Understanding innovation and policy transfer: implications for libraries and information services in Africa

Library development in Africa has involved large-scale processes of innovation and policy transfer, also referred to as policy borrowing or policy learning. A good deal of theory has been developed in various disciplines to study these processes. This has not been applied in library and information services (LIS) to any significant extent, but it can help us to gain a better understanding of why attempts to transfer new ideas fail, how to select the ideas we want to transfer, and how to improve the chances of successful innovation and policy transfer. This paper places policy transfer within the broader framework of the diffusion of innovations before considering what we can learn from the theory of policy transfer and related processes, with emphasis on theory developed in comparative education. An attempt is made to apply these insights to library development in Africa and draw some lessons for African library decision makers. Some of the examples are drawn from the author’s experience in the South African library profession.published or submitted for publicationOpe

What were librarians doing while Otlet was inventing documentation? The modernization and professionalization of librarianship during the Belle Époque

In the historiography of librarianship and information work, the development of librarianship during the Belle Époque (1871-1914) has been somewhat overshadowed by the heroic and ultimately unsuccessful projects of Otlet, the Royal Society, and others to bring about bibliographic control of the world’s scholarly literature. In this article, an attempt is made to determine the issues which preoccupied an emerging Anglo-American library profession during this period. It is based on evidence provided by a selection of British and American documents and events from the 1850s onwards which were influential at that time, including Britain’s Public Libraries Act of 1850; the first world’s fairs in the early 1850s; Edward Edward’s Free town libraries of 1869; the formative events surrounding the 1876 United States Centennial Exposition; Melvil Dewey’s School of Library Economy (established 1887); and James Duff Brown’s Manual of library economy of 1903. Librarians’ concerns at the turn of the twentieth century are discussed in relation to societal trends affecting the modernization and professionalization of librarianship

Scholarly publishing and peer review in the Global South : the role of the reviewer

Peer review is an integral part of contemporary scholarly publishing, especially journal publishing. Work submitted by scholars from all parts of the world is subjected to it. This includes submissions by scholars from the Global South, who wish to publish in “international” journals or in local journals which follow the same model. These authors may not be na-tive English speakers and may be unfamiliar with the conventions of Western scholarship. Many of them conduct research and write their manuscripts under challenging circumstances. They may find it difficult to comply with the requirements of the journals to which they submit their articles. Their manuscripts quite often pose challenges to the peer reviewers. The purpose of this article is to provide some background on scholarly publishing in the Global South and the challenges those colleagues face, and to outline what this may mean for the role of the reviewer.https://www.jlis.itInformation Scienc

Risks and benefits of visibility: Librarians navigating social and political turbulence

The deliberate burning of libraries is nothing new, but it seems surprising that such incidents have also occurred in peacetime in democracies. What does this say about community perceptions of libraries and the response of the library profession? Mostly, libraries are not very newsworthy. In some countries they are largely invisible; in others they may only attract public attention when they are threatened by cutbacks or closures or when things go badly wrong. The visibility and invisibility of libraries in the political arena confer risks, as well as benefits. As a framework for an exploration of this topic, libraries in various countries are conceptualized as being located in the political space on a continuum, from invisible to highly visible, on which the risks of visibility and invisibility can be situated. Some observations, with particular reference to library development in South Africa, follow on how librarians see themselves and their institutions in relation to the communities and societies they serve. This paper concludes that the risks of invisibility outweigh those of visibility, but that the political awareness, engagement, and commitment of the library profession are critical

Librarians and peace

Libraries need peace. They originated in settled, peaceful societies; when peace is broken, libraries are threatened. In recent years we have unfortunately seen this demonstrated all too often. Librarians have long been associated with peace movements and organisations devoted to making peace. The question arises: can librarians contribute to preserving and making peace?http://www.cilip.org.uk/international-library-and-information-group/focus-ilig-journal/focus-international-library-and-0am2017Information Scienc

Librarianship and bibliography in the international arena : the Subcommittee for Bibliography of the International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation, 1922-1930

In 1922, the International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation was established to serve as an advisory organ of the League of Nations in respect of science, arts and education. It took an interest in promoting international bibliographic projects and library cooperation. This article focuses on the International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation’s Subcommittee for Science and Bibliography, established in 1923, and situates it in the context of the League’s evolving and complex administrative and communication infrastructure for intellectual cooperation, to which the International Institute of Intellectual Cooperation was added in 1926. A general overview is given of the Subcommittee’s membership, its relationship with the International Institute of Bibliography of Paul Otlet and Henri Lafontaine, and its activities as reflected in its agendas, minutes and reports. Its membership comprised eminent scientists and scholars, with directors of some major libraries serving as associate members, some of whom later played leading roles in IFLA.https://journals.sagepub.com/home/IFLhj2024Information ScienceNon

