ANSWERING THE BIG QUESTION; WHAT IS LIASA DOING FOR ME ? BY LIBRARIAN OF YEAR 2013

It’s  so interesting that at last we question our existence as LIASA. I agree with all those who define us as LIASA and have to ask ourselves what it is we are doing as LIASA and not committee members. I am aware that sometimes we do not attend crucial meetings. LIASA is achieving a lot such as;

South Africa is hosting IFLA for the second time. Remember IFLA was established in 1923. We first hosted it in 2007. Some members have attended IFLA conferences for free in overseas countries.

-          We have LIASA conferences where we share ideas in terms of our services, products and address challenges as well as provide solutions to such challenges.

-          LIASA has managed to secure Carnegie grants used provincially to build libraries

-          Right now it is busy pushing that LIASA becomes a regulatory body where the move is to ensure that universities should offer 4 year degrees (still debates are going on about 3 year ones)

o   Make sure that libraries are run by qualified librarians

o   Pushing for a  code of conduct and if we have enough membership we will be able to be recognised as a professional body. Once a professional body we’ll have to be registered for one to work as librarians in the same way as doctors, teachers and nurses. No one will work without a degree in LIS if we remain members.

o   Young librarians and students are given  a chance to read conference and seminar papers. Who is benefitting?

o   Through LIASA we attend workshops at a very low cost and some workshops were fully sponsored by LIASA.

o   Curriculum has improved as academics meet regularly to address such challenges and they do invite senior managers “employers” to assist us in terms of required skills. Right now as a country we need systems  librarians, research librarians and archivists to mention a few. We have this information from attending LIASA meetings.

 

There are so many benefits and its best if we raise some issues when we have meetings. What we have to do is recruit more members and promote us as LIASA.

 

 

Best regards

Ntsala, Morongoenyane