INTRODUCTION

The Library and Information Association of Zambia is happy to present the Annual report for the period August 2015 to July 2016. Since the previous Annual General Conference in July, 2015 in Livingstone, LIAZ has conducted various activities.

LIAZ COMMITTEE MEMBERS

The following are the current office bearers in the committee. The country held elections in July, 2015 after the term ended. There were only two changes and the rest of the office bearers retained their positions for the second term.

PRESIDENT                     –        Velenasi Mwale Munsanje

VICE PRESIDENT             -        Fabian Kakana

SECRETARY GENERAL       -        Otilia Malasa

TREASURER                    -        Mutinta Mweemba Nabuyanda

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY -        Jabulani Moyo

PUBLICITY SECRETARY     -        Brian Chileshe

PROJECT’S OFFICER -        David Muzi

EDITOR                          -        Benson Njobvu

COMMITTEE MEMBERS      -        Robinson Bwato (ex- officio)

• Cacious Makalashi
• Charles Nonde

 ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP

The association has seen a steady rise in the past few years of fully paid up members. There has been an increase in members who participate in association activities and assignments.

The following shows the rise in full membership figures:

Year	Members
2013	52
2014	76
2015	110
2016	79

STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR LIAZ

In April 2015, the association held a three days Strategic Planning Meeting in Siavonga where a five-year Strategic Plan was done. The document was fully concluded in August, 2015 after the budget and timeline was added to the draft at the time. The plan was completed and is being used. This has really helped the association to have clear direction and follow activities according to plan.

During the planning, we revisited both our Vision and Mission. As LIAZ, this is what we are working with.

Our vision

A professional association promoting excellence and innovation in library and information services.

Mission

To be an association that will promote professional development and excellence in library and information services through advocacy, training, research and networking.

Strategic goals

1. Enhance Membership Portfolio of the Association

2. Improve Administrative and Management structures

3. Develop and Implement a Communications Strategy

4. Champion the Library and Information Services Act Process

5. Develop Capacity Building Strategies for Innovative library services

6. Improve financial base for LIAZ

BUILDING STRONG LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS (BSLA) PROGRAMME

LIAZ has, since 2014 been benefiting from the Building Strong Library Association Programme. A project proposal was done to IFLA and was successful. This resulted in LIAZ conducting two activities in 2015, the bringing together of library professionals to have input in the National Library Policy and Bill drafts and coming up with a five-year strategic plan for the association. Details are stated above.

LIBRARY LEGISLATION CAMPAIGN

This is one of the activities that the association has strongly worked on in the period under review. In February 2014, as reported at the last meeting, The Ministry of General Education, through which the bills are to be passed, had appointed a sixteen member committee comprising key librarians and other stakeholders to spearhead the finalization of both the National Library Policy document and the Library Bill in readiness for submission to Cabinet for consideration.

A lot of work has since been done with good progress. This committee was tasked through the office of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of General Education to:

• Review and revise the National Library Policy and the National Library Bill whose drafts were done in 1998
• Finalize and synchronize these two documents
• To facilitate the holding of a National Symposium to ensure all stakeholders had an input in these documents
• To finalize the documents in readiness for submission to Ministry of General Education

The committee held two meetings in 2014 and early 2015 to work on the two documents in preparation for the National Symposium. In April, 2015 the National Library Symposium was successfully held in Siavonga where 50 carefully selected delegates/stakeholders participated. This symposium was held with the support of the funding we got from Building Strong Library Association Project. Other funders were the Ministry of General Education and Library and Information Association of Zambia.

All the above five tasks were achieved and in August, 2015, the two documents were finalized by the committee tasked and submitted to Ministry of General Education. Since August, 2015, the documents have been reviewed by Planning Department of the Ministry of General Education as well as Ministry of Justice.  In the period under review, LIAZ in partnership with Zambia Library Service has worked closely in responding to queries and producing supporting documentation to the two draft documents. In April, 2016, the Ministry of General Education completed work on the draft documents and now awaits the submission of the proposed documents to Cabinet.

Both Library and Information Association of Zambia and Zambia Library Service has been actively involved in the communication that has been going on as the documents moved to various government departments.

COMMUNICATION

LIAZ has in the period under review been able to update the professional database to capture as many people as possible.

 Our postal address:

LIAZ Secretariat

C/O University of Zambia Library

P. O. Box 32379, Lusaka

We have the following media of communication:

1. Use of emails

 Please take note that our official email is liaz@zambia.co.zm

Our emailing database now has currently about 400 members. We have continued to updating our database each year. The following shows the increase in our email database.

Year	Members
2014	85
2015	298
2016	400

The constant updating of our database has helped us to ensure that many of our professionals have access to information about LIAZ and activities that affect them.

