Report back on the 16th Annual LIASA Conference - Abel Thulare

Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre 22-26 September 2014

Abel Thulare, Information Librarian 

Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA)

LIASA Conference Theme: "Celebrating libraries in 20 years of democracy: continuing the dialogue"

This year’s conference theme was to call to action national building and social cohesion of life to the common South African story. Everyone plays a part in the shared South African experience.

The LIASA Representative Council & Executive Committee together with the National Library of South Africa (NLSA) signed the Lyon Declaration with the United Nations which is guided by Human Rights. This declaration focuses mainly on poverty alleviation, HIV/Aids and focus on youth regarding access to education. Women and girls have the right of access to information in order to eradicate poverty. Information professionals manage data to provide accurate information to all sectors of government and society.Also cultural heritage preservation, more especially in the public sector. The focus should be on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to become pivotal in bridging the gap of technology, especially in rural communities. The declaration was signed by NLSA & LIASA and handed over to the United Nations.

Report by Justice Leshilo: LIASA 2014 Conference

LIASA 2014

The 16th annual Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) Annual Conference was held at the Birchwood Conference venue in Boksburg.

Justice Leshilo, Information Librarian from the SABC Information Library, reporting on his experiences.

Justice Leshilo

SESSION1: OPENING SESSION

LIASA president, Ujala Satgoor welcomed everybody to the 16th LIASA conference, saying that we are still celebrating libraries and continuing the dialogue of social cohesion.

She introduced Prof Rocky Ralebipi Simela, CEO of the National Library of South Africa (NLSA) as the National Librarian. Prof Rocky said the traditional library is shifting but it doesn't mean it is the end of librarianship, but that we have to move with the times. The issues of conditional grant and further education and training for librarians need to be reviewed . In terms of technology and digital library the NLSA spends R3bn for ICT annually.

Later we were introduced to the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi who is a former librarian of the then University of the North  (now University of Limpopo) who praised the efforts made by LIASA and the National Library of South Africa in 20 years of democracy by eradicating illiteracy and development of communities.

Read more: Notes from workshops

16th LIASA Annual Conference (22-26 September 2014) - report by Thelma Nonhlanhla Hlapolosa #liasa2014

Justice Leshilo and Thelma Khumalo at LIASA 2014

Thelma Nonhlanhla Hlapolosa, Information Librarian at the SABC Information Library, reporting about the most recent Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) Conference.

Introduction

16th LIASA Annual Conference

The annual LIASA Conference was held at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng on the 22-26  September 2014 .
The theme of the conference was ”Celebrating Libraries  in 20 years of democracy: continuing the dialogue”.

The conference in its 16th year was celebrated for the achievements and the trials still faced by the profession, however the achievements served as an indication that what LIASA is trying to achieve is of vital importance to the library profession in South Africa and Africa as a whole.

The key address by the outgoing president of LIASA Ujala Sagtoor touched on how LIASA was created as a platform to allow librarians to engage in relevant, articulate their opinions, raise concerns and affirm their roles through networking in order to collaborate, initiate innovative dynamic libraries and services which can contribute towards the development of an informed nation.
She also encouraged all delegates to select the papers and sessions carefully during the conference in order to have a varied learning and insightful experience.

The reports from the sessions to follow...

Report on IASA 2014

A report shared on SlideShare about the most recent IASA Conference in Cape Town, by SABC Radio Archivist, Karen du Toit.

IASA 2014 Conference - Cape Town, South Africa #iasa2014 from Karen Du Toit

The international conference was held in Cape Town from 5 - 9 October 2014. It is only possible to mention but a few of the papers that were read.

Information about the conference can be found here: http://2014.iasa-web.org/

A few important links are available in the slides:

- The new IASA authoritative guide on handling and storage of sound and video recordings:
   TC 05

- The Cost of Inaction Calculator: https://coi.avpreserve.com/

- The video shared by Lizzy Komen about Australian artist Andy Thomas specializing in creating ‘audio life forms' from two recorded bird sounds from the archives of the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision [beeldengeluid.nl] in Hilversum: Nightingale and Canary on Vimeo

- Vine of the Cape 7 Steps Mintrels Goema Troupe.


