Five young African public librarians have been selected to travel to Germany as part of the EIFL Initiative for Young African Library Innovators (IYALI) programme in 2023.

IYALI is an initiative of the EIFL Public Library Innovation Programme (EIFL-PLIP). The initiative aims to expose emerging public library innovators in Africa to professional learning experiences and ideas from other countries. IYALI 2023 is co-funded by our partner in Germany – Bibliothek & Information Deutschland, BID (the Federal Union of German Library Associations), and the programme was developed in collaboration with  Cologne, Bremen, and Frankfurt public libraries.The IYALI learning experience will take place from 3 - 8 September. The five IYALI participants will visit six libraries in three cities, including, Cologne public library branch in Kalk, Bremen branch library in Gröpelingen, and ‘Kibi’, the Central children’s and youth library in Frankfurt, to exchange knowledge about library governance, funding, management of library networks, and good practices in library service development and innovation. In addition, there will be opportunities for each of the five visitors to give presentations about libraries, library services and their work in their own countries.Five young African public librarians have been selected to travel to Germany as part of the EIFL Initiative for Young African Library Innovators (IYALI) programme in 2023.

IYALI is an initiative of the EIFL Public Library Innovation Programme (EIFL-PLIP). The initiative aims to expose emerging public library innovators in Africa to professional learning experiences and ideas from other countries. IYALI 2023 is co-funded by our partner in Germany – Bibliothek & Information Deutschland, BID (the Federal Union of German Library Associations), and the programme was developed in collaboration with Cologne, Bremen, and Frankfurt public libraries.

Meet the five young African library innovators

Ghana – Evans Korletey-Tene, Eastern Regional Librarian, Ghana Library Authority, in charge of 20 public libraries in the country’s Eastern Region. Evans has led implementation of several innovative programmes to promote literacy, numeracy and creativity, in addition to participating in a mobile service providing hands-on computer classes in rural and under-resourced schools and communities.

Kenya – Kiriinya Franklin Mutuma, Librarian / Head of Branch at Timau Community Library, which serves residents of Timau, a semi-urban community in Meru County. Kiriinya has experience in building the skills of visually impaired people to use screen-reading and other software to access ICT. He is also part of a team that facilitates online learning for young people, and participates in an outreach programme that takes e-books to remote primary schools.                            

Namibia – Aune Ndapewa Naambo Iyambo, Chief Librarian in the Otjozondjupa Regional Library Services. Aune is in charge of public and school libraries providing  services to urban and rural communities in Otjozondjupa  region. She is currently working on the development of ICT training programmes and ICT-based services for teachers and community members. 

Uganda – 

• Mathew Olowo, Librarian / Head of Library Services, Bugiri Public Library, serving urban and rural communities in Bugiri Municipal Council and Bugiri District in Eastern Uganda. Mathew has experience in conducting basic and advanced digital skills and mobile literacy training,  and is currently engaged in an initiative to introduce e-resources, e-reading and e-government programmes in the library. 
• Ruth Bulyaba, Librarian / ICT officer at Kawempe Youth Centre (KYC), which is a community organization that serves an urban community in Kawempe Division of Kampala, capital city of Uganda. Ruth’s experience is in facilitating ICT training for youth and school children, promoting reading and advancing children’s health, using online content.

EIFL Public Library Innovation Programme (EIFL-PLIP) Manager Ramune Petuchovaite and EIFL-PLIP Coordinator Edvaldas Baltrūnas will travel with the librarians.