South African Library Week
Encyclopedia
The national celebration of South Africa Library Week (SALW) is one of the key milestones of Library and Information Association of South Africa(LIASA)http://www.liasa.org.za. As part of its mission to unite a previously divided Library Profession in South Africa as a result of the Apartheid policies of the country, LIASA spearheaded a campaign to create a national Library week in 2003.
LIASA
initiated a drive to have South African Library Week recognized by government as a commemorative period on par with Water Week etc. when all types of libraries across the country use it as an opportunity to market their services to their users, the broader community, civil society and decision makers. It is hoped that these efforts would contribute to the understanding of the important role that libraries play in a democratic society, advancing literacy, making the basic human right of freedom of access to information a reality, and inculcating tolerance and respect among all South Africans. During this period LIASA aims to make all South Africans aware that libraries contribute to nation building and improve the quality of life of all who use them.
The customary celebration of library week exists in many countries. Such a tradition had been celebrated for some years in South Africa
, mainly in the public library sector and spearheaded by the various Provincial Library Services.
The South Africa Ministry of Arts and Culture http://www.dac.gov.za/ named the week South African Library Week, abbreviated to SALW in 2001. This week is to be celebrated during the week of the 20th of March.
This is a significant date in South African Library history and a significant week for democracy n South Africa.
On the 20th of March 1818, the South African Public Library was established by government proclamation. This Library is now known as the National Library of South Africa
(Cape Town) http://www.nlsa.ac.za/NLSA/.
The date establishes a firm link between libraries and democracy as South Africa celebrates Human Rights Day on 21 March. The South African Constitution established access to information as a basic human right.
The celebration of SALW aims to;
creating an understanding of the importance of libraries and the vital role libraries play in a democratic society.
This proposal was strongly supported by the Department of Arts, Culture Science and Technology, who further proposed that the Week be renamed South African Library Week.
.
The announcements of the dates and slogan for the Week were widely publicised in 2001. Letters were sent to the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, the national Department of Education as well as the MEC's of the nine provinces responsible for libraries. All warmly welcomed the initiative.
SALW 2002 was launched in Etwatwa (Daveyton) and each branch organized an event in their region. Institutions across the country also staged activities to celebrate the Week.
It is the Association's dream that South African Library Week will become a celebration of the country's intellectual and cultural heritage.
South African Library Week 2003 http://www.liasa.org.za/activities/natlibweek2003.php was celebrated during 17–22 March 2003 with the theme '***Your Right to Read" and launched in Kuruman, Northern Cape, in the Northern Cape
Province of South Africa.
LIASA has since taken the responsibility to have posters designed and distributed to all its branches for further distribution to all types of libraries in their regions in order to popularize the dates and theme.
LIASA
LIASA
-Introduction:The Library and Information Association of South Africa is a professional non-profit organization uniting and representing all institutions and people working in libraries and information services in South Africa...
initiated a drive to have South African Library Week recognized by government as a commemorative period on par with Water Week etc. when all types of libraries across the country use it as an opportunity to market their services to their users, the broader community, civil society and decision makers. It is hoped that these efforts would contribute to the understanding of the important role that libraries play in a democratic society, advancing literacy, making the basic human right of freedom of access to information a reality, and inculcating tolerance and respect among all South Africans. During this period LIASA aims to make all South Africans aware that libraries contribute to nation building and improve the quality of life of all who use them.
The customary celebration of library week exists in many countries. Such a tradition had been celebrated for some years in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, mainly in the public library sector and spearheaded by the various Provincial Library Services.
History
It had been customary to celebrate this during the last two weeks of May. However, it is LIASA's vision to celebrate a truly inclusive Library Week across the entire country, one that will embrace all types of libraries and all kinds of users and potential users. To achieve this, LIASA spearheads all campaigns in its branches in all nine provinces and decide on the annual theme and slogan for the week.The South Africa Ministry of Arts and Culture http://www.dac.gov.za/ named the week South African Library Week, abbreviated to SALW in 2001. This week is to be celebrated during the week of the 20th of March.
This is a significant date in South African Library history and a significant week for democracy n South Africa.
On the 20th of March 1818, the South African Public Library was established by government proclamation. This Library is now known as the National Library of South Africa
National Library of South Africa
The National Library of South Africa is the agency of the government of South Africa which maintains a national library of all published materials relating to the country.-Creation under the National Library Act:...
(Cape Town) http://www.nlsa.ac.za/NLSA/.
The date establishes a firm link between libraries and democracy as South Africa celebrates Human Rights Day on 21 March. The South African Constitution established access to information as a basic human right.
The celebration of SALW aims to;
creating an understanding of the importance of libraries and the vital role libraries play in a democratic society.
This proposal was strongly supported by the Department of Arts, Culture Science and Technology, who further proposed that the Week be renamed South African Library Week.
The First SALW
Although LIASA celebrates SALW as early as 2000 http://www.liasa.org.za/activities/natlibweek2000.php, during 18 to 23 March 2002 LIASA organized the first very successful SALW that was celebrated in all types of libraries nationwide with the slogan ""Free your mind-Read!"http://www.liasa.org.za/activities/natlibweek2002.php as supported and renamed by a democratic South African governmentGovernment
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
.
The announcements of the dates and slogan for the Week were widely publicised in 2001. Letters were sent to the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, the national Department of Education as well as the MEC's of the nine provinces responsible for libraries. All warmly welcomed the initiative.
SALW 2002 was launched in Etwatwa (Daveyton) and each branch organized an event in their region. Institutions across the country also staged activities to celebrate the Week.
It is the Association's dream that South African Library Week will become a celebration of the country's intellectual and cultural heritage.
South African Library Week 2003 http://www.liasa.org.za/activities/natlibweek2003.php was celebrated during 17–22 March 2003 with the theme '***Your Right to Read" and launched in Kuruman, Northern Cape, in the Northern Cape
Northern Cape
The Northern Cape is the largest and most sparsely populated province of South Africa. It was created in 1994 when the Cape Province was split up. Its capital is Kimberley. It includes the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, part of an international park shared with Botswana...
Province of South Africa.
LIASA has since taken the responsibility to have posters designed and distributed to all its branches for further distribution to all types of libraries in their regions in order to popularize the dates and theme.
External links
- LIASA Official site http://www.liasa.org.za/
- National Library of South Africa http://www.nlsa.ac.za/NLSA/
- South African Department of Arts and Culture http://www.dac.gov.za/dac.gov.za
- LIASALIASA-Introduction:The Library and Information Association of South Africa is a professional non-profit organization uniting and representing all institutions and people working in libraries and information services in South Africa...