The Role of ZimLA in advocacy for democracy

Advocacy is a generic term and we will attempt to expound on it. Advocacy is to advocate and that is to speak on behalf. Advocacy is also someone who positively argues on behalf of another. Advocacy is not only confined to our LIS profession; it can be used in all spheres of life. What this presentation intends to do is to orient and introduce this much debated term and its relevance to the LIS sector. We have been debating about advocacy day in and day out, conference after conference. The reason is one and that is things are not all rosy in the library sector. Advocacy remains a challenge throughout. That means advocacy is for you and me. It should be our role as library workers, members of ZimLA, special interest groups or consortia, NLDS to make sure that we support and promote the democratic rights of library workers in their endeavor to create, acquire, organize and disseminate information without fear or favour or interference. We need to stand up as library workers and be able to be counted among other stakeholders within our democracies. When I see library workers I see people who do not let opportunities pass by and that has made some of us to have faith for tomorrow. Initiatives by ZEIPNET in driving the pedagogy skills training and ZULC’s push for open Access appreciation are valuable advocacy entry points. Many organizations have made advocacy their number one priority and we also need to start doing that for our libraries to be able to grow. Many associations, ZimLA included, have not realized that advocacy is needed to sustain the LIS profession. As ZimLA we need to capacity build our membership in advocacy and lobbying. Its very important for us to realize the role that each and everyone of us can play in advocating for democracy. ZimLA has got a major role to play as it represents, is the authority on libraries and librarians across the spectrum. The reason for advocacy is due to the intense competition for personal, public and institutional funds. 80% of LIS professionals in Zimbabwe earn below the PDL. It is also important that people should know that libraries are a cornerstone for democracy. We need to see to it that libraries stay in operation, as they are the only way of providing affordable, accessible and making information and knowledge available for all people. As ZimLA we need to be passionate and committed about advocacy. Quoting from an Uncle Sam article titled “Americans and libraries cant wait” the author emphasizes that “librarians have not always been willing to ‘get into politics’ but now, because our cause is just and our need is urgent we must do exactly that and try to convince every American, especially library users and supporters, to press their legislator at all levels for library funding”. Reasons for advocacy for democracy in Zimbabwe’s point of view • The deterioration of library services • The impact of socio-economic fundamentals and • The portrait of Librarians of yesteryear The deterioration of library services If in the past we had a choice to advocate or not, now we no longer have a choice. To us now advocacy is a matter of life and death. ZimLA needs to look at the state of school libraries, public and academic libraries today. What we need is a statistical report on libraries in Zimbabwe. School libraries are being manned by groundsman or the now famously referred “one week librarian”. There is evidence that there are few properly constructed school library infrastructures, in some cases they have been turned into storerooms. And yet you and I know for a fact that without libraries the school system will be lacking a firm foundation for independent and resource base learning, necessary to extend the imagination and curiosity of children and young adults beyond the classroom instruction. Our Public libraries are an eyesore and in dire straits. Budget cuts have been drastic and yet the demand for library materials and study spaces are nearing crisis proportion especially in bigger cities. Major public libraries, in particular are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the influx of library users from high schools and tertiary educational institutions, a good example is HCL. What is disheartening is the dangerous trend towards non-funding of public libraries from central and local government such as municipalities. Most public libraries have not received an iota of their statutory annual grants for the 12 years. The main victims in this sphere are the less dwellers living in predominantly rural and peri-urban areas. Non-funding of libraries for people who already have restricted opportunities, if any to find alternative sources of information can only serve to marginalize them further. As ZimLA we acknowledge and appreciate noble and unique efforts of RLDP, ZLDT, and ZRSLT in advancing and re-dressing the plight of Zimbabwe’s rural masses. Academic libraries are equally fighting for survival. Libraries are forced to cancel journal subscriptions due to lack of funds and yet journals are the major tools of academic communication and important sources of more up to date research information. Academic excellence is under siege as fewer books are bough and the capacity of libraries to offer meaningful information services is undermined due to other competing interest on campuses and dwindling central government funds. The impact of socio-economic fundamentals There are many factors contributing to the deteriorating of library services and development in Zimbabwe. The ‘lost decade’ being such one and perhaps the more common reasons cited are inadequate resources and low priority accorded to libraries by mother institutions. While it is acknowledged that indeed there are many competing interests in institutions providing primary funding for libraries, the situation could most probably not have been as desperate as it appears if calculated moves were made in advance. Public funded libraries have always been non-profit service organizations and will most likely remain so in the foreseeable future. For this reason the merits or viability of libraries cannot solely be based on annual balance sheet. This position should not be mistaken as an admission that library services are in conflict with the market driven economic rationalism often used to justify library budgets cuts. On the contrary libraries fit in with the economic design of the market forces, as well as cultural, social and psychological needs of the country. The services libraries provide create opportunities for education, employment, economic enterprise (i.e. Infoprenuership) and cultural identity so crucial in evolving a prosperous and democratic society. How then can we allow the arguments of economic imperatives to undermine the future of libraries in a society ridden with illiteracy, poverty and social inequalities? Where is the will to empower the marginalized and transform our societies? The available funds no longer suffice for the needs of libraries and unless ZimLA stands-up, libraries will in future shut their doors permanently and we the information professionals will find ourselves moving from one door to another looking for jobs. We therefore need to engage and inform the decision makers about the benefits of an adequately funded library. The portrait of Librarians of yesteryear There is something about us librarians that make us less visible in institutions we serve in particular, and society at large. The library profession is as old as human civilization, but librarians are still a rare species in the mainstream activities of modern society. Consciously or unconsciously we have largely opted out of the upper echelons of politics, business, industry, sport, education and culture. Instead we have clang to our nest in slumber. Generally speaking our voices are hardly audible. When it is absolutely necessary we whisper to ourselves but we are at pains to talk to people outside our profession. Its no surprise therefore that no one else seems to understand what we do except ourselves. And yet we wonder why our libraries are not accorded high priority in planning and location of resources by our institutions. This phenomenon is not only unique to Zimbabwe but its universal in nature and we only vary in degrees. Citing an ALA report on the future of libraries in the digital age, it reads something like this “despite years of promoting library advocacy the profession has failed to convince or even communicate to significant number of Americans the idea that librarians are highly skilled professionals needed for and capable of leading them anywhere…the competency of librarians and services they can do and perform are among the best secrets of our society. If the images we radiate do matter we have to do something about it because advocacy demands that we come out of our closet and comfort zone and talk to people outside our LIS profession. We are not born librarians we are librarians by nature of training, experience and inclination. We need to ask ourselves whether there is anything that we need to examine about our profession so that we can position ourselves for advocacy and help rediscover our main mission that of servicing the society. Surely we have not reached the demise of our profession there is still more we can offer, we have just started let us therefore leave no stone unturned there is a lot at stake. What can we do in Zimbabwe African renaissance can only be realized if we build a solid foundation of a well-informed society that can make well-informed decisions to enhance and sustain our democracy. The question is, whether this could be possible in a situation where the infrastructure for library and information services is in the state of neglect and starved of necessary resources. My answer is clearly no, perhaps yours is otherwise. Be a leader and advocate in the LIS sector Whether we represent corporate, academic or public librarians, we need to convince employers that they need qualified staff and recognize their skills with status and appropriate remuneration. You can write letters to trade or national press, establish awards and spread the gospel with non-information professionals within the sector. We need to engage and lobby employers’ organizations, attend their conferences and speak out in public about how important ZimLA and the LIS sector is. Moreover, we are in no position to blame the media for misrepresentation if we do not communicate with them. Within the limits of our resources, we should be prioritizing public relations. Be encouraging and inspirational Beyond questions of tangible benefits and value for money, you should feel that you are part of a supportive and rewarding profession, with proper career prospects. We should feel more confident about the present and more optimistic about the future. This is possibly the hardest challenge. It is often easier to administer subscriptions, publish newsletters and arrange events than to reflect on the profession and communicate our findings positively. We must also be convincing and honest. Librarians are very good at distinguishing authoritative fact from hyperbole and you will know when we are being falsely optimistic or ignoring harsh truths. Making activities relevant Conferences, workshops, trainings, seminars, visits, talks and events should relate directly to skills or knowledge you need in your job and should help make you the most aware and informed person in your organization. Overcoming barriers: lessons from Martin Luther King II legacy At times it can get so difficult to see the bigger picture, at times it is just so difficult to keep fighting and keep hoping for dreams and aspirations that seem so unrealistic and farfetched. I know for certain that at times you grow weary in seemingly long quest for your aspirations to come to pass and, in all honesty, I sometimes feel the same. There are times when you just feel like hanging the boots and settling for the road far more traveled; that common road that brings common, mediocre results of only getting by without influence and without legacy. From my interactions with many of you and from my own little life experiences, I know that seeking to be outstanding can be such a burden and you fell like you are all alone. But the days of self pity are long gone for these are our days of war against mediocrity and irrelevance. This is our moment to march ahead without apology. This is your time to shed all doubt from your mind and move towards the imminent fulfillment of your greatness. This is the time to refuse any weakness of character as we remark in a resoundingly huge cheer “We shall over-come once more”. Keeping our principle… As ZimLA we are fighting for one clear vision: Libraries and library development in Zimbabwe. We must remain resolute and always remarked: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy”. This I know for a fact, it is difficult to remain noble in moments where your vision and aspirations appear threatened. We should now learn to never advance any vision through a vehicle that might compromise character and nobility. It is better for us to have our aspirations delayed than to have a sip from the poisoned chalice of shortcuts. Keep in motion… If you can’t fly, then run If you can’t run, then walk If you can’t walk, then crawl But whatever you do, keep moving The apparent lesson we should learn from this is that no matter how tired and pained you feel, never stop moving. Keep going even if it means you have to crawl. Those around you may not understand, but the truth is that you will be moving closer to your dreams with each leap of faith you make. Do it well… The best way to create the best value of what you do is to do it well; in fact, so well that you create a reputation for an unmatchable standard of excellence. Desire to be the best you can ever be. Quoting martin Luther “if a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven played music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well”. When you are in the middle of a struggle, you risk losing your touch and you risk delivering half-baked results. But it is in struggle that character is tested. That way we exalt ourselves and our nation as a people of excellence. We should not compromise the quality of our library services simply because of inadequate recognition or remuneration. A true librarian of calling and purpose knows that you do not advance greatness by retaliation, you only seed mediocrity. Keep your vision even to the grave… Is the greatest tragedy…what it means is that if we fail to follow our purpose and commit to our vision, we shall forever regret not having truly lived? This is the time for Librarians to embrace focus and purpose and rise to a common creed of greatness, a creed of overcoming and being the enzyme that catalyses true national development, to feed the hungry, to clothe orphans and inspire the weary. This is our defining moment 2012. Conclusion: its pleasing to note that we have achieved a lot by grouping ourselves to revive ZimLA and therefore we need to stand up and be counted. I would like to say now is the time to go home and start rebuilding by going back to the basics. As Nelson Mandela proclaimed; “it seems to have happened that we looked at ourselves and said the time had come that we make a super human effort to be other than human to respond to a call to create for ourselves a glorious future and to remind ourselves the Latin saying “Gloria est consequenda – Glory must be sought after”. Let me end by saying in the dreams of our society lies the thrust of our blend of advocacy. Thank you. Note: 1. Adapted from a paper presented by Ivan Mbulelo Qwelane at IFLA Conference 2006 2. Inspired from lessons for greatness from the life and speeches of Martin Luther King II