AfLIA seeking to create the Africa We Want

As the year draws to an end, the world is entering the usual season of cheer, of goodwill and giving.

Come along with me let's see why African Libraries need lots of goodwill and donations from everyone all over the world!

1. Africa's demographics show a youth bulge that is highly unemployed. This has largely been attributed to their lack of possession of 21st century skills such as  digital literacy skills,  problem solving, critical thinking, communication skills etc. Now Libraries all over Africa are bridging this gap and teaching these skills from Pretoria to Lagos, Nairobi to Kampala, Accra to Kibera, Abuja to Durban. With more funding AfLIA as the umbrella Body of African Libraries can do more to change the narrative of unemployment among African youths. Libraries are also helping African youths to identify and exploit economic opportunities.

2. Also, times are changing. Fast. Africa can no longer rely solely on natural resources as income earners. Smart countries now understand that knowledge is the new money spinner for robust economies. Libraries help by providing access to technology and free or dirt cheap Internet to all. Africa needs this. Africa needs this now!  Africa needs spaces  for young people  and the not-too young to get creative. Supporting AfLIA can make this achievable all over the continent as Libraries are turned into tech and startup hubs. 

3. The rate of basic Literacy in the continent is low even as we have the highest number of out of school children in the world. Research has shown over and  over again that libraries help children to stay on in schools. We can help to create The Africa We Want by funding AfLIA to have better Libraries all over the continent.

4. Did we see the video clips f Africans being auctioned as slaves in Libya? Demeaning, dehumanising, heart-rending! Africa's next generation is being wasted away! Our young people are lured into this through false information of 'green pastures' in other climes. Libraries can help counter this by providing accurate and relevant information about other countries.

Still with me?

AfLIA is launching an appeal on the global giving platform. You need to have a look. You need to get involved! Can Africa count on you in this season of cheer and goodwill? Join me to create the Africa We Want as we support AfLIA to do more. 

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/innovating-through-libraries-for-100000-africans/

 

Call for Applications for 2nd Cohort of INELI SSAf

ADVERTISEMENT FOR APPLICATIONS FOR 2ND COHORT OF INELI- SUB-SAHARAN -AFRICA (INELI-SSAF) PROGRAM

Advertisement for applications for 2nd Cohort of INELI- Sub-Saharan -Africa (INELI-SSAf) Program

The African Library and Information Association and Institutions (AfLIA) is running a 2-year programme for emerging public library leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa to sharpen their leadership and innovative skills to enable them offer innovative services in their libraries to satisfy community needs; to train others in their organisations, and to also play active roles in their national library associations.
It provides e-learning courses through an online Moodle platform, with face-to-face workshops at two intervals. The topics covered include, but are not limited to Innovation; Change Management; Partnerships; Time Management; Taking Smart Risks; The Place of the Library in the Community; Using Data to make Decisions, as well as Advocacy. It is offered in the English Language. The first cohort of participants will finish the programme in May 2018 and the second cohort is due to start in February 2018.

AfLIA is inviting applications from public librarians for the International Network of Emerging Library Innovators- Sub-Saharan Africa (INELI-SSAf) Programme from all countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Applicants should have been public librarians for not less than 5 years and actively involved in library professional practice. As most of the learning is done online, applicants should have reasonable access to the Internet in order to be involved in this learning. The program is offered in English so applicant must be able to read and write in English language.

Applicants are required to fill in a Form (found below) which includes providing the following:

200 words write up on why you want to be a participantOutreach programmes introduced in the communityLeadership program(s) attended with datesDaily work and locationWork experience with datesLibrary qualification with date(s)Proof of ability to offer training to othersRecommendation from Head of Library/ National Library AssociationProof of Membership of the National Library AssociationAfLIA Membership number of applicant’s Library

To download the form please click here

The institution or National Library Association that recommends an applicant will make a contribution of at least USD 2000.00 per participant to cover accommodation, breakfast, dinner and local transport during the face-to-face workshops, and so must commit to this in recommending the application.
The application should reach AfLIA at programofficer@aflia.net with a copy to secretariat@aflia.net on or before 15th November 2017 . Late applications will not be accepted .

Copyright © 2017, AfLIA. All Rights Reserved.

