Collaborations are key for a sustainable Library sector, globally. This undergirds AfLIA’s partnership thrusts on the continent and all over the world. Thursday, 30th January 2020 witnessed another bold stride in this area as AfLIA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) – the UK library and information association which supports librarians, information and knowledge professionals in more than 20 industry sectors in the UK and worldwide. This new partnership is the first agreement between AfLIA and CILIP under the Working Internationally for Libraries programme, funded by the Arts Council England.
Under the terms of this new Partnership, AfLIA and CILIP will work together for the mutual benefit of their professional communities. This new partnership is expected to help establish a lasting bridge between our professional communities in the UK and across Africa and to provide a platform for knowledge exchange, sharing of best practices and promotion of research and learning in Library and Information Science.
The virtual signing ceremony simultaneously took place in London and Accra, Ghana with President Mandla Ntombela and Executive Director Dr. Helena Asamoah-Hassan representing AfLIA and the CILIP President Professor Judy Broady-Preston and Board of Trustees representing CILIP.
Commenting on the signing, AfLIA President Mandla Ntombla said, “AfLIA greatly values this partnership with CILIP, an older and great association, and looks forward to learning and benefiting from its experiences and activities to enable us serve our constituencies better”. Also speaking on the occasion of the signing, CILIP President Professor Judy Broady-Preston noted; “This partnership will create opportunities for both organizations to learn from each other, to support one another and to help face the future with confidence. At a time when nations are threatening to close their borders, it is more important than ever that we build bridges with librarians and information professionals globally.”