ANNOUNCEMENT OF CONFERENCE
The African Library and Information Association and Institutions (AfLIA), the Library Association for Africa, focuses on the development of libraries, information centers , library and information personnel to offer cutting edge modern services to people on the African continent to improve their livelihoods.
AfLIA will hold its 4th Conference as an Association and the 6th African Library Summit for
- LIS leaders
- LIS practitioners
- LIS educators
- LIS policy makers
- Young and emerging LIS leaders
- Organisations and Professionals working in partnership with African libraries
Dates: 24th – 27th May 2021
Venue: VIRTUAL
Events
| Pre-Conferences | Monday 24th May 2021 |
| Wikipedia Workshop | This is free and open to everyone |
| Conference | Tuesday 25th – Thursday 27th May 2021 |
| AfLIA General Meeting | Thursday Afternoon: 27th May 2021 |
Conference Theme
Fourth Industrial Revolution, sustainable development and African libraries
Sub-Themes
- 4IR, Libraries and development Initiatives in Africa
- COVID-19 and other pandemics realities and 4IR in Africa
- Open Science adoption in Africa
- Opening up data and knowledge for 4IR integration in Africa
- Open Educational Resources (OER); possibilities and pathways
- Research Data Management in Africa for 4IR
- Open repositories and liberalisation of knowledge for sustainable development
- Open Licensing, creativity and knowledge production in Africa
- Artificial Intelligence, robotics and information provision
- Cloud computing, Internet of Things and 4IR in Africa
- Essential literacies for 4IR
- Libraries and Smart Cities
- Fake Science, Fake news and development in Africa
- Algorithms, equity and access to information
- Futuristic and Innovative Thinking for sustainable development; roles of libraries
- De-colonisation of knowledge for 4IR
- Libraries as spaces for innovative technology start-ups
Expected Outcomes of Conference / Summit
It is expected that by the end of the Conference and Summit, participants would have been able to:
- Understand the different strands and possibilities of 4IR as well as how libraries fit into knowledge creation, dissemination and innovativeness needed to drive the revolution in Africa.
- Know what and how to provide as access and use of information before, during and after unexpected pandemics.
- Expand their knowledge as pertains to the roles librarians play in ensuring that information ethics is promoted and adhered to as the possibilities of machines that read, write and analyze information make inroads into Africa and the world.
- Rethink library spaces and information services that would engender innovative thinking and start-ups.
- Have enhanced capacity in driving the Openness movement that will boost the availability of knowledge and data in online spaces without algorithmic biases.
- Comprehend and lead knowledge creation campaigns through Creative Commons modules including Open Licensing and robust Copyright Limitations and Exceptions for Africa.
- Be equipped to propagate and assist Africans to acquire the necessary literacies and thinking skills for the 4IR.
Virtual Conference Technical Details
This event will be hosted on the WHOVA. Please click here to learn more.
Conference Registration
Online Registration opens on 28th March, 2021 and ends on 18th May, 2021.
Participants are encouraged to register online and on time too to enjoy the early bird discount.
Please click here for more details on registration and to access the registration links.
Conference Fees
Conference fees are as follows:
| AfLIA Members | $100 |
| AfLIA Non-members | $120 |
| Speakers | $80 |
| Students | $30 (must show admission letter) |
Please click here for more details.
Virtual Exhibition
There will be exhibition by Publishers. The exhibit hall will be open throughout the conference, but there will be special times that is dedicated to the exhibit hall. Sponsor/exhibitor information will be on the conference platform. In the conference hosting space, an area designated as Exhibitors will show a list of all the exhibitors and will provide information for each of them. Attendees can click on the area marked ‘Exhibitor‘ to see all exhibitors, visit their e-booths and interact with them.
Subsequent to registration, each applicant will receive a simplified instruction guide on how to effectively use the conference (web) platform. Applicants can reach out to the technical team via admin@aflia.net with a copy to afliacomm@aflia.net for support if they encounter any challenges relating to accessing and using the virtual conference platform.
Further information and updates for available packages for exhibitors and sponsors can be found at the Exhibitor/Sponsors page.