2. Facebook

Our Facebook account name: Library and Information Association of  Zambia

Currently, the use of Facebook in among our most reliable mode of communicating to our members. The number of members on our Facebook page has been increasing. Participation in discussions using this forum has also increased. The following table shows the statistics of members on our Facebook page:

Year	Members
2014	356
2015	683
2016	781

3. Twitter

Our twitter handle: Liazzambia. Please follow us! Use the Hashtag #LIAZambia

4. Contact Number

LIAZ official contact line is +260 965 024914

5. Website

In May, 2016, we started working on our LIAZ website which is now active and look forward to your comments on how best we can improve it. Our website is: www.libraryassocaitionofzambia.org

6. Bulk sms

LIAZ has also acquired the bulk short messaging system software which is currently on trial. This, we hope will help capture members who do not access Facebook and emails regularly.

CONFERENCES

Zambia has been fairing quite well in attending professional international conferences, though there is more that needs to be done especially in convincing government agencies to support their staff. Zambia has been represented at the AfLIA Summit, as well as IFLA and SCECSAL conferences.

IFLA Conference

In August 2015, we had a delegation of 12 members attended the IFLA conference in Cape Town, South Africa. LIAZ President delivered a report on projects that were being undertaken under the Building Strong Library Association Programme during IFLA’s Building strong Library Associations session.

Lubuto Library Partners President Jane Meyers also made a presentation on “Vital partnerships fueling the dynamic development of libraries for young people in Zambia”.

The Zambian delegates were privileged to be treated to an evening come together organized and funded by Lubuto Library Partners. LIAZ is very grateful to Lubuto Library Partners as this networking was a great experience for the Zambian delegates with their Lubuto Library Partners colleagues.

 SCECSAL

The XXII SCECSAL was held in April, 2016 in Swaziland. Zambia was represented by 9 delegates, with one delegate presenting a paper. LIAZ presented its two year report.

We were the defending champions for the Cultural Evening Award which we handed over to Lesotho in Swaziland.

AfLIA Public Librarians Summit

This was a post-SCECSAL conference that was held in May, 2016 in Swaziland and Zambia had two delegates in attendance. This was a 2-day 2^nd African Public Library summit. A lot of lessons were learnt on how public libraries can be transformed. Following this, LIAZ and Lubuto Library Partners is working on a possible partnership regarding the development of public libraries and public librarians.

ASSOCIATION WITH INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL BODIES

LIAZ is fully affiliated to International Federation of Library Institutions and Associations (IFLA) and the African Library and Information Association and Institutions (AfLIA)

IFLA

LIAZ leadership has been involved in the library advocacy planning meetings in the region that were being spearheaded by IFLA. Two meetings were held; in July, 2015 in Windhoek Namibia and in February, 2016 in Pretoria, South Africa. This has benefited the country as ideas and decisions made are readily taken down to the country level. In addition, the problems that Zambia faces in the development of libraries are incorporated in the planning documents for the region. This has also helped build capacity in the association leadership.

Or affiliation to IFLA has also made it possible to benefit from the Building Strong Library Association Programme.

In May, 2016 Zambia was yet again invited to participate in a Global Evaluation Meeting for the programme where two LIAZ members were invited. The purpose of the meeting was to support networking between associations and activities to support continued collaboration after participating in the BSLA programme, to raise awareness about trends and factors that will influence the role of associations and potential for the future advocacy and lastly, to review the programme and develop a future strategy and linkages with other IFLA programmes.

 AfLIA

We are benefitting from our affiliation with AfLIA as we are receiving guidance from a continental body that understands the development of libraries from an African perspective. AfLIA is running a 2-year program of emerging public library leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa. LIAZ is pleased to have one public librarian on the programme. The purpose of the programme is to sharpen public librarian’s leadership and innovative skills to enable them offer innovative services in their libraries. We are confident that upon completion, our member enrolled on the programme will be able to train other public librarians.

PARTNERSHIPS

Other than the partnerships LIAZ has with IFLA and AfLIA, we have also had the following partners;

Ministry of General Education. Zambia Library Service

LIAZ has collaborated very closely with MOGE through the Zambia Library Service in the preparation of the National Library and Information Service Policy and Bill documents.

LIAZ has also partnered with ZLS in the National Library Week awareness campaign.

ZLS has been instrumental in linking the association to national government activities involving the development of libraries in the country.

Priya Education Solution

Priya Education solution has given LIAZ support during the 2016 National Library Week where a donation of books was made. The books were used as some of the prizes to schools that took part in various activities such as debates, poems, reading competitions, etc. Priya Education Solution was also among the exhibitors at this the 2016 National Library Week celebrations.

The company has also supported LIAZ in the 2016 AGC with stationary.

National Council for Construction (NCC)

NCC supported LIAZ during the 2015 AGC with bags and stationary. This year, the council supported LIAZ financially during the National Library Week celebrations.

