Call to action- positioning libraries to deliver on “the Africa we want”.

Buhle Mbambo-ThataBuhle Mbambo-ThataExecutive DirectorExecutive Director

UNISA Library UNISA Library

“AU 2063-The Africa we want”

Key pillars to attainment of goal

• Trend Report• Development agendas

– UN-2030 : “Transforming our world”– Africa Union 2063: “The Africa we want”– National Development plans

• Africa’s youthful population• Cape Town Declaration 2015

Where do Libraries fit?

• Lyon Declaration• IFLA SDG Tool kit • IAP- focus on the regions of Africa; Latin

America and Caribbean; and Asia and Oceania, with some activities in Europe

IAP programme in each Region

• Work-plan that:– Identifies priority actions – Agrees on coordination across the region– Outlines the process for endorsement of the

Advocacy Agenda document within the region– Provides input to the IAP Steering Committee on

implementation method and timing– Identifies experts in advocacy and public libraries

from the region to serve as advisors and trainers

IAP Africa

• 25 African leaders constituted consultative forum

• Multi sector approach• Inter-multidisciplinary

• Engaging community• Collaboration central• Next generation

IAP Africa 4 -priority areas

–Align public and community library services with government priorities; community needs and issues; and development agendas;

–Promote public access through public and community libraries ;

–Demonstrate public and community librarians’ roles in developing local content and indigenous knowledge;

–Promote a culture of reading, while recognizing the critical role of oral culture on the African continent

And African Libraries

• Convergence of several initiatives– National digital initiatives– Africa Library Summits outcomes– BSLA

• IAP Africa- a way forward

Next generation digital age

• Bringing the next generation on board– E-books– Mobile reading– Appropriate language

• Both UN 2030 and AU 2063

NEXT STEPS

• A three year programme• Regional meetings to raise awareness• Skills building in 10 countries with regional

impact• Building on earlier investment in BSLA,

African Library Summits

Challenges

• Relevance to reading needs of younger populations.

• Large continent in three years• Resources to scale• Diverse languages

Going forward-towards the Africa we want

• IAP Programming seek to mitigate highlighted challenges

• Collaboration for sustainability

• IAP galvanises advocacy for a transformed world to the future we want.

http://www.localsyr.com/news/