Bi-Centenary Conference on Preservation of Knowledge and Documentary Heritage
16 FEBRUARY, 2024
The National University of Lesotho Library and the Endangered Archives Programme Africa Hub in collaboration with the University of the Free State Library, the Moshoeshoe Leadership Institute and the British Library invites you to a conference on the role of knowledge preservation in telling the stories of nations.
About the Conference
The bicentennial celebrations of the Kingdom of Lesotho provide an opportunity for libraries, archives, historians, and cultural activists to reflect on their role in the preservation of the national documentary heritage. The key question being, What documentary heritage will we leave for the next generation? Information and knowledge are essential components of a nation’s culture. This conference brings together libraries, archives, historians, and museum curators from beyond the nation to reflect on their role and responsibility in the preservation of knowledge and documentary heritage. The conference will also celebrate success stories of the digital exchange of collections.
Participants will engage in discussions on disaster preparedness in light of climate change. Topics will include digital preservation, the preservation of oral and print collections, and building collections of post-independence nations. Participants will reflect on the history of national collections, legacies of colonialism, the journey towards preserving knowledge for future generations, and the connection of collections in libraries, archives, and museums in universities and society.
Conference theme
Celebrating the preservation of Lesotho’s documentary heritage: A dialogue on preserving knowledge heritage for future generations.
Pre-conferences: 19th to 21st August 2024
Main conference: 22nd to 24th August 2024
Venue: Thaba Bosiu Cultural Village, Maseru, Lesotho
Call for abstracts and speakers
Presentations are invited from scholars, academics, librarians, archivists, and researchers in Lesotho, Africa and internationally that will stimulate discussions on knowledge and its preservation for future generations. Speakers are invited to share their experiences of collecting and preserving knowledge for future generations.
Submission deadlines
- Submission of abstracts: 18 March 2024
- Feedback on submitted abstracts: 5 April 2024
- Full papers and presentations: 15 July 2024
Visit conference website for more details