AfLIA celebrates the 2017 International Rural Women Day

AfLIA celebrates the INTERNATIONAL DAY OF RURAL WOMEN
      CELEBRATING THE AFRICAN RURAL WOMAN

Rural women in Africa face enormous challenges as they toil at farming, food processing, marketing and taking care of their households. The African rural woman encounters great constraints in making a living, supporting her family and contributing to local, national and global economies. In recognition of her role in community development and in attainment of food security UN observes October 15 as the International Day of the Rural Women. The Day is also meant to highlight the plight of the Rural Woman as she faces exclusion due to the lack of education and other socio-cultural factors.
AfLIA (African Library and Information Associations & Institutions) regards the 2017 International Day of Rural Women theme - “Challenges and opportunities in climate-resilient agriculture for gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls” as a call to engage the African rural woman more with information, knowledge and education that will usher her into better understanding of climate matters and empower her with sufficient skills that will ensure her participation in 21st century spaces.
Read more here: http://bit.ly/2ga0O3T

Why do we need libraries in communities?

Why do we need Libraries in communities?
Librarians, academicians and a few might understand and appreciate the importance of Libraries in the society. However there are so many that do not recognize that or probably they've forgotten! That's what advocacy is all about- pointing out to people, reminding those that have forgotten of the exclusive niche that libraries have in education, literacy and in promoting democratic, sustainable and progressive societies.

Libraries help build reconciliation in societies ravaged by hate and animosity. How? Misinformation breeds misunderstandings and hatred. Libraries always have information that disproves rumours and half-truths. Libraries give access to information that helps to understand and place the diversities in the world in clearer perspectives. Libraries serve as neutral gathering places in so many societies where people come from 'different sides of the track'.

Many voters in African democratic societies do not understand issues at stake in elections. They are swayed by ethnic and religious affiliations & bonds. Illiteracy and a surfeit of 'fake news' enables this situation. Libraries in communities encourage adults to learn, they have newspapers that the citizenry can read to get information instead of over-reliance on rumours. Most importantly, I believe that African Libraries need to explore avenues of holding 'citizenship education' classes in all public and community libraries across the continent. People will be taught and given access to resources that will help them understand the importance of the 'office of the citizen' in democratic settings. Young people will understand why having a voter card and using it, determines their future, the different communities will be taught why voters apathy is a silent but fast and efficient kill her of democracy. Citizens will be taught how elections are all about 'our country' first before personal gains.

Equity and equality are core issues for the female gender in Africa. Libraries in our different communities assist the girl-child, the young mother, the mature wife, the elderly women to learn, to further their education, to acquire new skills, to have access to health information, to understand the place of hygiene in child rearing amongst other important things.

These amongst so many other reasons is why I advocate -to create awareness and perhaps lead to policy changes that will reposition Libraries. Again, the Advocacy is to draw people to Libraries. Many give the excuse that we are an 'oral people' and not a reading people. That is most inconsequential. Why? Libraries are not all about books and reading. Libraries in different societies are for building communities, for helping people create a 'better life' for themselves.

I call on librarians to talk about libraries. It is our duty as librarians to always let the citizenry know what libraries stand for.  I call on all Library users to promote libraries. We need Libraries to survive, to thrive and blossom in our different communities.
#ProudlyLibrarian

What's new in your Library? Sharing our stories.

Many life-changing and fun activities are happening in public libraries all over the globe. The perception of the public library as just a 'barn of books' is fast disappearing as these institutions explore more avenues to anticipate and meet the evolving information needs of the 21st century communities. For example, as custodians of local history materials, many public libraries now offer 'Walking Tours' www.freetoursbyfoot.com https://Americanlibrariesmagazines
Arapahoe Library offers free music video recording and so many other amazing examples.

So what are African public libraries doing? Interestingly, we are doing a whole lot! AfLIA is the recognized voice of libraries in the continent. The Public & Community Libraries Section AfLIA is now offering the opportunity for public libraries to share their stories as we start a series - 'What's new in our Libraries? Sharing our Stories'. Can you tell us-

-What is your Library doing?
-How are you doing it?
-Which section of the community does the program/service target?
-What has been the impact of what your Library is doing?

Please share this on the Facebook page of African Public Libraries Network.

We expect Public Libraries in Southern Africa to kick off the series and share their stories October - November 2017, East Africa - December 2017, West Africa and Central Africa will share theirs in January - February 2018 and North Africa -  March 2018. AfLIA will collate the stories and share at the 2018 African Public Libraries Summit and thereafter publish on the website.

Ensure that your Library features in 'What's new in our Libraries? Sharing Our Stories'!

