SCECSAL

The Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL) is a regional forum for library and information associations in Africa. It hosts an international conference of member associations every two years, where participants share reports on the status of library science and institutions in their respective countries, and participate in educational workshops.

Background The precursor organization was the East African Library Association (EALA), which dissolved in the 1970s. Perceiving a remaining need for regional connection between library associations, even after an encompassing regional library association had not worked, , a member of the , first proposed the creation of SCESCAL in 1972.

Lwanga, along with Jafred Shalimba Musisi, Francis Otieno Pala, , and Ellen Namhila are credited with putting on the first conference in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in 1974. The organization began life with the name Standing Conference of Eastern and Central African Librarians (SCECAL), before changing slightly in 1977 to include information workers who were not necessarily librarians.

Administration They support library programs in aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Member organizations submit biennial country reports on the development of their national libraries, as well as proposals for regional initiatives, and other obligations. These reports are presented at the General Assembly of SCESCAL.

In October 2023, the organization's structure was re-adapted. The Secretariat is a position held by a member association and is currently held by the Eswatini Library Association.

The most recent constitution for guiding the organization was adopted by the SCECSAL General Council in 2024.

Presidents

Secretary General

Chairperson of Organizing Committee

2010:

Members and partners Member associations have had varying levels of participation, as well as different names over the years. Only organizations from the following nations are eligible for membership: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Congo Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Member associations NameCountryJoinedYears hostedRef.1974198619741978, 1998, 2012, 2020, 202419781980~19821982, 1994 and 2014 (NIWAN)~19982000, 2021Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA)20022002 (ESWALA)~1985198819741974, 1992 and 2006 (ULIA)19741990, 2004 and 2018 (LIAZ)19741976Zimbabwe Library Association (ZimLA)19801984

Partners SCECSAL has collaborated with other associations. In 2022, the biennial conference was held in conjunction with the host's own original conference, the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA)'s conference.

Conference editions Member associations host the conferences, and occasionally the conferences have been hosted in collaboration with other events. +SCECSAL Conference editionsDateEditionLocationTheme and notesRef.1974IDar es Salaam, TanzaniaLibraries and their impact on education, economics and culture in developing countries1976IILusaka, ZambiaLibraries and information services as instruments of transition to the 21st century in Africa1978IIINairobi, KenyaThe development of information systems: an African approach8 - 13 December 1980IVMaseru, LesothoBook promotion and the sharing of resources in Africa1982VBlantyre, MalawiLibraries for national development1984VIHarare, ZimbabweInformation for national development1986VIIGaborone, BotswanaLibraries and literacy21 - 29 July 1988VIIIMbabane, EswatiniLibrary and information services for the disadvantaged groups21 - 29 June 1990IXKampala, UgandaBibliographic control in 1990's and beyond1992XDar es Salaam, TanzaniaImproving access to information and knowledge for socio-economic and technological development in Africa1994XIBlantyre, MalawiLibraries and freedom of Information9 - 13 December 1996XIIMaseru, LesothoLibraries & information services in the 21st Century and beyond27 - 31 July 1998XIIINairobi, KenyaInformation for sustainable development in the 21st Century10 - 15 April 2000XIVWindhoek, NamibiaInformation 2000: a Vision for the SCECSAL region15 - 20 April 2002XVJohannesburg, South AfricaFrom Africa to the World - the globalisation of indigenous knowledge systems5 - 9 July 2004XVIKampala, UgandaTowards a knowledge society for African development10 - 14 July 2006XVIIDar es Salaam, TanzaniaLibraries as a bridge to an information and knowledge society in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa.15-18 July 2008XVIIILusaka, ZambiaLibraries and information services towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)6 - 9 December 2010XIXGaborone, BotswanaEnhancing democracy and good governance through effective information and knowledge services4 - 8 June 2012XXNairobi, KenyaInformation for sustainable development in a digital environment28 July - 1 August 2014XXILilongwe, MalawiInformation and knowledge management as a driving force for socio-economic development in Africa25 - 29 April 2016XXIIEzulwini Valley, EswatiniDigital transformation and the changing role of libraries and information centres in the sustainable development of Africa23 - 27 April 2018XXIIIEntebbe, UgandaPositioning library and information services to achieve sustainable development: innovations and partnerships; 50th anniversary.8 - 11 February 2021XXIV Windhoek, NamibiaInclusive libraries and information services towards achieving prosperity for sustainable development; Postponed from 20–24 April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.4-7 October 2022XXVJohannessburg, South AfricaAgainst all odds: Resilience of libraries in a post-truth world - Reimagining, repurposing and rediscovering libraries in a post-truth world; Joint event with LIASA's Annual Conference.22-26 April 2024XXVIMombasa, KenyaRe-imagining library and information services in the digital era27 April - 1 May 2026XXVIILivingstone, ZambiaAfrican Libraries and Information Services at the New Crossroads2028XXVIIIEzulwini Valley, Eswatini