Grey Matter Publishers

Grey Matter Publishers supported LIAZ during the 2015 AGC with stationary and financial contribution

ZICTA

ZICTA supported LIAZ in 2015 by co-funding the publication of the 2015 newsletter.

Zambia Railways Limited

Zambia Railway Ltd supported LIAZ in 2015 by co-funding the publication of the newsletter.

Electoral Commission of Zambia

In 2016, facilitated the distribution of Referendum and Bill of rights materials in libraries across Zambia. This also included materials in Braille.

LIBRARY AWARENESS ACTIVITIES

The association has been observing the National Library Week to create awareness to the entire country about the importance and role of libraries and librarians. The association has been working closely in collaboration with the Zambia Library Service in ensuring that these activities are a success. The new practice of having the official commemoration in different provincial centres each year has enabled the association to have greater impact in the province that hosts the official event. We have also promoted having awareness programmes in the other selected provincial centres and in individual libraries.

LIAZ has been instrumental in organizing libraries to exhibit at the official venue. To encourage more partipation, in collaboration with Zambia Library Service, an award is given to best library institution during the exhibition.

LIAZ has also taken an advantage of this event to remind government about the need for speeding up the library legislation process.

In 2015, the National Library Week was commemorated in October and official launch was in Choma. The event attracted 11 exhibitors at the venue of the official launch. Celebrations also took place in other provincial centres and in some individual libraires.

In 2016, the National Library Week was commemorated from 20-24^th June at Mansa Provincial Library. We had an overwhelming response from 27 exhibitors that took part. The best exhibiting institution went to Zambia Revenue Authority for the second time in a row. Kwame Nkrumah University came out as the second best exhibiting institution. Hearty congratulations to the two institutions.

Radio programme

With the support of committed association members, we have been running a Radio 2 programme, “The Librarian” with Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation. This has helped us to market our profession and sensitize members of the public on important issues around literacy and reading. This has made a huge difference as the radio station covers the entire country.

As an association, we have from time to time being requested to appear on television and radio programmes and discussions during important events such as Literacy Week. In 2015 during the Literacy Week, LIAZ was invited to discuss the role of libraries in promoting literacy on ZNBC TV as well as ZNBC Radio. We thank our Copperbelt members who ably represented us all.

LIS students

LIAZ has continued to market the profession to LIS students and encourage early participation in association activities:

• The sponsoring of the best graduating student by LIAZ which commenced last year for the Diploma LIS student has continued with the second award to be presented during this Week’s Graduation Ceremony. In addition, this sponsorship has been extended to University of Zambia where LIAZ is started awarding the best graduating BA LIS student last year
• Sponsorship (full) of one student to attend the AGC. Rotates amongst the three institutions providing LIS training in Zambia.
• LIAZ has taken advantage of giving talks during graduation farewell functions at both Evelyn Hone College and UNZA.
• LIAZ has also been instrumental in giving motivational talks during educational tours conducted by Evelyn Hone College students

 PUBLICATIONS

The association has continued to promote research of professionals by publishing the annual LIAZ Journal. This has given library professionals in Zambia an opportunity to publish their research findings. We still have a challenge of members not submitting scholarly works for publication.

The LIAZ newsletter is published bi-annually. In 2015, we were privileged to have sponsors for all our newsletter publications. This was with the support of Zambia Information and Communication Training Authority and Zambia Railways Limited.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

LIAZ has among others participated and contributed to the following activities:

• Sharing and exchange of professional ideas with Zimbabwe Library Association (ZimLA) during their 2015 and 2016 Annual General Conferences. LIAZ President was invited in 2015 as the key note speaker during the ZimLA AGC. In 2016, LIAZ president presented a paper during the ZimLA pre-conference seminar on the impact of national school library policies on the provision of library services in developing countries.
• Providing professional advice to key partners such as Zambia Library Services, Lubuto Library Partners, etc.
• Provide professional guidance during the recruitment of library staff

OBITUARIES

In the year under review, LIAZ lost the following members:

Ms. Diana Kangwa

Mr. Mizzie Mkandawire

FUTURE CONFERENCES

• IFLA Columbus, August, 2016 www.ifla.org

• LIAZ AGC July, 2017

• AfLIA Summit Addis Ababa, Ethiopia May, 2017

• SCECSAL Uganda, April, 2018

CHALLENGES

The Library and Information Association of Zambia has amongst others faced several challenges including:

1. Inadequate funding of libraries hence affecting the participation of our members in both national and international events and conferences.

2. Few members willing to share or present papers during our Annual General Conferences.

3. Few members willing to submit articles for our newsletter despite funding being readily available for the publication.

4. The frequent changes in government senior officials and change of government structures slow down various processes such as the enactment of the library bill.