SALW 2024
A word of appreciation to all the SALW 2024 partners and sponsors – click on their logos to visit their websites:
Partners:
Sponsors:
Send us your SALW photos to be added to the SALW 2024 album. View the photos from the national launch, held on Friday 17 March 2024 at Sunrise View Primary and Secondary Schools here.
The SALW 2024 promotional material can be obtained from the LIASA National Office. You can also download the poster if you plan to print your own copies. Download it here …
Play this video to promote libraries and reading – My Library, Your Library
What are you doing to promote South African Library Week and your library? Send us your programme for the week and we will share it with the rest of South Africa. Read more here …
The Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) is celebrating South African Library Week from 18-26 March 2024 with the theme “My Library, Your Library“ and sub-themes: “My Library, My Home”, “Mind your Library” and “Tell me about your Library”.
The National Launch will be held at the Sunrise View Primary & Secondary Schools, Bojanala, Retladirela, 14133 Molapo Drive, Rustenburg, North West Province, on the 17th (Friday) of March 2024.
The theme “My Library, Your library” takes libraries into the heart of the community and strives to awaken a sense of ownership in each community member. Although not recognized as such, a library nourishes and sustains its community so this theme encourages and motivates members of our society to reflect on the role and value of libraries in their lives. The theme encourages people to take libraries to heart and to treat these as their homes so that destroying libraries and burning books becomes unthinkable.
LIASA remains aligned with the South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 that will shape communities through among others skill development in a focused attempt to reduce unemployment especially amongst the youth. Expansion of the job market with knowledgeable workers and through entrepreneurship – driven by innovation, the creation of new products from the application of knowledge – will underpin a booming economy and contribute to present day economic freedom.
While the NDP/Vision 2030 sees education as a road to national economic prosperity, the current outlook is gloomy. A report released in November 2024 placed South African grade 7 science and mathematics competencies at the bottom of global rankings of 57 countries. Libraries have positioned themselves in this space between aspiration and delivery providing support for education. It needs the community to recognize this key advantage and to take up further the opportunities this brings.
Further to education, health and economic upliftment are elements contributing to the ultimate goals of eliminating poverty. Alongside this, the social justice imperatives compel vigilance to ensure quality on all these fronts for all citizens of this country. By providing access to information, libraries support communities in their exploring and challenging of barriers, values, and behaviours as these relate to social inclusion. Furthermore, libraries engage communities on matters of social importance.
My Library, Your Library is a reminder to all library users that the library is a communal space that caters to specific needs whether these are educational, social, recreational or informative.
The sub-themes: “My Library, My Home”, “Mind your Library” and “Tell me about your Library” encourage the conversation from the community’s perspective on the importance they attach to libraries. It is intended that this dialogue will not only amplify the recognition of the place of libraries in communities but also that communities will make input to the ideal present day library thereby, making it an indispensable part of their everyday lives.
In 2024, the Library Association celebrates its 20th anniversary and given its mission encompasses the development of South Africa through access to information, it is fitting that the South African public is invited to partner with LIASA to make ‘My Library, Your Library’
ABOUT LIASA
LIASA is the national professional association that represents libraries and information institutions; all library and information workers; and millions of users & potential users of libraries in South Africa. LIASA aims to unite, develop and empower all people in the library and information field. It represents the interests of and promotes the development and image of library and information services in South Africa. More information can be found at: http://www.liasa.org.za/
For further information, please contact:
Ms Senovia Welman LIASA National PRO: 078 132 5965 senovia@ufs.ac.za
Mr Mandla Ntombela LIASA President: 083 478 4626 president@liasa.org.za
Download the print friendly version here.