Burning libraries for the people : questions and challenges for the library profession in South Africa

Since 2005 at least fifteen community and public libraries have been deliberately set alight in South African townships and informal settlements, reportedly by individuals or groups from the communities which these libraries were intended to serve. This has given rise to dismay, horror and outrage among librarians. This article seeks to situate the deliberate destruction of libraries in a broader international context before focusing on the South African context of what are commonly called “service delivery protests.” An overview is given of some recent scholarly analyses of violent protests in South African communities in an attempt to answer four questions: (1) what were the circumstances in which libraries were set alight? (2) who did this? (3) were libraries deliberately targeted or were they simply collateral damage? and (4) if libraries were deliberately targeted, what motivated this? A fifth question concerns how the South African library profession responded to these incidents. Using the burning of the Ratanda Library on 20 March 2012 as a case study, the article explores the response of the South African library profession to the incident. In an analysis of the content of contributions posted on the discussion list and website of the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA), four main groups of themes are identified. These concern expressions of revulsion, the impact of the incident, professional action, and underlying societal issues. The article concludes with some observations on the responses of the South African library community.http://www.reference-global.com/loi/libram201

Revitalizing comparative library and information science : theory and metatheory

PURPOSE – This article is intended to stimulate theoretical reflection in international comparative studies in library and information science (comparative LIS). DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH – The need for theory is emphasized and shortcomings in comparative LIS in respect of theory are identified. On the basis of literature from other comparative disciplines, a framework for examining issues of metatheory, methodology and methods is constructed. Against this background the role of theory and metatheory in the literature of comparative LIS is evaluated. General observations are illustrated using examples selected from comparative studies in LIS. FINDINGS – Much of the literature of comparative LIS is a theoretical and based on assumptions that reflect naive empiricism. Most comparativists in LIS fail to link their work to that of colleagues, so that no body of theory is built up. Insufficient use is made of theory from other social science disciplines. There is a little evidence of awareness of metatheoretical assumptions in the sociological, teleological, ontological, epistemological and ethical dimensions. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS – While general observations are presented about the literature of comparative LIS, this is not a bibliometric study. Issues of methodology and method are not dealt with. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS – Recommendations are made for improving teaching and research in comparative LIS. Concepts presented here are of value to the wider LIS community, particularly in internationally oriented research and practice. ORIGINALITY/VALUE – Since the 1980s there has been very little conceptual and methodological reflection on comparative LIS. This article alerts the LIS profession to new thinking in other comparative disciplines.http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=0022-0418hb201

Preserving, developing and promoting indigenous languages : things South African librarians can do

Many of the world's approximately 7000 languages face extinction. While librarians are concerned with how they can serve users speaking indigenous languages and seek materials in indigenous languages as means or tools for reaching out and ensuring the relevance of their services to communities, linguists and language policy experts are concerned with issues of language preservation and development. Their emphasis is on the languages, which are also of interest to scholars and professionals in a variety of other fields. This article asks how libraries can contribute to the preservation, development and promotion of indigenous languages. On the basis of literature from various fields an attempt is made to construct a holistic conceptual framework for reflection by LIS professionals. Some examples from South African projects are given to illustrate the possible roles of LIS in the preservation, development and promotion of indigenous languages.This is a revised version of a keynote paper presented at the Satellite Conference of the IFLA Section of University and Research Libraries and the IFLA Section for Latin America and the Caribbean on the theme “Cooperation among multiple types of libraries and affiliated information services of archives and museums toward meeting common goals of sharing”, Guatemala City, Guatemala, 10-11 August 2011.http://www.innovation.ukzn.ac.za/innovationbase.htmam201

The IFLA-UNESCO partnership 1947-2012

In 1947 IFLA signed a cooperation agreement with the newly created UNESCO. This article reviews the evolution of the relationship between IFLA and UNESCO since 1947, and evaluates what this relationship has contributed to the international library and information community. The review falls into three periods: (1) from 1947 to 1977, when IFLA worked closely with UNESCO’s Libraries Division (later the Department of Documentation, Libraries and Archives); (2) from 1977, when the General Information Programme was founded, to 2000, when this Programme was merged with the Intergovernmental Informatics Programme (IIP); and (3) from 2001 to the present time, with particular reference to the UNESCO Information for All Programme (IFAP). As UNESCO gradually shifted its attention away from libraries to documentation and later information society issues, UNESCO’s importance to IFLA as a source of support declined, but possibilities remain for fruitful, mutually beneficial relationships between them.http://ifl.sagepub.com