Library and Information Association of Zambia - LIAZ

𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐋𝐈𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 | 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐘

Today marks a significant milestone in the commemoration of 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 as the 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲 takes place at 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐰𝐞𝐳𝐢 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 in North-Western Province.

Hosted by the 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 (𝐙𝐋𝐒) in partnership with the 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 (𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐙), this year's celebrations are being held under the theme:

𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬.

The event is being graced by the 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 – 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐃𝐫 𝐊𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐰𝐞, represented by the 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡-𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫, 𝐌𝐫 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐌𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐲𝐢.

As we celebrate 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟑 of National Library Week, institutions from across the country continue to showcase the transformative role libraries play in advancing education, research, literacy, innovation, and community development.

📸 𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐩𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲, 𝐞𝐱𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐰𝐞𝐳𝐢 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬.

#𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 #𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 #𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 #𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 #𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐙 #𝐙𝐋𝐒 #𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐀𝐥𝐥 #𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚

𝗖𝗢𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗧 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗟𝗜𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗥𝗬 𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗟𝗜𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗥𝗬 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

As part of the ongoing 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 commemorations, Copperbelt University Library is shining a spotlight on local authorship and the importance of preserving Zambia's literary heritage.

Featured is 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺 by young Zambian author 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗠. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮, a remarkable contribution to Zambia's growing body of literature.

This publication is a valuable addition to 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 and an important 𝗭𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮 resource for libraries with 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. By collecting and promoting works by local authors, libraries continue to support knowledge creation, cultural preservation, and lifelong learning.

Let us celebrate and support Zambian writers whose works enrich our communities and inspire future generations.

𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗟𝗜𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗥𝗬 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 | 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗬

Yesterday, 17th June 2026, marked a significant milestone in the commemoration of 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 as the 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆 was held at 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘄𝗲𝘇𝗶 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 in North-Western Province.

Hosted by the Zambia library service in partnership with the Library and Information Association of Zambia - LIAZ, this year's celebrations are being held under the theme:

𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀.

The event was graced by the 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 – 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗞𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗺𝗯𝘄𝗲, represented by the 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵-𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿, 𝐌𝐫 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐌𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐲𝐢.

As we continue with 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟰 of National Library Week, institutions from across the country are showcasing the transformative role libraries play in advancing education, research, literacy, innovation, and community development.

📸 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆, 𝗲𝘅𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘄𝗲𝘇𝗶 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀.

#𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 #𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 #𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 #𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 #𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗭 #𝗭𝗟𝗦 #𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗔𝗹𝗹 #𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗭𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗮

𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗭 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗥𝗘-𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗟𝗜𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣𝗦

Speaking during the official opening of the 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 commemorations in Solwezi at Solwezi Provincial Library, hosted by the Zambia Library Service and the Library and Information Association of Zambia, LIAZ President 𝗠𝗿 𝗠𝘂𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮 𝗟𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗮 emphasized the critical role libraries play in transforming lives, supporting education, promoting innovation, and strengthening communities.

Mr. Lumpa applauded the Ministry of Education for issuing new directives aimed at strengthening school library services, including the restoration of libraries to their intended purpose, increased funding for library resources, the introduction of library periods in schools, and the recruitment of trained library professionals.

He also welcomed the anticipated launch of the 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆, describing it as a significant milestone that will provide a sustainable framework for the growth and development of library services across Zambia.

The LIAZ President called on librarians, partners, and stakeholders to embrace innovation, invest in technology, promote reading cultures, and build stronger partnerships to ensure libraries remain inclusive and accessible centres of learning and community empowerment.

𝗥𝗲-𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀.

𝐈𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬, 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬: 𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐃𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚, 𝐔𝐍𝐙𝐀 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧

Today, delegates gathered in Solwezi for the National Library Week Symposium at Solwezi College of Education, hosted by the Zambia library service and the Library and Information Association of Zambia - LIAZ , under the theme:

"IGNITING LIBRARIES: Building Partnerships for Thriving Communities."

Delivering the keynote address, Dr Charles Banda, Chief Librarian at the University of Zambia, emphasized that libraries are more than repositories of information, they are catalysts for knowledge, innovation, and community transformation.

Dr Banda called on libraries to strengthen partnerships with schools, universities, government institutions, the private sector, civil society organizations, and local communities to address pressing challenges such as literacy gaps, digital exclusion, unemployment, and misinformation.

He highlighted three key pillars for building impactful and sustainable libraries:

🔹 Inclusion – ensuring library services reach all members of society, especially underserved and marginalized communities.

🔹 Innovation – embracing digital literacy, emerging technologies, entrepreneurship support, and new approaches to community engagement.

🔹 Impact– measuring and demonstrating the positive outcomes of library services and partnerships through evidence-based advocacy.

Dr Banda challenged stakeholders to view libraries not as institutions seeking charity, but as strategic partners capable of advancing education, economic empowerment, civic participation, and community development.

Concluding his address, he urged library professionals and partners alike to leave the symposium with renewed commitment to creating libraries that inspire opportunity, ignite learning, and empower thriving communities across Zambia.