I just read about the unfolding situation at the National Library of South Africa (NLSA), and I’m very concerned about it. The leadership position of the NLSA (National Librarian/CEO) was recently re-advertised. But this time, the title “National Librarian” was quietly dropped, and Library and Information Science (LIS) qualifications have been downgraded from a requirement to just a “preference” according to a petition championed by Lesetsa Sanele
But, how can a National Library be headed by someone who is not even a librarian? Is this not a huge blow to the integrity of the LIS profession? Honestly, the role of who heads a National Library is too strategic to be treated like any another administrative job. Imagine appointing a Doctor as a President of an association of Lawyers? Through conversations on the Librarian Spotlight Africa (LSA) platform, we’ve seen this kind of thing happen in other countries too, including here in Nigeria. And every time, actions like these just weakens the system. Our Libraries deserve better!
This isn’t just a South African issue, it affects all of us who care about the future of libraries, access to information, and preservation of Africa’s heritage. In the interest of transparency and accountability, the petitioners are urging the NLSA Board to take immediate action to address these concerns.
1. Immediate public release of the names, qualifications, and professional backgrounds of all current NLSA Board members.
2. A firm commitment that the future leadership of the NLSA, specifically the National Librarian/CEO, will be selected based on professional LIS standards.
3. A complete stop to the appointment of the National Librarian who is not a librarian
Interestingly, this is not the first time an action is taking to discourage such moves. On 17th of March 2025, the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) raised the alarm in a post on their official Facebook page, reminding everyone that “we’re seeing a repeat of what happened in 2019”when the NLSA Board also attempted to appoint a non-librarian to lead the National Library.
If we’re going to build strong knowledge institutions in Africa, then we need the right people in the right positions.
So I’m lending my voice by signing this petition, and I’m encouraging you to do the same. As of today, 12th April, 2025, over 800 people have already signed, and we need to push it to 1,000 and even beyond. Librarians leading libraries. Period. Sign the Petition here:
Sylvester I. Ebhonu, CLN, amPAIDeF
Youtube Channel @ https://youtube.com/@thedigitallibr
#StandWithNLSA #LibraryLeadership #AfricanLibraries #LSA