1. BACKGROUND
Open access to information and knowledge is vital to any open society. Libraries can and should be a starting point for access to information for all its citizens. After years of apartheid and isolation, it is now even more critical in South Africa where the role of libraries and librarianship is being redefined. In February 2000, Marianna Tax Choldin (Director of the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs at the University of Illinois) and Susan Schnuer (Assistant Director of the Mortenson Center) travelled to South Africa on a fact-finding trip to look at the possibility of a professional development project for librarians in the country. Prof. Heather Edwards (then chairperson of the Gauteng and Environs Library Consortium, GAELIC) served as the Mellon Foundation contact person and helped to organise visits to 16 libraries in Gauteng and Free State.
Discussions of services, especially in rural and historically disadvantaged areas, highlighted two critical needs i.e.
1) Leadership training - the development of a cadre of new potential leaders and middle managers; and well trained library managers
2) Continuing education for librarians at all types of libraries: academic, national, public and school.
It was agreed that programmes to meet these needs would be located within LIASA, the Library and Information Association of South Africa, a professional association that is able to serve the needs of librarians in the country, in partnership with the Mortenson Center.
In December 2000, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation approved a grant of $250000 to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for use over three years in support of a training programme for South African librarians now known as the South African Library Leadership Project.
GAELIC, the Gauteng and Environs Library Consortium, came into being in 1996 in response to factors present in the higher education sector in South Africa, the call by the Government for tertiary institutions to co-operate and become more cost-effective, and the severe budgetary constraints being experienced by the libraries. Encouragement and financial support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation provided the impetus needed, and in five years GAELIC has grown into the largest academic library consortium in South Africa with sixteen members. GAELIC has played a leading role in national cooperation amongst library consortia, is committed to collaboration beyond the limitations of regions, and to working together with other bodies for the betterment of the profession in South Africa and the development of its potential leaders. Hence, GAELIC was able to steer the initial discussions for the SALLP and together with LIASA is committed to its implementation.
LIASA, a professional non-profit organization established in 1997, aims to unite and represent all the institutions and persons engaged in library and information services in South Africa. www.liasa.org.za The Association has a total of 10 branches (one in each province and two in Gauteng), various specialist interest groups such as Higher Education Libraries Interest Group, Public and Community Libraries Interest Group, Research, Education and Training Interest Group, etc. and a number of standing committees. LIASA is ideally positioned to manage the SALLP and to develop the continuing education entity as part of its function as it is inclusive of all types of libraries, represents all regions, is able to reach librarians in all parts of South Africa, and has contacts worldwide.
The Mortenson Center for International Library Programs at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign was established in 1991 as a centre for continuing education for librarians and information specialists from all over the world. It seeks to strengthen ties among libraries and librarians worldwide for the promotion of peace, education, and understanding. To date, more than 500 librarians from 75 countries have participated in Mortenson Center Programmes. www.uiuc.edu/mortenson The Center functions both as a partnership program and a continuing education program, intertwining activities and visits designed to meet the unique needs of a region or country. The Center has the expertise to assist its partners in developing individualised plans to meet their needs, in locating financial resources and developing proposals for funding.
LIASA and the Mortenson Center have a formal contractual partnership, and together are committed to implement this leadership programme to meet the needs of talented and highly motivated librarians in South Africa.
3. PROGRAMME GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The primary and distinct goal of the Programme is to develop leadership qualities in current and uture managers of academic, public/community, and national library services.
The objectives of the Programme are: -
§ To develop leadership qualities
§ To refine communication and advocacy skills
§ To highlight current best practices and future trends in the management of library services
§ To learn about change management and organizational structures
In addition, Participants will develop their IT skills as a tool in the LIS field. Their training and presentation skills will also be enhanced.
4. PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION AND ADMINISTRATION:
A total of eighteen library professionals will be selected for this Programme, nine in each round. The first round is focusing on managers who have demonstrated their vision for the future of the profession in South Africa and are actively working in innovative ways to improve library services in the country. The second round will encourage applications from professionals who are not yet senior managers but are poised to move into these positions.
The Programme is for a two-year period, as follows:
Phase 1 (under the guidance of LIASA):
§ Orientation and training in South Africa
§ Pre-departure project
Phase 2 (under the guidance of the Mortenson Center and LIASA):
Phase 3 (under the guidance of LIASA and beginning immediately upon return):
§ Participate in LIASA annual conference
§ Deliver a series of workshops in South Africa
§ Submit an article to a professional journal
§ Participate in a LIASA committee activity
Participants in the SALLP:
§ must be a citizen of South Africa or a permanent resident
§ must be employed in an academic, community/ public or national library service within the range of levels from branch or section head up to and excluding senior management
§ must be an academically qualified professional library and information worker i.e. hold a tertiary qualification in LIS
§ while there is no strict age limit, strong preference will be given to applicants between the ages of 25 and 45
§ must be articulate and able to communicate well in both the spoken and written media, with a fluent command of English
§ must be a member of LIASA for the last two years
§ must return to South Africa after completing the 6-week Programme in the United States and be committed to work for two years in South Africa
§ must explicitly comply with all the requirements of the SALLP from the initial selection to the completion of the two-year Programme period
§ must be able to meet the requirements for a U.S. visa
SELECTION
CRITERIA AND PROCESS
Participants in the SALLP will be selected through an open, merit-based
process. All applications submitted to the Selection Committee will
be treated with the strictest confidence.
All
applicants will be evaluated on the following criteria:
The Governing Committee has commissioned a Selection Committee, which will interview a short list of candidates who will take part in the Second Phase in Pretoria. The deadlines for the selection process are as follows:
Friday, October 18, 2002: completed applications due in the SALLP office
(If you have not heard from the SALLP Project Co-ordinator by December 17, please accept that your application has been unsuccessful)
(The SALLP Project Co-ordinator will make travel arrangements)
For
further information please contact:
Ms. U. Satgoor
SALLP Project Co-ordinator
LIASA National Office
PO Box 1598
Pretoria 0001
