The Free State Public and Community Libraries Sector is pleased to extend this invitation to you to participate in a Virtual Information Sharing Session ahead of the 2025 LIASA Annual Conference, to be hosted in Gqeberha from 30 September – 03 October 2025 under the theme: “Libraries as Innovation Hubs: Empowering Communities.”

This inspirational session is designed to provide a platform for 2025 Liasa Conference presenters to reflect, share, and inspire. It will allow presenters to:

• Share their professional journey in librarianship and how it led them to submit an abstract.
• Inspire colleagues by highlighting why presenting at LIASA matters and what attendees can expect from their contributions.
• Motivate and encourage fellow librarians who aspire to present at LIASA in the future, demonstrating that it is both possible and rewarding.

Your participation and stories will fuel mentorship, inspiration, and growth within our profession. Together, we can highlight the importance of this year’s theme while shaping the future of librarianship in South Africa.

 Guest Speakers:

1. Mr. Lindani Sikhakhane – Librarian, Randburg Library (City of Johannesburg Employee Innovation Award, 2023)
2. Mr. Mzwandile Radebe – Principal Librarian, Free State DSACR (Chairperson: Digital Transformation Task Team & Free State LIASA PACL Sector)
3. Mr. Ndumiso Shelembe – Librarian, Krugersdorp Library (Mogale City Library & Information Services)
4. Mr. Malebana Sello William – Capricorn District Librarian, Limpopo DSACR (Project Leader & Capacity-Building Facilitator)
5. University of Free State Library Services Team

Enquiries:
Mr. Mzwandile Radebe (Chairperson)
 Email: mzwandileradebe.research@gmail.com

We look forward to your participation in this one-of-a-kind pre-conference session and to hearing your voice as part of our collective journey toward empowering communities through libraries.