Library and information associations’ meet kicks off

By Robert Nyasato

The tenth Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa Library and Information Associations (Scecsal) kicks off in Nairobi today.

Held bi-annually, this year’s conference themed Information for Sustainable Development in a Digital Environment will be hosted by the Kenya Library and Information Association (KLA).

The five-day event, that will conclude on Friday, will bring together over 300 information professionals from around the world.

KLA Chairman, Prof Constantine Nyamboga said the main objective of the conference is to bring together information professionals to deliberate on challenges facing the African continent as far as access to information is concerned.

 “The African continent is currently faced with a myriad of challenges including inability to effectively manage the environment for positive gain, attaining food security for its populations, eradicating diseases and empowering its people socially, politically and economically,” he said.

challenges

He said a closer look at the challenges facing the African continent showed that there was a clear link between the problems and the widespread lack of access to quality, current and relevant information.

“It is no secret that for as long as populations in Africa have no access to information, it will be very difficult to eradicate the problems highlighted,” he said.

He said that libraries play a major role in the development process by providing access to relevant information.

Kenya is hosting the event for the third time since Scecsal was established in 1974. The last meeting was hosted in Gaborone in Botswana two years ago.

Key speakers expected to attend include associations’ presidents Ellen Tise of South Africa, reigning president K Rasaroka (Botswana), Inga Lunden (Sweden) and  Innocent Rugumbwa (Uganda) among others