Zambia Library Association
XVIII SCECSAL Conference
Lusaka, Zambia
15 - 18 July 2008
Mulungushi International Conference Centre

Travel Grants -

The Zambia Library Association has received support from the Danish Library Association and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) to assist eligible applicants planning to attend the conference with the purchase of air tickets. Please, download complete the application form and submit it by 20th June 2008.

• SCECSAL XVIII - Travel Grants Application Form

Conference Theme & Sub-Themes

Background

On 8 September 2002, Heads of States and Government of the United Nations member states unanimously adopted the United Nations Millennium Declaration committing their nations to a new global partnership to reduce extreme poverty and setting out a series of time-bound targets, with a deadline of 2015. The Millennium Declaration has 8 goals, better known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and these are:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are internationally agreed development outcomes to elicit national responses through initiatives, and strategies that are geared towards reducing poverty and improving the standard of living of the poor, especially in developing countries in Africa and Asia, by 2015. Attainment of the MDGs requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders, including governments, the international community, and civil society. Library and information professionals, especially in Africa, should also actively contribute to the attainment of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Unfortunately, on the continent it is not yet clear as to how they are contributing to the attainment of the MDGs.

Themes

The Zambia Library Association will host the XVIII Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL) in Lusaka, Zambia in July 2008, under the theme - Libraries and Information Services Towards the Attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The sub-themes of the conference are the following:

1. The MDGs in the African context - Are there African specific factors that need consideration in the discussion and in expounding the MDGs; Is it obvious what roles libraries and information systems play and need to brace for?
2. MDGs and Libraries: Challenges - The different types of libraries (public, special, academic, etc.) have different challenges that they encounter in information management and delivery, what are the major ones that they need to address and be aware of towards the attainment of the MDGs?
3. Information Communication Technology in Delivering Library and Information Services to achieve the MDGs: how can e-commerce, e-governance, e-education, e-agriculture, e-health, etc contribute to the attainment of MDGs in Africa? Should ICTs be harnessed differently in Africa? Is the global village a reality in management and delivery of information in Africa?
4. Libraries and information services in specific sectors – placing emphasis on the specific MDG areas such as environment and health including HIV/AIDS.
5. Partnership in Information Provision Towards the Attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. - Are library consortia a way to go in Africa? What is the potential and challenges of partnerships in information management and provision in Africa
6. Knowledge Management in the Context of the MDGs – what are the many facets of knowledge management and how could they be harnessed and/or dealt with in relation to the MDGs.
7. Indigenous Knowledge and Millennium Development Goals – what is the significance of Africa’s indigenous knowledge to the attainment of the MDGs?
8. Marketing of library and Information Services in the context of MDGs.