Strong Libraries, Strong Societies Strong Libraries, Societies The Role of Libraries in Strong Libraries, Strong Societies: Socio-Economic the Role of Libraries in Socio-Economic Development edited by Ritva Niskala, Ndahambelela Hertha Lukileni and Helen Mandl Development Proceedings of the What is a strong library in an African context? How are Namibia Library Symposium libraries contributing to improving the fabric of society? 7-9 October 2013 How are librarians adapting and changing the services The Role of Libraries in Socio-Economic Development Windhoek, Namibia they offer? The first Namibia Library Symposium brought together speakers from across Africa and Europe to discuss these questions. In addition to acknowledging challenges and issues facing libraries in developing or transitioning nations, the speakers highlight the tremendous ability of libraries to change lives. Some of these changes may seem small but each crumb of knowledge can empower individuals and communities, providing opportunities for education, for employment, for establishing a small business and for encouragement. The capacity of libraries to contribute to social and economic growth and provide a strong foundation for a knowledge based society is emphasised in these papers that will inform and inspire the reader. Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture Helen Mandl, Ndahambelela Hertha Lukileni and Ritva Niskala (Eds.) Strong Libraries, Strong Societies The Role of Libraries in Socio-Economic Development Proceedings of the Namibia Library Symposium 7-9 October 2013 Windhoek, Namibia Helen Mandl, Ndahambelela Hertha Lukileni and Ritva Niskala (Eds) Published by: University of Namibia Library Private Bag 13301 Windhoek Namibia http://www.unam.edu.na/library UNAM Institutional Repository http://repository.unam.na/ ISBN: 978-99916-53-50-1 Design and layout: John Meinert Printers, Windhoek Cover: Silke Kotze, John Meinert Printers, Windhoek Cover photos: Ritva Niskala & Libraries for Development Project Symposium Logo: John Rittman, University of Namibia Printed by: John Meinert Printing, Windhoek © Individual chapters stated authors, 2015 ©Photos: Marjukka Peltonen; Minna Koskinen; Libraries for Development, Finnish Library Association; Ritva Niskala; Petteri Ponsimaa; Tuomas Lipponen; Maria Ausiku; David Matsveru (For details contact the publisher) Namibia Library Symposium 2013 Table of Contents Preface . 7 Introduction . 9 On the IFLA President’s Theme: Strong Libraries, Strong Societies Sinikka Sipilä . 13 Official Opening Speech of the Namibia Library Symposium Hon . Silvia Makgone . 21 Vote of Thanks and Acknowledgements Hon . Dr . Elia Kaiyamo . 25 Theme 1: Libraries Supporting National Development Plans Libraries Supporting National Development in Namibia Veno . V . Kauaria . 31 Libraries for development: Community libraries as tools for national and local development Marjatta Lahti . 34 Building strong library science education that prepares librarians to function in a knowledge society Kingo Mchombu . 40 The African Public Libraries Summit – Lessons Learnt Helena Asamoah-Hassan . 47 A Research Legacy: Tracing Knowledge Management in Zimbabwean Academic and Research Institutional Repositories Israel Mbekezeli Dabengwa . 54 The Role of libraries in the provision of climate change information for good livelihood in Malawi George G . Makhalira . 68 Libraries for research and development: A special libraries programme in eleven points Werner Hillebrecht . 76 Knowledge Management practices: The role of Namibian ministerial librarians Selma Iilonga . 86 3 Namibia Library Symposium 2013 Partnership as a tool to build strong libraries in Namibia: A case study of the Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management Library Sylvia K. Katjepunda. 101 Poor implementation of the National Library and Documentation Service (NLDS) a cause for concern for national development in Zimbabwe’s marginalized communities. Grand Tinashe Mutondo .................................................... 111 Theme 2: Creating awareness on the importance of libraries Creating awareness on the importance of libraries: A case of Tanzania Library Services Board Alli Mcharazo and Jackline Mshana ............................................123 Leading with Creativity: Outreach efforts to develop Information Literacy Programmes in the Gulf Region Vanessa Middleton and Carol Hansen ..........................................133 Demystifying the Library and Information Science Profession in Zimbabwe: Perspectives from Library Schools and the Corporate World in Bulawayo Doreen B. Mupambwa and Lantern Fusire . 