The theme for ASDAL 2007, "Developing People Through Libraries,"
will give librarians an opportunity as a professional body to explore the many
ways in which they and their libraries shape the people they serve. It is widely
recognized that technology is changing the way librarians interact with each other
and their patrons. At the same time, the attitudes, expectations, and needs of
our patrons provide a motivation for librarians to continually improve services
and find better ways of meeting patrons' needs. Whether your library users are
North American "Millenials" practically born with technological gadgets
attached to them, or youth struggling for economic survival in the developing
nations of other continents, libraries have the resources and librarians the
information skills to help empower people to change their lives and their communities.
ASDAL 2007 will provide a unique forum for learning and sharing about what is
happening on Seventh-day Adventist school campuses from Kindergarten to the
doctoral level, and from the United States, to Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.
The main conference will begin with keynote speaker, Archie L. Dick's
presentation, "People Developing People Through Libraries: The South African
Story." Professor Dick holds degrees from the University of Washington and
the University of Cape Town. He currently teaches at the University of Pretoria
and has had numerous articles and books/book chapters published in South Africa.
His professional activities also extend to international conferences and most
recently, guest professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Professor Dick's current research interest will culminate in a book on the
reading culture of South Africa in the 20th century. He shared with us that his
keynote presentation will describe "the library and reading work of ...
South African organizations in order to illustrate more generally how people
develop themselves and other people through libraries."
This year the annual conference will include several "firsts."
This will be the first ASDAL meeting of the worldwide organization to be held in
Africa (and consequently the first conference in South Africa and at Helderberg
College). Helderberg College's library staff are anticipating the arrival of
conference participants and are eager to introduce us to their beautiful region.
This year will also introduce ASDAL's first organized community service project
intended to reach out to the local community and make our presence known. For
more information see Make a Difference in South Africa.
