The 2017 Edition of the Zimbabwe International Book Fair was held from 31 July – 5 August 2017 in Harare under the theme: “Making the Book Pay."
HIT Institute Librarian, Mr Maenzanise who is the current Vice Chairman of the Zimbabwe International Book Fair Association Executive Board chaired the two day Indaba which took place from 31 July to 1 August. He also gave a insightful presentation on the Librarians workshop entitled Making the Book Pay, Realizing Local, Regional & Global Development Agendas. He highlighted that Libraries are key to achieving the SDGs and their roles are dynamic, encompassing provision of access to information, enabling people to make informed decisions as information improves people's lives, enabling the eradication of poverty and inequality, improving agriculture, providing quality education, supporting quality health, preservation and conserves a people's culture, central to research and innovation, critical to STEM.
“In the context of the UN 2030 Agenda, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) believes that increasing access to information and knowledge across society, assisted by the availability of information and communications technologies (ICTs), supports sustainable development and improves people's lives," said Mr Maenzanise.
Dean Muredzi made a presentation on Demystification of concepts in copyright limitations and exceptions in the digital era: Case of selected countries in Sub-saharan Africa.
Mr M.Nhakura the HIT Acting Senior Assistant Librarian also presented an interesting, stimulating and thought provoking research which studies the role of parents and librarians in children's reading, education, talent identification and in stimulating life long career prospects. The purpose of the study was to establish a correlation between parent involvement and talent identification; nurturing and development of students towards the adoption of a possible life career through maintaining a reading culture supported by education systems. In his presenation, Mr Nhakura challenged the audience to identify the talents in their children which will automatically be developed to stimulate inventions from a tender age.