LIASA-in- Touch, vol 10, issue 1, March 2009.
On 26 and 27 November 2008 I attended the conclusion of a series of workshops on libraries as gateways to information and democracy. Topics discussed included improving networking, advocacy and lobbying strategies. This concluding workshop was hosted by The Goethe Institut in Johannesburg, the IFLA Africa Section and LIASA. Ms Ulla Wester of the Goethe Institut were responsible for the organizing and logisics. The reports of the five countries of the previous workshops are available at the Goethe Institut website at http://www.goethe.de/ins/za/joh/wis/sbi/enindex.htm.
We discussed and considered many creative and innovative strategies to advocate for libraries, and there is a recognition that we need to lobby at all levels. Questions were asked about on whose agenda we have to place libraries when we lobby and advocate. This is one of many and appropriate questions to consider and to answer. However, I believe that ultimately the best advocacy for libraries are librarians’ own behaviour, attitudes and services.
Let us provide the service that we are mandated to do. Yes, with the existing resources at our disposal. It is our services as a librarian that is needed especially when we have limited resources, when our resources are insufficient in meeting the needs of the communities we serve, whether school, public, academic and research or corporate.
If we have decided that information provision is a worthwhile way in which we live out our lives, that working in LIS our contribution to building our democracy and our country, then be informed and educated on all matters concerning Library and Information Services. A good start would be to spend your own money to subscribe to individual membership of LIASA. If we have been working in LIS for a while and do not have a library degree, make plans to get one!
Be informed of developments in our profession in our country but also outside our country, and who the role players are in the councils and advisory boards. Don't wait for this information to come to you. LIASA publishes 4 issues of LIASA-in-Touch which if you read it will keep you well up to date on LIS matters in South Africa. There are several scholarly LIS journals published in South Africa. But there are also list serves, blogs and a host of new generation web tools which you can use. We are information professionals, we know how to find information. Take the lead in you own life and identify you own information needs, and go find the information that you need.
Be professional. That means being responsible and behaving in a way that elicits respect from the community we serve and those outside of the profession, as well as those inside the profession, from our colleagues and our bosses.
Update your skills as a librarian. With the information revolution that also includes information and communication technology skills. We can seek those out; there are many opportunities offered by LIASA at Branch and interest groups as well as at the Annual LIASA Conference.
Know the legislation that governs your sector and the legislation that impacts on information provision. Know what the Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights allows and does not. As a government agency, libraries also have to provide information on request to the public in terms of the Access to Information Act. Will it compromise our users privacy?
Know under which government ministry our library service, even though it be indirectly, falls; including who the minister and director general is. We will have to be savvy when we approach our political leaders, and it starts with knowing who they are.
Be a librarian in all spheres of your life. Don’t be a librarian within the four walls of the library, from 08:00 to 4PM. Talk about and advocate for libaries in every network that you are in. Be a librarian in your family and friends network, in your community, in your church, synagogue, temple and mosque. Do not limit your professional networks to LIS only, establish contacts and networks in the sector that you are in, as well as in other professions and disciplines. And again advocate for libraries in those networks.
Develop your own personal advocacy manifesto and work towards achieving it!