Committees and programs In 1986, a parliamentary librarian committee was formed among SCECSAL attendees. This group split off into the (APLESA) in 1994.

Awards and notable winners

SCESCAL Author of the Year Awards

Journal Articles/Chapters in Books Category In 2002, the winners of the Journal Articles/Chapters in Books Category were Jenny Raubenheimer from the University of South Africa and John van Niekerk from the Medical University of South Africa.

In 2018, the winner of the Journal Articles/Chapters in Books Category was from the University of Cape Town.

Books Category In 2000, the winner of the Books Category was Maurice Lundu from Copperbelt University, for two books: The Library in the Service of Society: Philosophical Foundation (1995) and Political Economy of Information on Development, Democracy and Security in Southern Africa (1996).

In 2018, the winner of the Books Category was Maria Musoke from Makerere University, for her book titled Informed and Healthy: Theoretical and Applied Perspectives on the Value of Information to Health Care. 1st ed.

SCECSAL Best Conference Paper and Presenter Award The award was first introduced in April 2000 at the XIV SCECSAL Conference in Windhoek, Namibia.

The winners in 2000 were Kingo Mchombu (University of Namibia), Charles B. M. Lungu (Copperbelt University), and (University of Botswana).

The winners in 2002 were Justin Chisenga (Rand Afrikaans University), Andrew Kaniki (University of Natal), M. E. Kutu Mphahlele (University of the North), and Brught Nkhata (Harry Oppenheimer Okavango Research Centre at the University of Botswana).

The winners in 2018 were Chiku Mnubi Mchombu (Human Rights and Documentation Centre at the University of Namibia).

SCECSAL Excellence Awards This award was created in 2018. The conference did not occur in-person in 2020, due to restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, and winners instead received their awards at the 2024 conference.

The 2018 winners were Tucker Kigongo Lwanga, Jafred Shalimba Musisi (posthumous), Maurice Chifwembe Lundu (posthumous), Isaac M. N. Kigongo-Bukenya (posthumous), and Dr. Justin Chisenga.

The 2020 winners were , Jacina Were, and Nomsa Nqobile Victoria Mkhwanazi (posthumous).

The 2024 winners were and Maria Musoke.

The 2026 winner was Gladys Kemboi (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign).

SCECSAL 50th Anniversary Awards The 50th anniversary conference of SCECSAL was held in 2024, in Mombasa, Kenya, and presented special awards to people who had made significant contributions and represented their respective organization throughout the organizations' history.

SCECSAL Presidents Award went to the individuals who were in charge when their association had hosted an edition of conference for the first time. These included Dr. Helen Kay Raseroka, Ellen Namhila, and Ellen Tise.

The SCECSAL Recognition Award was presented to individuals who had made significant contributions to the growth and success to SCECSAL, specifically. These people were Stephen Mudogo Mutula, Dr. John Tsebe, Dr. Helen Kay Raseroka, and Kingo Mchombu.

The SCECSAL Hosts Award was presented to the Tanzania Library Association, the Kenya Library Association, the Malawi Library Association, and the Uganda Library Association for hosting the conference at least three times since its inception.

SCECSAL

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