Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Preliminary programme for XXIII SCECSAL conference is out

The Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA), host for the forthcoming XXIII SCECSAL conference, has published the preliminary programme for the conference.

The 2018 conference, to be held from 23 to 27 April, in Entebbe, Uganda, will be a mixture of paper presentations in plenary and parallel sessions, workshops, expert panel discussions and excursions.

ULIA has scheduled keynote addresses and they include an address by Mr. Augustine Omare-Okurut on Positioning LIS to Achieve SDGs; Dr. Shana Ponelis who will speak on Broadening Innovations in LIS Education; and Dr. Cornelius Gulere on Whose access? Whose tools? Whose information? Creative LIS Partnerships to achieve SDGs.

Several sessions on different themes are also planned during the five-day event including on SDGs and Libraries and Information Services in the SCECSAL Region; Open Science, Open Data and LIS and SDGs; ICTs and Library and Information Services; Effective Records Management to Fight Corruption, and Library and Information Services to Improve Health Care, among others.

Three Expert Panel discussions are included on the programme and will focus on the following topics:
  • Is there a gap between LIS education and practice in the SCECSAL region? 
  • Contributions to SDGs in the SCECSAL region: are LIS institutions and professionals on the right track? 
  • Marakesh Treaty and its impact on access to information by persons with disabilities
Departing away from the normal practice of holding SCECSAL Council Business Meetings on the last day of the conference, the 2018 Council meeting will be a pre-conference event on 22 April, an arrangement that will ensure that the Council has enough time to discuss all the agenda items.

Wednesday, 25 April is reserved for excursions during the day and a Cultural Event in evening at which the SCECSAL Author of the Year and SCECSAL Excellence Awards be given.

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

CALL FOR PRE-CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION: SCANUL-ECS 2018

THE TWELVETH STANDING CONFERENCE OF AFRICAN NATIONAL AND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIANS IN EASTERN, CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN AFRICA (SCANUL-ECS 2018)

THEME: Positioning National and University Libraries to Achieve the Sustainable 
Development Goals (SDGS)


VENUE:        Imperial Resort Beach Hotel 
              Entebbe, Uganda
 Date:             Sunday 22nd April, 2018

      
The SCANUL-ECS 2018 National Task Force has the pleasure of inviting National and University Library Directors and other information professionals in Africa and beyond to the 12th Standing Conference of African National and University Librarians in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (SCANUL-ECS) to be hosted by National Library of Uganda (NLU) and the Consortium of Uganda University Libraries (CUUL) in Entebbe, Uganda on 22nd April, 2018. It is the biggest conference for National and University Librarians on the continent and its purpose is to provide a platform for learning and sharing experiences on LIS developments in the region. Currently the conference has members from the following countries:  Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Congo Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. During the one day Pre-Conference, we shall receive presentations by delegates from across the region. 

SCANUL-ECS Regional Grouping

SCANUL-ECS has its origins in the Standing Conference of African University Librarians in the East African region (SCAULEA), which was founded in the mid 1960s.  This was a body whose aim was to ensure even library development in the then three constituent university colleges (Makerere, Nairobi and Dar- es Salaam) of the University of East Africa.  It ceased to exist in 1977 with the disbandment of the regional economic grouping, the East African Community.  In 1984, at a seminar in Botswana, the University Librarians in the region agreed to revive and expand SCAULEA and also to include national libraries.  A draft constitution was made and the first SCANUL-ECS was held in 1994 in Malawi as the first pre-conference to the Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Librarians (SCECSAL)

Aims of the Conference

The SCANUL-ECS biennial conferences aims at bringing together National and University Library Directors to share views and experiences and discuss ways of cooperating.  The theme of the 12th   SCANUL-ECS is “Positioning National and University Libraries to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS)”.  This theme was chosen out of the recognition that libraries are a hub to development at all levels (individual, national, regional and international) through provision of timely and adequate information. 

Conference Organizers

The Pre- conference is co-hosted by The National Library of Uganda (NLU) and The Consortium of Uganda University Libraries (CUUL). The hosts are working in close partnership with the organizers of the Twenty-Third Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL XXIII). The National Organizing Committee is made up of 2 members from NLU (Mr. Adonia Katungisa and Mrs. Stella Neekusa), 7 members from the CUUL: Mr. Eric Nelson Haumba, Ms. Judith Nannozi, Ms Monica Ntege, Ms. Jackline Kiwelu, Professor Hellen Byamugisha, Ms. Jessica Kalungi and Mrs. Harriet Ntege) as well as Ms Gertrude Kayaga Mulindwa (former Director of the National Library of Uganda) and Mr. Justin Kiyimba from Nambi Ssepuya Community Library. 

