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Call for Abstracts: Second University of South Africa Biennial International Conference on Library and Information Science Research in Africa (UNILISA), 8-10 March 2021

Theme: Information services for a sustainable society in an era of information disorder

The UNILISA conference will be held virtually on 8-10 March 2021, due to the prevailing uncertainty associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Library and Information Science (LIS) plays an important role in transforming society. In line with Unisa’s mission of being the African university shaping futures in the service of humanity, UNILISA strives to establish a forum which encourages scholars from different countries to reflect on original and innovative ways of enhancing the role of Information Science, and libraries and information services, in transforming society and promoting the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs).  This is envisaged as one of a series of UNILISA conferences aimed at creating opportunities to establish a research network of academics and information professionals who strive to support the creation, storage and dissemination of information. The need for a comprehensive, comparative analysis of LIS from national and global perspectives cannot be underestimated. To this end, the envisaged UNILISA forum will foster the sharing of experiences aimed at directing future research in LIS worldwide. The UNILISA conference series also seeks to create an opportunity for capacity building, while granting senior LIS academics a supportive setting in which to offer feedback to, and mentor, doctoral students. The first successful UNILISA conference, held in 2019, was attended by academics and information professionals from across Africa and further afield. Conference papers were peer reviewed and subsequently published in Mousaion, an accredited journal devoted to Information Science. Research papers presented at the UNILISA 2021 conference will similarly be peer reviewed and published in a special issue of Mousaion, while others will appear in a peer-reviewed edited book.   

SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS 

Abstract submission deadline: 3 September 2020. Notification of acceptance/rejection of abstract: 9 October 2020.

For a list of topics visit the website: www.unisa.ac.za/Unilisa2020. Abstracts should not exceed 400 words, and should address or contain the following: 

  • Theme and title of the paper, which also reflects a clear description of the topic and its importance or relevance 
  • Name(s) of the author(s) 
  • Contact details of the author(s), inclusive of e-mail(s) and contact telephone number(s) 
  • Institutional affiliation(s) 
  • Main category within the conference outline to which the abstract relates 
  • Keywords 

Abstracts should be e-mailed to Prof Mabel Majanja at unilisaconference@clutterunisa.ac.za