WEBINAR 1: Libraries at the Frontlines of Climate Action

Aim

To demonstrate how libraries across Sub-Saharan Africa are advancing climate action through community engagement, knowledge services, and partnerships—and to share practical approaches that attendees can adapt locally.

Learning objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to :

1- Outline at least three library roles in climate adaptation/mitigation/resilience.

2- Identify services, collections, and partnerships that drive climate literacy.

3- Plan first steps for launching or scaling a climate-focused library initiative.

Speaker

Dr. Buhle Mbambo-Thata
University Librarian, National University of Lesotho

 Dr Buhle Mbambo-Thata is the University Librarian of the National University of Lesotho. Dr. Mbambo-Thata previously served as the Director-Resources Development of the African Library and Information Association and Institutions (AfLIA); Executive Director, Library Services, University of South Africa; University Librarian, University of Zimbabwe, and Senior Librarian, University of Botswana. She serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of Africa Commons, a member of the Board of Directors of the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), a member of the Board of Directors of African Journals Online (AJOL) and on the International Advisory Committee of Endangered Archive Programme (EAP). She served two terms as Governing Board member of IFLA. She has also served on boards of other Library and Information Service support organisations.

Moderator: Mr. Richard Seglo

Richard SEGLO is the current IFLA Information Coordinator within the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Division Committee (SSA RDC) (2025-2027).  He is a Research and Instruction Sociologist and Cultural Heritage specialist at the University of Abomey-Calavi (Benin) He collaborates with many international organisations such as UNESCO through its Cultural Heritage.