IASL Post Durban Conference Workshop

GABORONE, BOTSWANA, JULY 2003

Workshop Report from Margaret Baffour-Awuah

At the 2002 IASL conference in Malaysia, the possibility of post-conference mini-conferences / workshops in other countries in the region of the host country, so that more people would benefit from the international speakers who would be in their neighbourhood, so to speak, was discussed and agreed to. This was meant to be taken on board for future annual conferences and IASL would to work with other organisations / members in the region.

In Botswana, we made IASL history after Durban: Dr Penny Moore (IASL Executive Director), Mr Peter Genco (IASL President) and Professor Anne Clyde (IASL Webmaster) agreed to visit Botswana and Namibia after the Durban conference, to conduct workshops.

Imagine the disappointment when on the last day in Durban, we learnt that Penny was unwell and was medically grounded for 14 days! We parted on that Thursday unsure of her situation thinking of what measures to put into place in the workshop in view of her imminent absence. She was packing to go into hospital!

What happened was nothing short of miraculous. But we thank God (the hospital and staff) for the healing: she was able to be in Gaborone by Saturday and none of the original schedule was affected. After one day in hospital and carrying lots of medication she arrived in Gaborone. As did Prof Anne Clyde and Mr Peter Genco, each at a different time.

There was a two day workshop (14-15 July) in Gaborone (Botswana) for local teacher and school librarians, and some Deputy school heads. It was held in the University of Botswana Library's auditorium and seminar rooms.

The main organisers of this event included Mr Hulelah of Secondary Dept and the executive of BOSSLA (Botswana Secondary School Association), and myself Mrs Baffour-Awuah. The Keynote speaker was Kay Raseroka, incoming IFLA President, who was also one of the keynote speakers at the Durban conference. Dr Penny More run a workshop on Information Literacy, Mr Peter Genco's on Managing A School Library, and Prof Anne Clyde was on the "The Internet and the School Library". I led a session on the school library and HIV/AIDS, especially suggesting what materials could go into an HIV / AIDS corner. Penny also conducted a session on a "One Page Book" project, with Peter and Anne supporting. Participants were so enthusiastic. They produced some wonderful small books and carried away the know how for promoting reading and literacy in their schools.

Dr Monkge of the Vision Council also had a session on The Botswana's Vision 2016 and school libraries. Another session was led by Mr Peter Tshikudu of Emang Basadi, a women's forum on Gender and school librarianship. There were a total of 72 participants from all over Botswana. I would personally like to thank the IASL Executive members who shared themselves with us. It was once in a lifetime opportunity for many of us.

We salute Penny, Peter and Anne from Sub Sahara Africa and hope that many more IASLers will generously offer their time in the years to come and follow suit and share with others around.

The One Page Book Challenge
James Mwangi

The one page book challenge displayed by Dr Penny Moore (IASL Executive Diretcor) in the Gaborone IASL / Workshop Held at the University of Botswana from the 14th -- the 15th of July, 2003.

This workshop was meant to equip participants with skills of being "authors, artists and bookmakers". I was one of around 70 participants from Letlhakane near the mining town of Orapa, deep into Botswana who had the priviledge of attending the IASL post Durban workshop at the University of Botswana.

On returning to my library in Letlhakane Secondary / Community which is within the secondary school but also serves the public I had the opportunity of imparting the skills learned in the workshop to 6 staff members. This was basically how to make "a one page book" as demonstrated by Dr Moore and her team; it also included the recipe for making a paste for one page books.

The skills imparted were not only the practical part of physically cutting and pasting the page to make a small book but also choosing simple topics to use as contents for these books and how to arrange the information therein.

After all staff members had mastered this exciting task, each was now required to teach primary school children library users how to make the one page book. This is currently going on as it is done as one of the activities in the children activities schedule/rota.

When the schools open early Septermber, we intend to invite teacher-librarians in primary schools to a 2 hour mini workshop to share this experience of making a one page book. They will in turn share the skill with fellow teachers and pupils of their school.

We shall keep you posted on this issue.

James Mwangi, Senior Library Officer, Letlhakane Community Secondary School

Last Updated 29 August 2003 (LAC)