read the full text: [PDF–English]

Source: http://www.ifla.org/node/9767

The Poem: "We All Came"

Commemorative of the four-week stay in Pretoria with Librarians from Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa (the warm host) in the Carnegie CPD4 programme, the Poem "We All Came" is a memoir of a grateful grantee. Being my first publicly read poem, the rendition may not be the best you will expect with some minor errors in the reading but certainly you will enjoy a bit of it.
Thanks Edward for the coverage.

Knowledge Sharing Kicks Off

 Digitization with GIMP ongoing at Elizade University Library.
Thanks to the Carnegie CPD crew at University of Pretoria

Pointing something to a colleague during the GIMP training session

My boss busy editing a scanned journal page with GIMP. Thanks Carnegie CPD

We All Came- A Poem

As we go, I wish to submit here the poem I rendered tonight at the farewell dinner.

We All Came!

From the rising of the Sun

To the place of her rest

North to South from all nations 

     suburb the Sahara

We all came to the root of our clan

The South of Africa down beneath

The land of hue in rainbow shade

The pride of our clan we all acclaim

And we dwelt in the land Pretorious once abode

To learn at the staple of wisdom

Wisdom from those that know

Who can fill the holes

In precious souls that crave to know

The learning of the calling of morrow

For his eyes that see beyond the now

For his love to groom the trees

That will make the forest of what to come

In the future that knocks with a cry

Cry of a want of men of might

But for the help that came from North

Upon the thought of one but a man

Bothman whose dream has born a race

Of men to take the race

To heights beyond their mace

Raring to go and grow in grace

But till then, We All Came, we saw,

       and are set to sail.

Composed by Adegbilero-Iwari, Idowu on June 18, 2015; and dedicated to everyone involved in putting up the Carnegie CPD programme.