School Library Advocay for Africa-IASL 2016 Conference in Japan

Soliciting for donations for Jerry Mathema a School Library Media Specialist from Bulawayo , Zimbabwe. This will afford me the once in a lifetime opportunity to rub shoulders with other leading School Library & information practitioners around the globe. The need to explore topics on information technologies,school library operations and management, and global cooperative librarianship are of paramount importance to my career as a librarian. As a leader in all spheres of librarianship in my native country and in our quest to advance, promote and enhance the technological development of our libraries there is need to attend this 2016 IASL Tokyo, Japan: 45th Annual International Conference, 20th International Forum on Research in School Librarianship The world is also undergoing an Information Communications Technology (ICT) revolution, a revolution that has enormous social and economic implications for the less developed countries of the world. The school librarianship profession in Africa needs to rise up to the challenge of equipping its professionals with the requisite skills and this opportunity will help us to be abreast with latest emerging technologies in librarianship. The knowledge and skills gained will be imparted through on-line discussions, seminars and workshops. School Librarianship in Zimbabwe is facing insurmountable challenges. The profession is grossly underestimated, underappreciated and lacks glamour in the eyes of the populace when favorably compared to other professions such as health and business related disciplines.There is absolutely no clear school library policy, no accreditation agencies and there is a general lack of interest in the development of libraries. In remote areas there are no library structures to talk about, except church mission school libraries that cater for their own student population leaving the entire community wallowing in illiteracy and poverty. We do not choose destinations, it is the prerogative of the local Library Association bid to host the Conference and in this case the Japanese Library Association bade to host it in Tokyo. The applicant is a fierce proponent of the IFLA’s Building Strong Library Associations and this is supported by the evidence that he was instrumental in the revival of the Zimbabwe Library Association. He has been an individual member of the association before and after sits revival and has risen through the ranks to occupy the most enviable position of Branch Chairperson and ex-official member of the National Executive Council of ZimLA. He is also the current International Association of School Librarianship Regional Director for Africa Sub Sahara having been a regional representative since 2009. He is currently enrolled for a masters degree at the local university and has one peer-reviewed paper published in the School Libraries Worldwide journal. Two papers have been presented at the local annual conference and several others during the International School Library Month Celebrations. He had the opportunity to present the Zimbabwe country report at IFLA 2015 in Cape Town. He is the proud recipient of the coveted 2008 Ken Haycock Leadership Award in recognition of his commitment to the development of school library programs in a developing country. Has organized regional school and public library workshops, the most notable being the 2012 IASL/Zimla Regional School Library Seminar. He is an astute and fearless advocate for the development of School /public libraries in the region. As a prolific and avid speaker he has been nominated by the IFLA Africa Section to facilitate a workshop in Botswana.