[MW] LIS: 21st Century Information Service Blog

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how people access information, communicate, learn, and participate in the digital economy. Yet for millions of Africans, language remains one of the greatest barriers to benefiting from these technological advances. Most AI systems have historically prioritized widely spoken global languages, leaving many African languages underrepresented in the digital…

Climate change is no longer a distant concern. Across Africa, communities are experiencing prolonged droughts, unpredictable rainfall, floods, land degradation, and declining agricultural productivity. While modern science and technology remain essential for climate adaptation, there is growing recognition that Indigenous Knowledge (IK) offers valuable, locally grounded solutions that have…

Africa’s information landscape is undergoing rapid transformation. Digital libraries, institutional repositories, artificial intelligence, research data management, and open access initiatives are reshaping how knowledge is created, organized, preserved, and shared. Yet many of the systems underpinning these developments continue to reflect models, standards, and priorities developed outside the…

Editor’s Update (August 2026) This article has been updated to reflect the continued global impact of Mario Coffa’s Library World Tour and to include a personal reflection on my participation in the project. Since my interview in 2021, my professional journey has continued to evolve through international collaborations, library partnerships, and initiatives that promote equitable access to…

The reported dismissal of more than 500 employees—including administrative staff and approximately 50 academics—at Addis Ababa University (AAU) marks a significant development in Ethiopia’s higher education sector. As the country’s oldest and largest public university, AAU has long played a pivotal role in teaching, research, innovation, and national development. Consequently, a restructuring…

In today’s rapidly evolving digital environment, information has become one of the world’s most valuable resources. Every day, libraries, archives, universities, government institutions, businesses, and digital platforms create, collect, manage, and share vast amounts of information. As technology continues to reshape how information is accessed and used, the importance of professional ethics in…

A significant milestone has been achieved in the partnership between Books For Africa (BFA) and Hawassa University (HU) with the successful signing and exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance access to educational resources, research materials, and digital learning opportunities in Ethiopia’s Sidama Region. The MoU was signed on behalf of Books For Africa by Ms. Alejandra…

As Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital governance, data protection, and emerging technologies continue to reshape societies across Africa, access to credible research and policy reports has never been more important. Researchers, librarians, educators, students, policymakers, legal professionals, and technology innovators all need reliable, evidence-based resources to inform their work and…

Preparing Graduates for a Changing World Higher education is one of the most important investments a nation makes in its future. Universities are expected not only to preserve knowledge and conduct research but also to prepare graduates with the skills, creativity, and adaptability needed in a rapidly changing economy. Recently, China approved reforms affecting more than 12,000 university…

Introduction Africa is home to one of the world’s richest linguistic landscapes, with more than 2,000 languages spoken across the continent. These languages are not merely tools for communication—they are living repositories of history, indigenous knowledge, cultural identity, scientific understanding, and community values. Yet, much of the world’s digital knowledge, academic literature, and…

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming education worldwide at an unprecedented pace. From personalised learning platforms and AI-powered tutors to automated assessment and intelligent research tools, AI is redefining how knowledge is created, accessed, and shared. For Africa, where millions of learners continue to face barriers such as teacher shortages, limited educational resources, and…

Editor’s Note Welcome to the INFOLIBNET Opportunities Digest, a monthly publication that connects librarians, researchers, educators, students, innovators, and development professionals across Ethiopia and Africa with high-quality global and regional opportunities. Timely information is often the decisive first step toward career advancement, institutional strengthening, and community impact.…

In today’s rapidly evolving knowledge economy, timely access to opportunities can transform careers, strengthen institutions, and drive community development. Every month, thousands of scholarships, grants, fellowships, internships, conferences, and professional development programmes open worldwide. Yet many talented individuals—especially across Africa—miss them simply because information does…

Introduction Africa is the world’s youngest continent. More than 70% of its population is under the age of 30, making young people the continent’s greatest asset for future economic growth, innovation, and social transformation. However, realizing this demographic advantage depends on one critical factor: equitable access to digital knowledge. In the 21st century, knowledge is no longer…

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become one of the defining technologies of our time. Since the public release of ChatGPT in late 2022, millions of people have discovered the power of AI, leading many to assume that AI itself is a recent invention. The reality is very different. AI did not begin with ChatGPT. Today’s remarkable advances are the result of more than seven decades of scientific…

Introduction Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how people search for, access, create, and share information. Tools such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Claude, and Perplexity AI have fundamentally changed the information landscape. Instead of browsing dozens of websites, users can now receive synthesized answers in seconds. While these technologies offer remarkable…