An Overview of My Librarianship Career Journey 1985 to 2023 [Present] and Future Goals: Challenges & Triumphs in academic (School, College, and University Libraries) of Ethiopia |By Mulugeta W/Tsadik, Librarian|
My 3rd Phase Professional Career Journey from 2004 to 2023 (Present), Currently@Hawassa University-Main Campus
The third phase of my library career is known as the period of professional promotion through internal promotion; i.e. I have got a promotion or transfer from HU WGCF to Hawassa University as a Principal Library Assistant. During the third phase in the Hawassa University library system, I served in various positions as follows:
2020-2023 (Present) – Librarian & Library Partnership Projects Coordinator at Hawassa University
Some of my notable achievements_For more detailed information, click on the links below:
Collection Development ( Acquisitions) in Partnership & Collaboration with International Donor Organizations
- Working in Partnership with Books For Africa situated @USA
- Working in Partnership with Book Aid International, Situated @London
- Working in Partnership with International Law Books Facility, Situated@London
Involvement in Professional Networking
- Involved in the International Librarians Networking Program of ALA -IRRT
- Involved in ALA-Core Leadership, Infrastructures, Futures
- Involved in Library World Tour Project
Promoting Electronic Resources (Resarch4Life)
- Global Access to Legal Information(GOALI) Promotion & Awareness Training has been conducted at Hawassa University, Ethiopia, April 19,2019
- Thank You Letter From an International Professional Colleague on the behalf of GOALI Team
Editor of Professional Newsletter: Link-Up e-Library Newsletter
My Professional Blog/Website
2004 _ 2019 – In Hawassa University Libraries in various Positions:
- Hawassa University College of Law & Governance, Head Librarian
- Hawassa University Libraries System, A/ Library Director
- Hawassa University, Main Campus Libraries Coordinator
- Hawassa University, Libraries system, Technical Services Head
Some of my notable achievements:
Member HULibrary Automation Project Team
I was also an active participant (member of the Hawassa University Library Automation Project team) in the Hawassa University (HU) Library System automation process along with other professional colleagues.
- The History of Library Automation @ Hawassa University, Ethiopia.
- Library Brochure 1-1
- Library Brochure 1-2
- To visit Photographs from archived documents Click on this link: Memorial photograph was taken at the Planning Meeting of the CEARL.
My 2nd Phase Professional career Journey from 2001 to 2003 @ Hawassa University: WGCF
During the 2nd phase, I served as Senior Librarian or Head Librarian at Wono Genet College of Forestry (WGCF). My involvement in Ethiopian Higher Educational Institutions Library System begins here at WGCF.
The 2nd phase of my professional career journey was capitalized as the transition period that is from the conventional or traditional library work environment to modern trends of the library work environment (21st-century library work environment). Thanks to WGCF here at this college for the first time I have been introduced to the 21st century library work environment. For further detailed information please click on the below-attached links:
Articles:
- Wondo Genet College of Forestry Library Services, By Mulugeta Woldetsadik, Senior Librarian, WGCF Library, DebubUniversity, P.O.Box 128, Shashmene, Ethiopia. Link-Up 14(1) March 2002.
- WGCF Library & Information Services An updated post on 21st-century Information Retrieval and Dissemination Network
My 1st Phase Professional Career Journey from 1985 to 2000
My first phase of professional library advocacy begins working with Link-Up editors internationally by contributing informative articles to _ The Newsletter of Link: A Network for North-South Library Development published in London, UK. Link members in the UK receive two copies of Link-Up – one to keep and one to give out to colleagues like me overseas. Membership was free to library and information workers in developing countries.
At that time there is no internet access here in Ethiopia, and the only way to communicate with the world is by postal service mail or snail mail. Today, thanks to the 21st century, we communicate with each other around the world in fractions of a second.
For more detailed information, click on the following links:
- Link Up Membership Number, Front & Inside Cover Message
- Link-Up Volume 11, Number 3, September1999. Front cover, its contents & back cover.
Articles:
- The Status of Librarians in Ethiopian Schools, By Mulugeta Woldetsadik, Librarian, Robe Senior Secondary High School, P.O.Box 115, Bale – Robe, Ethiopia, Link-Up 11(3) September 1999.
- School Libraries of Ethiopia: Lines of approach, By Mulugeta Woldetsadik, Teacher – Librarian, Robe SSH School P.O.Box93, Bale – Robe, Ethiopia. Link-Up 12(3) September 2000.
- Letters from Ethiopia, By MulugetaWoldetsadik, Link-Up 12(3) September 2000.