Related post:

International Association for Sound and Audiovisual Archives Conference 2014 #iasa2014

International Association for Sound and Audiovisual Archives Conference 2014 #iasa2014

Centre for the Book, Cape Town

The IASA annual conference was this year held in Cape Town, from 5 - 9 October 2014.

The theme of the conference was: "Connecting Cultures: Content, Context, and Collaboration"

"It was an inspiring, exciting event informed by the dynamic and diverse, natural and cultural landscape of South Africa and the Southern African region. It supported the connection of  cultures and open many new ways for collaboration to ensure the safeguarding of our valuable sound and audiovisual heritage.
It was hosted in the heart of multicultural literacy and publication -- the National Library of South Africa's Center for the Book -- the venue for the conference.
It was a week of discussions, debates and sharing of ideas with local and international experts on matters of sound and audiovisual archives.

Conference themes:Content and technologiesConnecting dataContextualisation and CurationCurators and creatorsCustomer-driven services issuesCrowd-sourcing, cataloguing and content managementCollaborative learning"  - IASA

The Storify compiles some of the social media engagements during the week of the conference.

Blog post and Storify by Karen du Toit

Connected Librarians Day #cld13 #librarians

Connected Librarians #CLD13

The yearly Library 2.013 is upcoming on 18-19 October 2013.

A Library 2.013 pre-conference event has been planned as  Connected Librarians Day on October 14th. This is an open, online, and free event.
The hashtag is #cld13.

The schedule for the day is as follows:
(More detail can be be found here: http://www.library20.com/page/connected-librarians)

11:00am US-Eastern Daylight Time (5 pm GMT+2)
"Leading the Charge to Connect the Library, Classroom, and Curriculum: A View from Library Leadership" - Panel Discussion
Description: In this dynamic panel discussion, three members of Follett’s Project Connect team will share their views on the future of the library and explore how librarians are central to successful 1:1 implementations and the digital shift.

Panelists:
Mark Ray - 2012 Washington State Teacher of the Year
Gail Dickinson - AASL President
Susan Ballard - former President of AASL
Moderator: Britten Follett
Blackboard Collaborate Room Link:
https://sas.elluminate.com/d.jnlp?sid=2008350&password=LIB2013Part1


12:00pm US-Eastern Daylight Time (6 pm GMT+2)
"The Library as Makerspace"- Kristin Fontichiaro
Description:  Defined as groups of creators who come together to design, plan, and create products using both digital and non-digital tools, makerspaces are popping up in library-centered conversations. While makerspaces can include cutting-edge technology, it takes more than 3D printers, computers, and robotics equipment to define them.

Bio: Kristin Fontichiaro is a clinical assistant professor and coordinator of the school library media program at the University of Michigan's School of Information.
Blackboard Collaborate Room:
https://sas.elluminate.com/d.jnlp?sid=2008350&password=LIB2013Part10


1:00pm US-Eastern Daylight Time (7 pm GMT+2)
"Virtual Library Instruction:Tools & Tips" - Stacy Creel
Description: This presentation includes a discussion on a variety of online library instruction tools and methods for use in today's libraries. It includes tips and tools on static (vodcasts and online pathfinders) and interactive online (wikis, quizzes, live classrooms) presentations.
Bio: She is the advisor for the Graduate Certificate in Youth Services and Literature and received the Exemplary Online Course Award from USM in 2013.
Blackboard Collaborate Room:
https://sas.elluminate.com/d.jnlp?sid=2008350&password=LIB2013Part101

"Teaching the Teachers: Integrating Technology into Library Instruction" - Amanda Nichols Hess
Description: Librarians everywhere - in schools, in public libraries, in colleges and universities, and in other settings - are increasingly charged with instruction. This might be in K-12 classes, or in workshops, or in one-shot instructional sessions for a college course. As they are asked to teach more, librarians are simultaneously tasked with bringing technology into their instructional practices. However… are librarians adequately prepared and equipped to do this? Moreover, do they feel prepared and equipped to do so meaningfully?
Bio: Amanda Nichols Hess is Assistant Professor and eLearning/Instructional Technology Librarian at Oakland University in Rochester, MI.
Blackboard Collaborate Room:
https://sas.elluminate.com/d.jnlp?sid=2008350&password=LIB2013Part100

