A Library and Information Services(LIS) Transformation Charter was posted yesterday on the
Department of Arts and Culture website, marking the end of a long process of
consultation, drafting and revision that began in 2008, reports Pam Saxby for Legalbrief
Policy Watch.
Noting that there are 'all too few' public spaces for and processes of information education and literacy, the charter calls on members of the LIS profession, 'the rich and educated elite' and international aid organisations to 'take a strong lead' - in partnership with government - in making South Africa 'a reading and more information-literate nation'. With that in mind, it focuses on 'the right of access to information, where the redistributive motive is most prominent'. 'We will have to broaden the sharing of library and information services, strengthen their flexibility and improve access,' a media statement accompanying the charter emphasises.
The transformation charter is directed largely at public and community libraries; libraries at state education facilities and research institutions; 'special libraries' run by the state (including the Constitutional Court library, the Parliament library and the largely rehabilitative library for offenders in South Africa's prisons); and legal deposit centres. However, reference is made to private colleges established and registered under the 2013 Further Education and Training Colleges Amendment Act, as well as corporate libraries - possibly in the context of information sharing, although this is not clear.
More often than not, the charter envisages private sector participation as financial in nature. By way of example, 'the private sector should be invited to provide bursaries for training at various levels', and should include the LIS sector among the beneficiaries of corporate social responsibility programmes. It should also assist in developing a governance model to transform the LIS landscape.
An LIS Bill is expected to be introduced in Parliament 'soon'.
Noting that there are 'all too few' public spaces for and processes of information education and literacy, the charter calls on members of the LIS profession, 'the rich and educated elite' and international aid organisations to 'take a strong lead' - in partnership with government - in making South Africa 'a reading and more information-literate nation'. With that in mind, it focuses on 'the right of access to information, where the redistributive motive is most prominent'. 'We will have to broaden the sharing of library and information services, strengthen their flexibility and improve access,' a media statement accompanying the charter emphasises.
The transformation charter is directed largely at public and community libraries; libraries at state education facilities and research institutions; 'special libraries' run by the state (including the Constitutional Court library, the Parliament library and the largely rehabilitative library for offenders in South Africa's prisons); and legal deposit centres. However, reference is made to private colleges established and registered under the 2013 Further Education and Training Colleges Amendment Act, as well as corporate libraries - possibly in the context of information sharing, although this is not clear.
More often than not, the charter envisages private sector participation as financial in nature. By way of example, 'the private sector should be invited to provide bursaries for training at various levels', and should include the LIS sector among the beneficiaries of corporate social responsibility programmes. It should also assist in developing a governance model to transform the LIS landscape.
An LIS Bill is expected to be introduced in Parliament 'soon'.
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