Librarianship in the South

Apart from managing its own library KIT also shares knowledge with libraries in the South and assists partners in library development, providing advisory services directed to the technical and managerial upgrading of (university) libraries.

Institutional development
Capacity strengthening in information and library services can never be an end in itself. It should be integrated within a broader context of institutional development. Therefore, interventions by KIT ILS will always be based on a general needs assessment that broadly examines the institution’s developmental needs. Central questions are: what challenges is the institution facing in the field of information management and how can KIT’s interventions support the implementation of the institution’s policies? KIT’s capacity strengthening projects in information and library services support institutions going through an organisational transition that involves changes in information management. KIT’s interventions will be integrated with this transitional process, as defined by the institution itself.

Approach
KIT’s interventions focus on knowledge exchange through training, advice and evaluation. KIT ILS does not provide funding or materials, nor does it provide staff to be employed in the actual implementation processes. However, the department may be engaged to develop the partner institution’s capacity for fundraising.

In the course of each project, KIT staff may visit the partner institution at regular intervals on short missions to meet counterparts and to discuss objectives, inputs and results. The purpose of the first mission will typically be to establish an overall needs assessment and project plan. During subsequent missions, local training will be provided, including on-the-job training, as well as on-site consultancy. Depending on the needs assessment, local staff may also be invited to visit KIT or other relevant institutions in order to familiarise themselves with practices at other institutions in the field of information and library services.

In most projects, a major component of the knowledge exchange will take place through Internet communication. Face-to-face meetings between local staff and KIT personnel are, however, still important in establishing personal relations. These will allow both parties to communicate effectively during the periods in between meetings.

Training modules
In addition to tailor-made training activities and training on the job, KIT ILS has also developed training modules for general use. These are generic training modules related to information and library services, which can be customised to fit the specific needs of a particular partner institution.

KIT ILS is constantly on the look-out for partners and funding opportunities. Based on a budget made available by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the department has initiated a programme of partnerships with academic institutions in three countries: Ghana, Mozambique and Ghana. Additionally, the department works with a wide range of partners, donors and funding agencies in other developing countries.

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