2:00pm US-Eastern Daylight Time (8pm GMT+2)
"[Re]Envisioning the Role of Librarian as Educator in the Digital Information Age" - John Shank
Description: This session will focus on how blended librarianship provides a vision for how librarians can be at the intersection of the learning and knowledge becoming a learning hub for their campus. Learn how In the digital information age, the blended librarian becomes a leader, who acts as the mediator and guide, to accessing and making sense of the ever expanding universe of information in all the forms that it takes.
Bio: See http://www.linkedin.com/in/blendedlibrarian
Blackboard Collaborate Room:
https://sas.elluminate.com/d.jnlp?sid=2008350&password=LIB2013Part102


The technical details of joining the conference from a computer or from mobile can be found here:
http://www.library20.com/page/connected-librarians
The presentations will be available if you are not able to watch it on the scheduled time!


Blog post by Karen du Toit. Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives.

Introduction to giving your first conference presentation - iSchool at Syracuse University Webinar

"What No One Tells You about Giving Conference Presentations(or When PowerPoint and Good Intentions Meet Reality)"

Webinar link

The iSchool at Syracuse University's gave their first free online webinar entitled GIVING YOUR FIRST CONFERENCE PRESENTATION! Their  free online webinar series are in celebration of the iSchool at SU's 20 YEAR Anniversary of Online & Distance Education.

THE HOSTS:
Jill Hurst-Wahl is an associate professor of practice in Syracuse University’s iSchool and the director of both its LIS & LIS with school media specialization programs. Jill’s a member of SLA’s Board of Directors and the USNY Technology Policy and Practices Council.
Maurice Coleman is the author of Crash Course in Presentations, (released by ABC-Clio Publishing in 2014). He’s the technical trainer at Harford County (MD) Public Library, host of the long running library training podcast T is for Training (@tisfortraining), and a member of the board of the American Library Association’s Learning RoundTable.

Download the following:

- The webinar

- The handout

These are great tips for doing a presentation, even for well-seasoned presenters!



Blog post by Karen du Toit, Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives.

Library 2.012 Worldwide Virtual Conference 3-5 October #LIB2012

Library 2.012 Worldwide Virtual Conference

"The virtual Library 2.012 conference is a unique chance to participate in a global conversation on the current and future state of libraries.

Held worldwide over the course of two days, with 150 sessions and 10 keynotes, subject strands include physical and virtual learning spaces, evolving professional roles in today's world, organizing and creating information, changing delivery methods, user-centered access, and mobile and geo-social information environments.

Attendance is free; sign up at http://www.library2012.com to attend or to be kept informed."

The Twitter hashtag for the  conference: #LIB2012

The welcoming address by the President of San José State University: 

Mohammad Qayoumi

The Knowledge Café combined with a Drum Café

David Gurteen in action

David Gurteen facilitated an interactive Knowledge Café with the help of drums at the recent International Knowledge Management Conference (ICKM 2012).

It formed part of the opening proceedings, and helped conference delegates connect with each other during the speed networking session, as well as connection through the drumming.

Warren Liebermann with his drummers & singers

Warren Liebermann of Drum Café with his drummers provided an interactive experience for all which opened up the synergy and receptive mood of the conference.

Conference delegates with musical instruments

The question was asked about the format of teaching which has not changed for centuries, and the informal and interactive way of the Drum Café brought home the message even more.

"Is the lecture format of teaching an effective way of learning and sharing knowledge and if not, what is?"

Drum on a chair at ICKM 2012

The following four questions paved the way for the rest of the conference proceedings:

"At this conference, to what extend are you prepared:

1. to get value from being here?

2. to engage personally to achieve this?

3. to take risks to learn?

4. to take responsibility for the learning & engagement of others?"

ICKM 2012 Conference delegates

The success of a conference depends on each delegate's willingness to participate!

The combination of the drums facilitated the interactiveness of the Knowledge Café, and it created a wonderful synergy for the rest of the conference!


