SABC Media Libraries: South African Library Week from 14

Thursday, March 5, 2015

South African Library Week from 14 - 21 March 2015

#SALW2015

"The Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) is pleased to announce that South African Library Week (SALW) will be observed during 14-21 March 2015 with the theme Connect @ your library.

The national launch event will be held on Saturday, 14 March 2015 in Cape Town.
The theme “Connect @ your library” resonates with the belief that libraries connect people to each other, to knowledge and information, to print and electronic resources, to technology and professional support.

Libraries must take the lead in being active community partners towards developing an informed and educated nation. This means providing access to information about health & hygiene, economic empowerment, poverty eradication and education in desired spaces that foster lifelong learning and knowledge exchange. This is further enhanced by skilled and proficient library staff who connect their communities to relevant and appropriate
information & knowledge resources, emerging technologies, as well as dynamic and innovative programmes & services for personal and community development.
Libraries are fast emerging as technologically enabled environments, which provide individuals the opportunity to connect to:

The Internet

Databases, online learning & research tools

Friends, families & colleagues via social networking sites

Employment opportunities

Digital libraries, which include institutional repositories

Emerging mobile technologies such as tablets, e-Readers, smartphones, etc.

This theme also highlights the importance of library practitioners connecting with each other, across all sectors, for the sharing of skills, best practices, global trends and national priorities, so that a strong cohort of professionals emerge with a common understanding and vision for the development of an informed nation.
It is therefore important for all to make the connection that libraries are desired one-stop, socially inclusive spaces that enable one to Connect @ your library to family, friends, technologies, information and the world.

ABOUT LIASA

LIASA is the national professional association that represents libraries and information institutions; all library and information workers; and millions of users & potential users of libraries in South Africa. LIASA aims to unite, develop and empower all people in the library and information field. It represents the interests of and promotes the development and image of library and information services in South Africa.