About Library Aid Africa
Library Aid Africa is a non-profit organization that harnesses digital technology and citizen engagement approaches to make libraries more viable with notable impact in 14 Sub-Saharan African countries.
About The Library Policy Forum
The Library Policy Forum, which is part of the Library Policy Fellowship Project, is a bi-annual discussion and conversation on the state of library policy in African countries. This forum brings together experts in the policy and library space to discuss the current state of libraries in Africa and to provide recommendations and action points to improve library policies on the continent. Through these discussions, the forum aims to strategize and position libraries as a vital source for social and economic development in Africa through the sharing of information, knowledge, and best practices
SESSION REPORT:
Creating Enabling Policy Frameworks for Libraries in African Countries: Opportunities and Challenges.
Policy is useful only when demand-driven; how do stakeholders in the Library ecosystem create the demand that drives policy framework and regulation in Africa?
Stakeholders in the African Library Sector have come together in the maiden edition of The Library Policy Forum, a subset of The Library Policy Fellowship Project organized by Library Aid Africa to discuss, share ideas, provide recommendations and actionable points on strategies to improve the state of Libraries and Library services in Africa and especially issues that bothers the development of Library Policy framework and its implementation within the continent.
The virtual event was held on 17th May, 2023, and Librarians and Library stakeholders from different parts of Africa were in attendance.
Panelists for the session included; Karen Bett, a Senior Policy Manager at the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data; Stephen Wyber, Director, Policy and Advocacy International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA); Victor Ejechi, Data Analyst, Journalist, and Librarian; Beata Nyirabahizi, Acting Director, Rwanda National Library Services.
While it is necessary to develop Library Policies to meet the demands of Library and information services in Africa, it is equally important to understand that in addition to the development of Library policies, stakeholders in the ecosystem shouldn't be limited to documents on Library laws and policies as there are broader existing policies and laws such as Copyright laws, internet access, and information regulations that equally have effects on library operations. Therefore, there must be an expansion of scope in carefully analyzing and considering these policies.
Another strategy for Library Policy development and implementation is Stakeholder mapping. It is an effective avenue for relevant stakeholders to contribute immensely to Libraries' development while allowing for lesser dependence on the Government for funding and finances. Stakeholders Mapping in the Library ecosystem involves analyzing what each stakeholder represents to the Library and the value they provide. This strategic approach could solve the prevalent issue of poor funding and finances of libraries by Governments, especially in Africa. Journalists, Donor agencies, partners, Legislators, Academicians, and a lot more are examples of critical stakeholders in the development of the Library ecosystem in Africa.
Panelists noted that in Africa, a more significant percentage of young people utilize Library services more compared to other continents, therefore, seeing them as critical stakeholders in the ecosystem and channeling the youthful energy into library advocacy, literacy campaign, and educational development.
A key consideration from the forum is library self-image and how the libraries see themselves. Notwithstanding, the Library contributes value across all sectors of Education, tackling unemployment, skill acquisition, development of democracy, health information awareness, national development, and even the Sustainable Development Goals. Yet, the Library must regulate itself and its stance and understands its role and place in national and regional development agenda because many more agencies and institutions seek relevance and advocacy in the national development discussion.
Furthermore, there's a need for a paradigm shift in the operations of Libraries from being a repository of knowledge to a space that curates conversations and discussions that drives development. This approach sharpens the Library's unique offer and eliminates the impression that libraries are places where books sit, and people read.
Amongst other notable contributions of panelists in the discussion of Library policy framework and implementation is the need for a standardized database of library activities and services rendered to clientele as data is a significant contributor to policy development, drafting, and lobbying; accountability on the path of Library stakeholders as touching the utilization of resources donated or acquired.
In conclusion, it is somewhat easy to be attached to the conventional way of mission implementation, and library stakeholders must understand that the mandate of libraries which is the provision of access to information, is an eternal mission while the process of achieving the mandate is ever-changing. Therefore, stakeholders should be open to innovation, evaluation of activities, and collaboration with relevant agencies for development.
Report by Bolaji Ayinde