See blog post & video playlist by David Gurteen about the same event:
A wonderful combination of a Knowledge Café and a Drum Café


Blog post by Karen du Toit, conference delegate at ICKM 2012.

Conversations for business - David Gurteen Knowledge Café workshop

David Gurteen facilitated a workshop on the implementation of Knowledge Cafés at the International Conference on Knowledge Management 2012. 

He is a Knowledge Management consultant, speaker and facilitator at Gurteen Knowledge. 

He is well-known for his Gurteen Knowledge Cafés which helps to facilitate conversation in business.

The Knowledge Café workshop brought up a few interesting points which regards conversation in business:

- People love to feel important. It is very valuable to remember in conversation in business.

- The circle as a mechanism in conversation. It helps to enable equal access to each other. 

- The conversation needs to be centred around a central point.

- Misconceptions are addressed through conversations, and it enhances better understanding in a business environment.

- There is power in presence. Direct conversation leads to a different conversation which is based in the direct connection with each other.

- Relationships are important in an organization. Conversation improves relationships.

- The most important resource in an organization is the individual. The focus should therefore be on the person/personnel.

- The following stands in the way of conversation in an organization: 

•   Hierarchy; 
•   Language of blame; 
•   Company Talk; 
•   Who is perceived to have the power; 
•   Top-down-management conversation.

- The Knowledge Café addresses most of the imbalances and problems encountered in business conversations. 

The Knowledge Café brought up a few interesting applications in business:

-  Organize lunch dates with people in different departments (done through Human Resources).

- Breakfast dates: "What is spoken at breakfast remains at breakfast."

- Instead of meeting call it a forum with the theme of "Fearless conversation!"

- Communities of Practice can use it directly or virtually.

- Knowledge Cafés without furniture in the room. It gets business done!

- The use of conversation cards in a Knowledge Café, such as "Take the lead!" and "Be quiet!" and "listen more!" that are handed to participants.

- Use of Knowledge Cafés can be very valuable before decision-making happens.

- A picnic day with different struggle heroes. It can be applied to using leaders or specialists in the organization who are sitting at each picnic spot, and the participants rotate around them.

- To break protocols in certain communities. Everybody gets a chance to speak.

- Knowledge Cafés do not need many resources to make it happen. No flip charts and other paraphernalia are necessary. There is no need to record the outcomes. 

It mostly only requires a coffee to make it happen. 

The Knowledge Café made us aware of how many and varied its applications can be in business. It is only limited by our own imagination.

Each Knowledge Café will also bring up another set of applications.

Related reading:

- For more reading on the David Gurteen Knowledge Cafe:

Knowledge Café

- The SABC Media Libraries & SABC Training had a private Knowledge Café facilitated by David Gurteen: Report from a Knowledge Café with David Gurteen at SABC Media Libraries

Blog post by Karen du Toit, SABC Radio Archives

Library 2.011 Worldwide Virtual Conference in November

Library 2.011 WorldWide Virtual Conference
#Lib2011

The Library 2.011 conference is upcoming on 2 & 3 November 2011. 

The conference will be online and available across multiple time zones. It is a free attend.

All we need to do to be updated about the latest news and conference updates is to sign up at the Library 2.0 network.

The Library 2.011 conference is a unique chance to participate in a global conversation on the current and future state of libraries. Subject strands include the changing roles of libraries and librarians, the increasing impact of digital media and the e-book revolution, open educational resources, digital literacy, shifts from information consumption to production (Web 2.0), multimedia and gaming spaces, libraries as community centers, the growth of individualized and self-paced learning, the library as the center of new learning models, understanding users in the digital age, assessing service delivery, and defining leadership and information professional careers in a networked and changing world. - Library 2.011 Conference

Steve Hargadon, the Co-Chair of Library 2.011 sent out an email to remind participants to spread the word as far and wide as possible for a globally inclusive conference. They have sign-ups from 135 countries so far!

The hashtag for the conference is #LIB2011
It is great to be able to connect with our peers globally in the virtual domain.

Library 2.0 - "The future of libraries in the digital age!"


Blog post by Karen du Toit, Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives. 