Why we must pay more attention to Libraries

Nigeria can continue to pay lip service to the importance of education but quality education cannot be attained without functional #libraries at all levels of schooling. Secondary school leavers and in some cases graduates find it extremely difficult to write correct sentences. UNESCO aptly named it 'schooling without learning'! In this age where global competitiveness is built through robust education, Nigeria is sadly falling far behind.
Lifelong learning has become most essential for people who finished schooling some years back. Why? Daily, new concepts, technologies, skills and processes seem to be birthed. Those who are no longer in school need to learn all these to continue being relevant in their work spaces and to participate fully in the modern world. Again, this cannot be achieved without libraries in different communities where people can read, acquire digital skills and learn how to connect and use opportunities online. Information is the currency of the 21st century. Information drives development. Availability and access to Information underpins innovations and start-ups. In these days where nations are becoming wealthy based on information-products and information-driven innovations rather than from natural resources, Nigeria and the rest of Africa needs to pay more attention to libraries.
#Libraries provide access to information. They are physical and virtual spaces for building up the minds of young people and the not-so-young in the society. Libraries provide knowledge resources that educate, task and prod minds into thinking and being productive. They stock information and knowledge of past and present generations and from different societies that broaden the mind to think widely, dream and 'draw' on global canvases!
Democracy is better practiced and more sustainable in societies where the citizens are literate. #Libraries assist in doing this very effectively as people are exposed to the written words in all formats within the library spaces.
These and several other reasons are why we advocate and ask for attention to be paid to #libraries. We ask for library-friendly policies at the State and National levels. We ask that communities and individuals that understand the times build and/or support libraries in their localities. #ProudlyLibrarian #NigLibrarians

Reading, Nigerian Youths and Library Advocacy Group

Reading whether fiction or non fiction books in whatever format broadens one's understanding of issues, concepts and opinions. Reading builds the brain and keeps it finely tuned for learning all through a lifetime.
Reading helps build communication skills as one gathers a wider range of words to express thoughts, feelings and ideas. It improves focus and concentration as one tends to shut out every 'outside noise' when reading!
Analytical thinking and innovativeness are fast becoming basic requirements in the 21st century workplace and business environment. Reading books assists more than 95% in building these skills. How?
These skills are only acquired and practiced through imagination and creative thinking. One is limited or boundless by what he can imagine or 'see' in his mind. Books stretch the mind - they take us to places where we have never been, they tell us ideas that we never even ever thought of, they allow us to learn the principles of those who succeeded and even those who failed! This makes readers smarter, more fun to engage and interact with.
More importantly, reading builds empathy. It makes us to be more accommodating of other peoples' way of life and perspectives different from the ours. It helps to foster peace, understanding and inclusiveness.
That is why the Library Advocacy Group @NigLibrarians libraryadvocacygroup.wordpress.com
is celebrating Nigerian youths through a literacy campaign as the UN marks the 2017 World Youth Day on August 12th.
Our youths have mastered the act of reading to pass examinations. Today, as librarians, we preach that our youths also need to get into the groove of reading - to discover themselves, to learn, to be all that they can be, to succeed and to build a better Nigeria. In these days of rife clashes and misunderstandings, young people need to read to stretch their mind to be equipped with knowledge, ideas, superior & extensive imaginative skills to fashion out a better Nigeria.
The knowledge economy beckons to Nigeria. To get ready, to plunge into it and change the single story of Nigeria's resource base, we need to get people reading. That's why libraries have existed from ancient times until now - to get people reading and thinking so as to be equipped to be change agents in the society.
The Library Advocacy Group chose Pius Adesanmi's article - ' Do you know what 'A luta Continua' means?' because it espouses the essentialism of reading, literacy and learning beyond classrooms and acquisition of degrees. We also chose Chinua Achebe's timeless book 'Man of the People' because young people are meant to be leaders, not just of tomorrow but also of today.
The prizes to be won by those who will read and summarize the texts are not worth much. Yes. However, the main prize is to be won by young people who will participate in the literacy campaign, understand the core essence of Pius Adesanmi's article and Chinua Achebe's book and go on to be readers, thinkers and change agents in our nation!

LIBRARY ADVOCACY GROUP

We are librarians. We believe in libraries. We believe that libraries are change agents. We are fiercely proud of our profession.

We believe that libraries provide access to information that can drive development in all spheres of human existence. We believe that Nigeria cannot have quality education that will get ready the needed human resources without well equipped libraries.
We advocate that libraries need to be re-positioned in Nigeria to totally ushered in the knowledge economy.
We believe that Nigeria needs to diversify its resource base and that functional libraries will pave the way for innovative tech start-ups that can radically change Nigeria's economy. We believe that the existence of strong functional libraries will lead to the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria as people will have free access to information and enough knowledge of their rights to actively engage in different levels of civic discourses and engagements.
We believe that libraries build inclusive and sustainable societies. As information and opportunities have largely migrated online, Nigerians need to have free access to technology and internet as well as the skills to enable them explore and exploit these opportunities. We absolutely believe in the power of libraries to change lives!
We are the Library Advocacy Group!