HONOURS AND AWARDS SPOTLIGHT ACROSS SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Dear Colleagues,

December is globally recognised as a season of reflection, gratitude, and celebration a moment when communities pause to acknowledge achievements and the individuals who make a lasting difference. In this spirit, the IFLA Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Division (SSA RDC) is dedicating its December Newsletter to celebrating you our members, partners, and the wider LIS community whose commitment continues to transform libraries, empower societies, and advance equitable access to information across our region.

This special edition will highlight the diverse accomplishments of librarians, library associations, institutions, and emerging professionals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation, advocacy, and service throughout the year. By showcasing these achievements, we aim to honour the remarkable contributions shaping the future of librarianship in Sub-Saharan Africa, while also inspiring others through stories of excellence, resilience, and impact.

The rationale behind this call is simple yet significant: our region is rich with talent, creativity, and visionary leadership, and these contributions deserve to be seen, celebrated, and amplified. As we close the year, we want to shine a spotlight on the milestones big and small that have advanced our collective mission of strengthening libraries and promoting access to information for all.

We therefore invite colleagues to join us by sharing stories of awards, honours, recognitions, and notable achievements by LIS professionals, associations, institutions, and communities in your various countries no later than 20 December 2025, so that together we can celebrate our shared successes, honour our changemakers, and reaffirm our commitment to a vibrant and inclusive library landscape across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Kindly share your stories (with brief descriptions, names, affiliations, dates, and photos) with The Information Coordinator Richard Seglo via [email protected] and copy [email protected]

Thank you very much for your continued support and collaboration. We look forward to celebrating you and your communities in our December newsletter.