Bridges to the past - gateways to the future

Libraries throughout the world are at many stages of development, but meetings such as this SCECSAL meeting allow us all the chance to look up from the problems on our desks and to contemplate the horizon and the way ahead. My theme is that of change, change in the global environment in which we operate, the challenges which we face as a result and to consider how we can mould and shape our future. In his vote of thanks to the Minister, Ralph Masanjika talked of professional commitment and this conference is a perfect expression of such commitment. To make long and difficult journeys and sacrifices to get here to Maseru implies professional commitment of a high order and I hope that the same commitment will be taken away by us all to implement the resolutions of the meeting. Some of the issues I wish to discuss may seem very distant or very starry-eyed, but I hope you will find some of it practical. The Information Age had attracted the attention of governments throughout the world. One of our tasks is to ensure that all levels of government and institutional management are reminded that they already have a cadre of skilled professionals equipped to deal with the issues of that Information Age. The G7 Group has commissioned work in this area, while Thabo Mbeki has spoken eloquently of the need not to create a divide between the information rich and information poor. The best way to shape our tomorrow is to consider it today.