140 Theme 3: Libraries in support of education and knowledge creation Academic Libraries Supporting Research Leena Toivonen ............................................................157 School Libraries still at the periphery of the Namibian School Curriculum: Promoting an Enhanced Academic Performance Elia Muatumbulange Manga, ................................................173 The teaching of Information Literacy Skills (ILS) within Zimbabwe’s Academic Institutions Tonderayi Chanakira, .......................................................191 Theme 4: Libraries empowering local communities Libraries empowering citizens and local communities Tuula Haavisto ............................................................205 The role of community libraries in the society: The case of Maxwilili community library Anna Leonard and Anna Ngula ...............................................209 Customized information solutions for farmers: University of Zimbabwe Library’s response to local agricultural information needs : Part 1 Tendai Mataranyika ........................................................222 4 Namibia Library Symposium 2013 Theme 5: Libraries supporting e-learning Academic libraries in support of e-learning: The case of University of Namibia Library Anna Leonard .............................................................237 Resources Digitization:Sharing archival knowledge to build the community C. Maria Botha . 247 Building critical digital skills: Libraries and media education Marjukka Peltonen .........................................................262 Theme 6: Building strong knowledge societies through libraries Strong local archives/library content: A mirror of society Ellen Ndeshi Namhila . 271 The Regional Study and Resource Centre concept: A Namibian library strategy Ritva Niskala and Jakob Muleka ...............................................286 The Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN): A model for sustainable library and information services development Victoria Okojie. 298 Theme 7: Libraries supporting human rights The Role of Libraries in supporting Human Rights Dr. Chiku Mnubi-Mchombu . 313 From Human Wrongs to Human Rights: Libraries and the Right to Know in Uganda Joachim Bibuli . 323 Accessing Government information in Namibia as a human right issue John Nakuta and Chiku Mnubi-Mchombu .......................................334 Summary of Symposium outcomes ............................................347 The Authors . 351 Photos on the Namibia Library Symposium . 361 Photos on public/community libraries: Namibia and Tanzania . 364 5 Namibia Library Symposium 2013 6 Namibia Library Symposium 2013 Preface Ellen Ndeshi Namhila Chairperson: Namibia Library and Information Council; University Librarian: University of Namibia; IFLA Governing Board Member The various libraries and librarians in Namibia, through the Namibia Library & Information Council (NLIC), embraced the theme of the International Federation of Library Associations & Institution (IFLA) president’s Strong Libraries, Strong Societies: the role of Libraries in socio-economic development because it resonated with their developmental efforts. While profiling the development of Namibian libraries, the symposium provided an opportunity for librarians in Namibia to not only learn from their international counterparts, but present papers on specific issues within the library and information field from a Namibian perspective. The objectives of the symposium were to bring together the dispersed community of the library professionals through a common platform to share experiences, to encourage discussion of new ideas and to facilitate interaction between experts and non-experts, to bridge the information gap between developing and developed countries. The three-day symposium featured plenary sessions where challenges, problems and issues were probed and discussed, as well as, panel discussions and networking breaks. The sub-themes included: • Building strong knowledge societies through libraries • Libraries supporting National Development Plans • Creating Awareness on the importance of Libraries • Libraries in support of education and knowledge creation • Libraries supporting e-learning initiatives • Libraries supporting human rights • Libraries empowering local communities The symposium took place at a time when numerous unsubstantiated reports and research suggest that Africa is predominantly a consumer of knowledge, and rarely produces any. It was held in the wake of reports suggesting that the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa only contributes 0.7% of the world’s knowledge, and that a number of African author’s 7 Namibia Library Symposium 2013 papers to international journals are said to be rejected supposedly on account of not being current. Namibia’s libraries need serious upgrading to meet the demands of an information society as envisioned in the Namibian development blueprint,