To visit photos of archived documents, click the links below:
- Mulugeta W/Tsadik @ Ghinnr Secondary High School, Head Librarian,1985 – 1988, Bale – Ghinnr, Ethiopia..
- Mulugeta W/Tsadik @ RobeSenior Secondary High School, Head Librarian, 1997 – 2000, Bale – Robe, Ethiopia.
CHALLENGES
All issues or problems were pertinent to Ethiopian school librarians and libraries I have indicated or described in The Newsletter of Link: A Network for North-South Library Development still didn`t gets a solution here in Ethiopia.
When I wrote the articles above and used the Link-Up newsletter to explain the challenges facing school librarians and the library profession in Ethiopia to my colleagues worldwide, there were only 3 or 4 universities in Ethiopia; there are currently 50 universities. Similarly, the situation of university librarians in Ethiopia is currently regrettably inadequate in terms of their status, professional recognition, and the attention that the responsible bodies or authorities give to librarians, the library service and the library profession, etc.
Policymakers, government officials/administrations, and the general public in Ethiopia still do not appreciate the role of libraries and librarians in our society. I think the librarians themselves are partly responsible for that. Most librarians, including public, school, and college/university librarians, perform classic routine library work, such as lending and returning books and other materials. They did not aspire to be in the 21st century to be innovative and creative, understand their community, work with their community, and build a partnership with all interested nationally, regionally, and internationally. It is the librarians themselves who create or damage the reputation and status of their profession. If we want statesmen, politicians, or administrations to support us, we have to stand up and fight instead of taking recognition of our profession for granted. Here comes the importance of advocacy and the role that professional librarians play in their careers.
TRIUMPHS
Right now here in Ethiopia, at the school library level, no more success. Most school libraries are neglected and are not the focus of education authorities. In colleges/universities, due to emerging technology, not all colleges and universities, some colleges/universities are striving to offer 21st-century library services to their potential users.
In general, in Ethiopia, there are no more successes in academic libraries (schools, colleges, and university libraries) due to the lack of attention from education officials and policymakers at the national level. There is no Ethiopian Library Association alike other countries of the world that can be the vanguard for librarians and libraries at the national level.
I hope that the general idea about Ethiopian academic librarians and libraries mentioned above can be a reference or starting point for professionals from developed countries interested in conducting research on higher education systems and university library systems in Africa.
The Quality of Education in Ethiopia
- It is evident that the quality of any educational system is judged by the type of library it has, with academic or university libraries being the backbone of an educational institution. also in the financing of teaching and research.
- As a 21st-century librarian, proactive collaboration with academic support staff and researchers across the university is vital. Collaborative approaches bring together a broader range of experience, knowledge, and different ways of thinking.
- New or revised systems should be integrated into relevant existing library and university systems as part of a broader institutional infrastructure.
The acquisition of physical books, electronic information sources or e-books, research journals, and publications in addition to this organization of academic libraries in the modern trends of the 21st century requires great attention.
In Ethiopia, as far as I know, the quality of education has been at great risk for the past 27 years because universities focus on training and producing large numbers of graduates, not on the quality of education provided.
Regarding the overall quality of education, the following quote in Africa shows the reality on the ground:
At the entrance gate of a University in South Africa, the following message was posted for contemplation:* “Destroying any nation does not require the use of atomic bombs or long-range missiles. It only requires lowering the quality of education and allowing cheating in the examinations by the students.” *
Patients die at the hands of such doctors.
Buildings collapse at the hands of such engineers.
Money is lost at the hands of such economists and accountants.
Humanity dies at the hands of such religious scholars.
- Justice is lost at the hands of such judges…
*“The collapse of education is the collapse of the nation.”*
My Future Professional Career Goals
Although I have faced many challenges throughout my professional career journey from 1985 to 2022, I remain strong and love my librarianship profession now and forever. No one can keep me away from my profession as a librarian and prevent me from pursuing my professional career. Thanks to emerging technology and the 21st century, through the professional blog or website that I have designed, I have connected with academia, potential users, and professional colleagues to share or learn updated information, experiences, ideas, skills, and knowledge globally.
Now I have gone from being a routine librarian to being an impact librarian!
- My main goal as a 21st-century librarian is to strive to contribute to the development of the Library and Information Science profession through sharing and exchanging experiences, knowledge, and skills with professional colleagues at the home and international level that are worthy of my profession, institution, and country.
Mulugeta W/Tsadik, Currently Librarian @ Hawassa University
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