National Library Week
The American Resource Centre (ARC) celebrated National Library Week on Wednesday. The commemoration included other libraries and information centres in Zimbabwe as they together with the US Embassy’s ARC took time to showcase some of their latest developments. According to the ALA (American Libraries Association), the idea for National Library Week was based on the idea that once people were motivated to read, they would use and support libraries.
The US Embassy’s work in the dissemination of information through its resource centre is greatly appreciated in the information and technology fraternity. Technology is ever changing and they continue to adapt their services to suit current trends and user needs at the same time setting a guide for other resource centres in Zimbabwe to follow suit and remain functional in this technological era. ARC has corners in at the Bulawayo Public Library, Gweru Memorial Library and recently added Mutare to the list. These centres engage people who are not based in Harare to enjoy similar opportunities being rendered to students and researchers in Harare. The resource centre offers various library services to users being pod casts, kindles and their recent launch, elibrary. The elibrary, which is a collection of databases and journals, can be accessed through http://elibraryusa.state.gov/. It’s free but one needs to register to be able to access it.
The Research Council of Zimbabwe (RCS) also took time to showcase their latest ‘baby’, a research database that seeks to promote research and publicise Zimbabwean research on a global scale. The research database is an integrated collection of research work done on Zimbabwe and by Zimbabweans. It is accessible through this portal http://researchdatabase.ac.zw/
This is a great way to document research work electronically as the National Archives which is mandated to document these, is still doing so using hard copies. The database is accessible for free and one is required to register in order to do so.
The mother body for libraries in Zimbabwe, ZIMLA (Zimbabwe Library Association) held a separate meeting for librarians who were present at this National Library Week commemoration. ZIMLA is back on board on IFLA (International Federation of Libraries Association) and will share information on the 46th Conference and AGM to be held in Kadoma next month.
These efforts by librarians cannot go without acknowledging the work of writers, publishers and IT specialists in Zimbabwe who make it possible for such tools and programmes to be available for use in Zimbabwe.