The Dynamic Coalition on Public Access in Libraries (DC-PAL) is organizing a session on the critical role of public libraries in Africa in providing public internet access during the 6th African Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF). EIFL is a co-founder of the DC-PAL.

The DC-PAL session will take place on the second day of the Forum, 5 December, from 9am to 11am, and is titled, ‘Public libraries rise to the challenge to connect the next billion’.

EIFL will be represented at the session by Juliana Muchai, from our partner organization, the Kenya National Library Service. Muchai's presentation will highlight the experiences of KNLS public libraries in connecting communities to the internet. The session will include speakers from AfLIA (the African Library and Information Associations and Institutions) and IFLA (the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions).

The AfIGF is a multi-stakeholder forum that brings together representatives of governments, the telecommunications sector, industry and business, and non-governmental agencies from across Africa to discuss issues related to the internet and internet governance. The theme for the 2017 AfIGF is ‘Enabling an Inclusive Digital Transformation of Africa’.

The AfIGF precedes the 2017 Internet Governance Forum, a global event that takes place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 18 - 21 December.