Press Release

The United States Embassy Hosts Digital Library Expert

August 27, 2007

MBABANE – The Embassy of the United States of American hosted a workshop between August 27-28 at the Mountain Inn for librarians, academics, government officials, non- governmental organizations and management from both private and para-statal sectors. Individuals from business and tourism sectors were also in attendance. Charge’ d’ Affaires Lynn Allison opened the workshop.

Keynote U.S speaker and presenter was Dr. Ching – Chih Chen, Professor of the Graduate School of Library and Information Sciences, Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. She has served as a global consultant on Information Computer Technology (ICT) applications for promoting knowledge society and economic development for infrastructure development and national/international information policies to over 40 countries. Dr.Chen is the author/editor of more than 35 books and over 200 journal articles in areas of new information technologies, such as a global digital library, multimedia technology, and digital imaging and information resources.  During the workshop Dr. Chen will deliver two speeches at the invitation of the American Embassy which focus on “How libraries in Swaziland can benefit from the currently Available Internet Technology” and “How a Developing Country’s Economic Development Can Benefit from New Technology Applications.”

This workshop will enable participants to interact and strategize on how to utilize information technology in libraries in order to boost the academic, scientific, and economic sectors.