As South Africans celebrated Heritage Day, on Wednesday, the library and information services sector – which plays a critical role in telling, preserving, storing and creating access to records of our heritage – was deep into its third day of the 16th Annual Library and Information Association’s (LIASA) Conference.
Over 650 delegates, representing approximately 200 organisations in the field attended the conference which was proudly hosted by the metro, at the Birchwood Conference Centre in Boksburg, and ran until Thursday.
The conference was officially opened by deputy minister of arts and culture, Rejoice Mabudafhasi.
A former librarian herself, she expressed her department’s full-hearted support for the library and information services sector, stating that they shared a common goal towards the preservation and promotion of the country’s cultural heritage.
“As we celebrate Heritage Day, we must sit and read to our children like we used to sit around the fire and listen to elders tell stories,”she said.
“Libraries play a critical role in telling, preserving and making stories that are told accessible to the nation and thus promoting the heritage of our country.”
The annual LIASA conference has, over the years, emerged as the highlight of the library and information services calendar.
It is an opportunity for practitioners to engage with international and local experts on current trends, share best practices, locate libraries on the national development agenda, look at library schools and enhance skills and competencies of the professionals attending.
It strives to unite, develop and empower all stakeholders in the sector by bringing them together to discuss dynamic ways of transforming, developing and sustaining library information through professional development.
In her address during the opening session, Prof Rocky Ralebipi-Simela, the National Librarian and CEO of the National Library of South Africa, said the state of South African libraries after 20 years of democracy has improved tremendously, but there is still room for development.
She highlighted that the conference is about uplifting the profession of librarians.
According to Ralebipi-Simela, the conference must also address matters such as the shortage of librarians in the country and the need to enhance their skills to “professionalise” the occupation.
She said this was crucial because of the role libraries play in the country’s social landscape.
“Libraries are a place of social cohesion and social development and, as librarians, we change people’s lives daily, because the work we do impacts on lives,” she said.
According to the South African Yearbook 2012/2013, there are more than 11 373 libraries in the country.
This number comprises of 77 higher education libraries, 9 416 school libraries, 79 government departmental libraries, one national library with two branches and the SA Library for the Blind.
At total of 1 800 libraries are public facilities provided by provincial and local government.
The theme for the 16th Annual LIASA conference is “Celebrating libraries in 20 years of democracy: continuing the dialogue…”.
Last Monday, delegates attended eight pre-conference workshops, while the plenary session, on Tuesday, looked into the role of libraries in early childhood development, public libraries and open access to information.
On Wednesday and Thursday, delegates were spoilt for choice as speakers hosted parallel research sessions, a round table discussion hosted by the president of LIASA, as well as a poster session and exhibitions by various stakeholders.
On Thursday, the final day of the conference, there was a closing session, during which various awards were handed out, including the coveted Librarian of the Year award.
