On behalf of the Ethiopian National Archives & Library
Agency and my self, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and heartfelt
thanks for your presence on the BC-NALA partnership Launching ceremony.
The public Library Womezekir, currently, the Ethiopian National Archives
and Library Agency was established and started its functions by books
granted by His Imperial Haile Selassie I after the Inaugural ceremony 1944.
In the 65 years of recorded history, having gone through a
number structural and systemic changes, the Ethiopian National Archives and
Library Agency has been playing a significant role in delivering reading,
research and study services,particulary to researchers, scholars, academicians,
writers, higher learning students, and the public at large.
The Agency's contributions to the beneficiaries are worth considering.
Because it has been making significant
endeavors to provide the necessary information to its users and the
public so as to uphold the aims of its
establishment.
The objectives realized so far among others are an
increased public access through public awareness strategy;
improved quality and efficiency of services based on user focus and needs;
issuing guidance, setting standards
and training human resources; developing collection capacity and
preservation and availing a purpose,
built modern building as well as renovating the old building.
Excellency,
Honorable Guests,
One of the Ethiopian National Archives and Library Agency's
vested powers and duties in the proclamation is to work closely with National
and International organization so as to develop and promote the professions of
Archives Library & Information management.
Against this background, the Agency has been undersigning
different memorandums of understandings and implementing the projects with
international organizations such as the National Library of France,
the National Archives of France, The National Archives of Turkey,
the ISBN Agency, International Federation of Library Associations,
International Council on Archives, the World Bank and the UNESCO.
For the last five years, the BC-NALA partnership has been in consultation
process with the aim of developing capacity and improving the delivery of
public libraries services all over the country.
The British Council being desirous to work in partnership
with the Agency initiated the idea with the aim of developing the capacity of
the Agency & public libraries all over the country.
I believe this kind of partnership will make great difference for the Agency
and the council in satisfying the needs of the customers. There is no doubt to
say that the joint efforts of the two parties will bring about, improvements
in Library service deliveries as the two bodies have been working hard for
this cause.
We all know that the era we live is an era of information technology,
and information technology by itself plays a key role in the day-to-day
activities of human life. Hence, striving to improve the library services
and developing the scope of using modern technologies in the partnership
with the British Council Ethiopia will enhance efficiency and effectiveness
at national level. It is also believed that exchanging professional skills
and best practices between the two parties plays a pivotal role in creating
an informed society in the area of information's communications technology.
Hence, both parties are expected to contribute for positive outcomes
acceptable by the public in general and customers and stakeholders
in particular by integrating the knowledge and expertise that they have
gained through long standing library service.
Excellency,
Honorable Guests,
We know that these days the needs of customers & stakeholders are highly
diversified and changing beyond imagination. To assure the satisfaction
of these divergent needs of the society, the Agency is working hard,
dedicating and committing itself to ensure the services rendered are
effective and efficient.
Accordingly, as an integral part of the ministry of culture and Tourism the
Agency is undertaking a Business process Reengineering in line with the
governments commitment for having a reformed civil service bureaucracy.
Ultimately, we hope that the vision and aims of the partnership will be
reasonably realized.
That is why the Agency is prepared to do its best in implementing the BC-NALA
partnership and it is believed that the partnership will take the Agency one
step forward in the provisions of quality services and is also considered one
of the most important & historical commitments by the British Council to improve
the National Library & public Libraries in the country.
Excellency,
Honorable Guests,
I hope, National and International organization, NGOs & other stakeholders
will stand with and support for the realization of the aims of the partnership.
I also believe that the BC-NALA partnership will be strongly consolidated
and bring significant changes to the interest of customers and stakeholders.
I would like once again to extent my thanks to the British council
for its strong unwavering and continued commitment to work with the Agency
in this partnership.
I am also very grateful to all the BC-NALA partnership Board Members
whose enthusiasm and commitment have enabled us to launch this level of initiative.
Finally, I would like to pay tribute to Mrs. Barbara Wickham,
Director of the British Council for her leadership and personal
commitment for the success of such great and valuable partnership.
I hope that the partnership will be successful.
Thank You