Important Information:

Conference venue
The conference will be held at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel, Entebbe 

Conference Activities
During the one day pre-conference, we shall have presentations and discussions by delegates from across the region followed by the General Assembly.  Delegates who require detailed information or letters of Invitation for this pre-conference should contact: 

Mr. Adonia Katungisa Chairperson National Task Force:      akatungisa@yahoo.com
Mr. Eric Nelson Haumba, Secretary Organizing Committee.   haumban@gmail.com

Conference Registration Fees:
Delegates:               =    USD 50
Annual Subscription for Members/Institutions: = USD 100

NOTE: These fees are totally separate from  the main SCECSAL 2018 Conference fees.  

Getting to Uganda

By Road
One can travel to Uganda by road through the boarder with Kenya to the East, Tanzania to the South and Rwanda to the South West.


By Air
Uganda’s International Airport is located at Entebbe, on the shores of L. Victoria, 39km from Kampala and ten minutes’ drive away from the conference venue.  Several international air carriers operate regular flights to and from Entebbe.  Most hotels offer courtesy transport to and from the airport.

Immigration facilities

Visas and Passes
Any person intending to enter into Uganda should do so only for lawful purposes and in accordance with national immigration laws, guidelines and formalities.
All nationalities that require visa must obtain Uganda visas to facilitate their entry into the country. Uganda visas may be obtained at Uganda missions abroad or on arrival at the ports of entry in the country. 

For immigration on Visa & corresponding fees: https://www.immigration.go.ug/content/visas-and-passes.

Health Information
Uganda is generally a health country but there are incidences of Malaria and it would be wise to take anti-malarial tablets before travel, for those coming from Malaria-free areas.  Sleeping under a mosquito net is also advised and most hotels provide nets. Visitors to Uganda are required to have been vaccinated against yellow fever, so carry a valid yellow fever vaccination card.


The 12th SCANUL-ECS 2018 Organizing Committee is grateful for the support given by the following towards the organization of the pre- conference:
Consortium of Uganda University Libraries (CUUL)
National Library of Uganda
Busitema University
Uganda Christian University (UCU), Mukono

We look forward to seeing in Entebbe, Uganda in April 






Monday, February 5, 2018

SCECSAL Online Forum on Dgroups opens to LIS professionals in the region

The SCECSAL Online Forum on Dgroups.org is now open to all library and information service (LIS) professionals in the SCECSAL region and those interested in joining the community should complete an application form on the Forum’s page and provide all the details requested on the form.

Applications with missing information will be rejected.

The Forum was set up in October 2013 with the aim to enhance sharing of information about good practices, current trends, and developments within the library and information profession in the SCECSAL region.

However, the forum has been serving as a platform of the SCECSAL General Council members to discuss SCECSAL business in between the SCECSAL biennial conferences.

The platform will now be used for online discussions on issues affecting the LIS profession in the SCECSAL region; dissemination of information on SCECSAL events such as conferences, seminars, webinars and meetings; communication of the SCECSAL General Council’s decisions; and sharing good practices from the region.

Membership is only open to LIS professionals from SCECSAL countries. 

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Early Bird Registration Deadline Extended

The SCECSAL 2018 National Organising Committee (NOC) is pleased to inform all the prospective delegates, participants, paper presenters, Exhibitors and the entire LIS fraternity across the region and globally that the deadline for early bird registration has been extended to Wednesday 14th February 2018. Take advantage of the deadline extension to register and pay 360 US Dollars.

To register for the conference, visit http://www.ulia.org.ug/ and select the “Register Online” option in the SCECSAL@40 flashing simulation. 

Delegates, Paper Presenters and Exhibitors who require SCECSAL invoices to process funding at their respective Institutions are kindly advised to contact SCECSAL 2018 Treasurer Miss Sarah Kagoda-Butuwa at: sarahkago@yahoo.com. Delegates who require Invitation letters and Paper Presenters who may wish to get Acceptance Letters from the conference organisers can contact Dr Sarah Kaddu at: sarkaddu@yahoo.com, and copy cbatambuze@gmail.com, haumban@gmail.com. Those interested in accommodation information should contact Mr. Jospert Chelangat at: jochelangat@gmail.com.

Poster Presenters who haven’t submitted their posters are required to do so immediately to the Chairperson Programs and Presentations Sub-Committee  Ms Gertrude Kayaga Mulindwa at  kayaga@hotmail.com and copy to haumban@gmail.comburosta@gmail.com

Early Bird Registration (Deadline 14th February, 2018) = USD 360

Late Registration (by 31 st March 2018) = USD 400
Onsite Registration (from 24 th April 2018) = USD 430
Rental fees for Exhibition stalls (2 x 2 metres) = USD 200

On behalf of ULIA and SCECSAL 2018 NOC, we wish you fruitful preparations and we look forward to seeing you in Entebbe for SCECSAL come April 2018.