This study investigated visibility issues of the Library and Information Association of Zambia (LIAZ). Using questionnaires and interview guides, the study has established that visibility of LIAZ to the ordinary Zambian on the street is poor. Results further indicated that the Association has a mammoth task to change the mind set of not only the non library fraternity, but that of LIS professionals as well. The study concludes that in order to reverse this trend, LIS professionals need to proactively lobbying Government for the enactment of a library bill and vigorously publicize the LIS profession to the stakeholders.

For professional library associations to meaningfully contribute to the development of LIS institutions and professionals in Africa, management issues need to take center stage and attention. This paper draws from the experiences of two associations in Africa to describe their approach to management and lessons for other professional bodies. The Uganda Library Association (ULA) realized remarkable achievement through strategic planning and the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) through the establishment of democratic structures and project management. The author identifies strategic planning, partnership building, and internal democratic structures as key in the success of LIASA and ULA. Strategic plans for the two bodies are discussed with emphasis on implementation strategies. LIASA and ULA provide good cases for other associations in Africa to address their own challenges but more so documentation of what has worked, where and how for purposes of sharing ...

Legislation plays an important role in the provision of national and public library services. In Zambia, however, libraries that perform the functions of national and public libraries are operating without a legislative mandate. As a result, there is fragmentation of library services as there is no single institution which performs all the functions of a national library service. Although several efforts have been made in the past to enact national library service legislation, no Act of Parliament has been passed to date (2015). This study provides empirical evidence depicting the benefits of having legislation in the provision of national and public library services. The study identifies institutions that perform functions of national and public library services in Zambia. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaires administered to public library staff and interviews with senior government officials and executive members of the Zambia Library Association and Zambia Libr...

Currently (2017), there is no single institution designated as a national library in Zambia. Although national library services are provided by some institutions, there is no legislation to support them. Efforts to foster the enactment of library legislation since 1976 have not resulted into this law being passed. This study measured the correlation between the lack of legislation and the provision of national library services in Zambia. The study comprised a cross-sectional survey to collect quantitative data through questionnaires administered to public library staff, interviews with senior government officials, executive members of the Library and Information Association of Zambia and the Zambia Library Consortium, and a document analysis on text from grey literature. The results of the survey revealed that enactment of library legislation in Zambia could help establish a national library and increase government funding to existing library services and facilities. It is recommend...

Purpose: This study assessed Kenya Library Association (KLA) and Kenya Association of Records Managers' and Archivists (KARMA) members' perceptions on the performance of their professional associations' with a view to determining members' level of participation in programmes/activities and challenges, if any. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study used descriptive survey design to collect data from members and get their opinions, suggestions, and attitude about the KLA and KARMA using questionnaires and face-to-face interview. The study used purposeful sampling techniques to sample 80 KLA and 44 KARMA members out of a population of a population of 102 and 54, respectively. A pilot study of 10 respondents at the Association of Government Librarians (AGL) helped refine research instruments. Collected data was cleaned, coded and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPPS) program to perform descriptive statistics such as means, percentages and frequency tables. Findings: Findings showed that the majority of respondents' agreed that the associations contribute immensely to the development of the information profession in Kenya. However, the study revealed 58 (60.4%) were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with the programmes and activities of KLA and KARMA; they were not sure if the programmes met their expectations. The majority 72 (75%) were not involved in their associations programmes while 24 (25%) stated that they were involved. When asked to explain the response given, most of those who stated that they were not involved cited arbitrary decisions by the executive board and even misuse of resources by some officials. Implication: This study has implications on the various programmes offered by KLA, KARMA and other information science professional organizations and how they are perceived by members. Article can be accessed online at http://www.publishingindia.com Originality/Value: It was recommended that KLA and KARMA enhance members' participation in decision making; increase enrolment of new members; improve communication from the secretariat and explore ways of cessation of in-house rivalry and in-fighting among officials.