Librarians to meet in Botswana

Wordsmith Helen Exley once said “Books can be dangerous. The best ones should be labelled “This could change your life.À

Gender Links produces many books each year, hoping to change the lives of those living in southern Africa and beyond.   In December GL will be taking some of these publications to the   Nineteenth Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL) Conference in Gaborone, Botswana  on 10 December 2010.

Thanks to the GMDC Chair, Kathy Matsika, the GMDC has secured participation in this regional event, which will highlight papers and discussions that address the theme: “Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance through Effective Information and Knowledge ServicesÀ.

Under this theme, Gender Links will host a workshop on 10 December about gender-aware texts and materials from the global south.

Libraries and information services provide essential information and knowledge services in Africa. The free flow of information can play an important role in contributing to democracy, good governance, social equality and economic growth within nations. In order to promote transparency and accountability on a national scale, every government needs to establish mechanisms to enhance its citizens’ right of access to information.

Democracy requires an informed citizenry and transparency of information, both vital to national wellbeing, accountability and the prevention of corruption. Information and knowledge create a receptive and critical nation that forms the basis for a strong democracy.

In today’s hyper-technological environment, much can still be done by libraries, the media and other information outlets to promote the principles of democratic societies. Democracy depends on accessibility of information and an informed public. African governments must ensure that citizens have easy access to information to promote the principle of good governance, democracy, social equality, and economic growth.

Sub themes:

–       Libraries, democratisation process and promotion of sustainable good governance in Africa
–       Freedom of access to information, censorship to information, Internet monitoring, and good governance
–       Information privacy and confidentiality
–       Libraries, human rights and democracy
–       Advocacy and smart partnerships between libraries and government in national development
–       Information for poverty alleviation and social justice
–       Libraries, social equality and economic growth
–       Social inclusion/exclusion, democracy and good governance
–       Digital divide and achievement of democracy
–       E-governance/e-government and libraries in Africa
–       Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and good governance
–       Universal access to information and disadvantaged groups
–       Information literacy and democracy
–       Local content, knowledge management/services, and good governance
–       Intellectual property rights and democracy
–       Information services and community/national development
–       Learning organisations, democracy and good governance

Registration and exhibition details can be obtained from dikgangb@mopipi.ub.bw,ˬTel. (267) 355 2459; Cell. (267) 71827118, Faculty of Science, University of Botswana.