The Moshito 2011 experience

Moshito 2011: SABC Media Libraries exhibition
Patrick Jack from SABC Record Library

Moshito 2011, the yearly music conference and exhibition, took place 31 August to 2 September last week. The SABC Media Libraries and the SABC News Archives had an exhibition in Newtown as well.

Obakeng Phiri, the intern in the SABC Radio Archives, gives us some of his impressions:

Obakeng Phiri on the far right, explaining the SABC Media Libraries' exhibition

The conference was aimed at developing and stimulating the domestic music industry. 

The event featured over 30 sessions of panel discussions, information sessions and workshops. Music industry and related specialists from all over the world also took part in the conference.

I was asked to join my colleagues on Friday at the music conference to showcase the SABC Media Libraries, by telling people who we are and what we do.

We had two laptops set up for people who came to visit our area, which gave them a broader understanding on what the SABC Media Libraries is all about. We also had a DVD playing out for people who passed our stall, which mainly highlighted our cultural diversity, and on what makes them so unique - in terms of clothing, music and dances.

Wandile Goba of the SABC New Archives on the right

 On a personal note the conference gave me a broader understanding about SAMRO and on how it affects the SABC. They are interdependent. It is very critical for me due to the fact that I work with archive material.

Some more photos:

Nonhlanhla Mazibuko (SABC Record Library), Florence Moshatana (SABC Radio Archives),
Nokuthula Mzelemu (SABC Radio Archives)

Nokuthula Mzelemu (SABC Radio Archives)

Moshito 2011 was held at Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown

Blog post by Obakeng Phiri and Karen du Toit, photos by Obakeng Phiri and Nokuthula Mzelemu, interns in the SABC Radio Archives.

The Knowledge Café to address a PowerPoint aversion

Knowledge Cafe Prezi

We as the SABC Media Libraries had the good fortune to attend the 10^th Annual Information and Knowledge Management Conference hosted by the Department of Information and Knowledge Management of the University of Johannesburg in June.

There were a number of good presentations, and the whole conference was very successfully hosted at the FNB Conference Centre in Sandton.

The one paper that caught my eye was the presentation by Manti Grobler about the concept and hosting of a Knowledge Café at SAP South Africa. She calls it “Welcome to Café CRM where conversation is served”. I am one of the people that as soon as a PowerPoint goes up, it makes me wants to nod off… This usually happens as well!

But, it seems that there is a great Knowledge Management tool that will address this: The Knowledge Café!

A Knowledge Café is a way of engaging all the stakeholders in business to bring out tacit knowledge. It is a way of conversation where everybody gets involved in a less formal setting – the café – and where the discussion is orchestrated around a certain well-prepared topic. The idea is not to get to a decision, but to get to a learning environment where all the ideas and perspectives around a certain topic are brought to the fore!

Manti Grobler used Prezi as a presentation tool: http://prezi.com/2xiybjmsfrii/cafe-crm-johannesburg-13-april-2011/.

This is so much more exciting and visual than a PowerPoint presentation.

She also used Storify to compile the “story” of the day. The photos, tweets and notes were pulled into a storyline: http://storify.com/mantigrobler/cafecrm-13-april-2011

The Knowledge Café is a great way to use as a Knowledge Management tool. I played around with Prezi yesterday, trying to understand the concept of a Knowledge Café, as well as learning how to use Prezi as presentation tool! I used David Gurteen’s video on Knowledge Café which I found on YouTube as a starting point for understanding the concept. The video is also included in the presentation if anybody is interested to go and watch. 

Knowledge Café #KCafe Prezi

I can recommend Prezi for any presentation. You can also pull in your PowerPoint slides as well. No problem! (I’m a convert!)

What is better than sitting around a table with a cup of coffee and cake, and the discussion does not force a certain outcome? The conversation does not need to be “correct”; it only needs to be heard!

I love the idea of not being forced towards a certain outcome, but that the opinions of all the stakeholders are taken into account and everybody feels that their voice has been heard! I hope we will see more of this in the workplace than “death by PowerPoint!” (*hint*)

Blog post by Karen du Toit, Afrikaans Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives.