Regional Africana Collection Development Conference, 04/02

Regional Africana Collection Development Conference

Sponsored by African Studies Resource Center, University of Kansas University of Kansas Libraries April 11-13, 2002

The African Studies Resource Center and the University of Kansas Libraries are sponsoring a regional Africana library conference April 11-13, 2002. The theme of the conference will focus on consortial projects to enhance shared access to Africana materials. In this time of shrinking library resource budgets, libraries must take initiatives to strengthen the infrastructure needed to facilitate shared access to library collections. The Mountain/Plains region of the United States has traditionally been a resource-poor region for Africana materials, with all major collections of Africana located outside the region. The conference will focus on these and possibly other issues related to resource sharing.

The following contributors will present at the conference:

* Walter Bgoya, noted African publisher and specialist on problems and challenges of publishing and book distribution in Africa. Mr. Bgoya is founder of Mkuki na Nyota Publishers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and is a member of the Board of Directors of the African Books Collective. He has also served for several years as chair of the review committee for the Noma Award for publishing excellence in Africa. Drawing on this rich and varied experience, he will speak on challenges of academic publishing and book distribution in East Africa. Mr. Bgoya holds a BA degree from the University of Kansas in Economics and International Relations, granted in 1965.

* Jana Krentz, Librarian for Spain, Portugal, and Latin America at the University of Kansas Libraries, and Brad Schaffner, Slavic Librarian and Coordinator of International Programs, University of Kansas Libraries. Both will present on ideas and projectsthat have been undertaken by consortial groups in their respective subject areas.

* Lars Leon, Interlibrary Loan Librarian at the University of Kansas Libraries, will speak on developments and opportunities in improved resource-sharing among libraries.

* Phyllis Bischof, Librarian for African Studies and African-American Studies, University of California-Berkeley. Phyllis is a longtime member of the Africana Librarians Council, an affiliated committee of the African Studies Association. She will speak on cooperative projects of the ALC and will serve throughout the meeting as Senior Consulting Librarian.

Funding is still available for several additional participants who meet at least one of the criteria listed below. Further participation from the Great Plains/Mountain region, generally the area covered by member institutions of the Greater Western Library Alliance, is strongly encouraged. Anyone interested in participating in the conference should contact the Conference Convenor, Kenneth P. Lohrentz, Librarian for African and African-American Studies at the University of Kansas (see contact information below) as soon as possible, but no later that March 10th. Funding for each participant will cover travel expenses, housing, and a per diem expense account of $10 per quarter. Arrangements for attendance and funding sponsorship must be made with the conference convenor.

Criteria for participation in the conference:

1. African studies library assignment or subject responsibility in a more broadly defined area with a significant African studies component. Examples of the latter might include subject assignments in Africana studies or African and African-American studies.

2. Significant library experience in collection development and reference service for graduate and/or undergraduate students and faculty in African studies.

3. Design or special affiliation with major projects enhancing bibliographic access to africana.

4. Development of special africana collections, such as international census reports, international documents, or instructional materials for the teaching of Africa.

5. Development of digital library projects providing electronic access to africana.

Expenses for the conference are underwritten by the Title VI National Resource Center grant of the African Studies Resource Center and the University of Kansas Libraries. For additional information or expression of interest to attend the conference, please contact:

Kenneth P. Lohrentz, Conference Convenor 320 Anschutz Library University of Kansas Libraries Lawrence, KS 66045-7537 785-864-4593 (voice) 785-864-5705 (fax) klohrentz@ukans.edu