P R O G R A M M E
DAY 1: MONDAY, 16 JUNE 2025
MIDLANDS TOURS

09:30 – 10:00 | Registration at Golden Horse Casino & Hotel.
10:00 – 13:00 | Midlands tours.
13:00 – 13:30 | Lunch on tour (packed lunch provided by the hotel).
13:30 – 15:30 | Midlands tours continue.
15:30 – 17:00 | UKZN Pietermaritzburg Campus Library, Special Collections, and Archives tour.
17:00 | Return to Golden Horse Casino & Hotel.

Day 2: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
OFFICIAL OPENING AND WORKSHOP
Programme Director: Dr Praversh Sukram, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)

08:30 – 09:15 | Registration and Tea.
09:15 – 09:20 | National Anthem.
09:20 – 09:25 | Introduction of DVC Research and Innovation, UKZN by Dr Nonhlanhla Ngcobo, Director of Library Services, UKZN.
09:25 – 09:40 | Welcome Address – Professor Anil Chuturgoon, DVC Research and Innovation, UKZN.
09:40 – 09:45 | Introduction – Dr Nonhlanhla Ngcobo, Director of Library Services, UKZN.
09:45 – 10:00 | Address by Professor Cory Lampert, IFLA IT Section Chair.
10:00 – 10:15 | Address by Mr. Charlie Molepo, LIASA President.
10:15 – 10:35 | Tea Break.

10:35 – 10:50 | Address by Dr A. Bellengere: Library Advisory Committee Chair, UKZN.
10:50 – 11:15 | Zulu Traditional Dance Group.
11:15 – 11:55 | Keynote address by MR MUSA E. ZULU, Creative Director: Valhalla Arts.
11:55 – 12:10 | Robot Launch.

12:10 – 13:00 | Lunch.

13:00 – 15:00 | Workshop Title: Human-Centered AI: Rethinking Library Services with Empathy. Hosted by Mr Santiago Villegas-Ceballos, Director: MedeJean – Cultural Intelligence, Columbia.
Please note: Participants are required to bring their laptops as the second part of the workshop will be a hands-on practical session.

15:00 – 15:20 | Tea Break.

15:20 – 17:20 | Workshop Continues: Human-Centered AI: Rethinking Library Services with Empathy. Hosted by Mr Santiago Villegas-Ceballos, Director: MedeJean – Cultural Intelligence, Colombia.

18:00 – 21:00 | Cocktail Function hosted by His Worship the Mayor of Msunduzi Municipality, Councillor Mzimkhulu Thebolla.

Day 3: Wednesday, 18 June 2025

08:30 – 09:00 | Registration and Tea.
Programme Director: Mrs. Sushiela Naidoo (UKZN).
09:00 – 09:30 | Keynote Address by Mr. Isak van der Walt (University of Pretoria).

Session 1: AI in Academic Libraries and Advancement of the SDGs.
Session Chair: Ms. Nthabiseng Kotsokoane, University of the Free State.

09:30 – 09:50 | Artificial Intelligence in Academic Libraries: Opportunities and Challenges – Mr. Abdul Kadir Salifu (Tamale College of Education, Ghana).
09:50 – 10:10 | Usability of Artificial Intelligence for the Provision of Information Services at an Academic Library in South Africa – Ms. Phuti Concilia Rabatseta (North-West University, South Africa), Dr Mashilo Modiba (University of South Africa) and Prof Patrick Ngulube (University of South Africa).

10:10 – 10:30 | Tea Break.

10:30 – 10:50 | Artificial Intelligence in Peru: Social Impact and Challenges in Education to Achieve SDG 4 and SDG 10 – Ms. Paola Ascención-Morales and Ms. Grace Cortez-Ruvnoch (Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Peru).
10:50 – 11:10 | The use of AI and Automation in Transforming Scholarly Communication Services and Leverage SDGs – Ms. Rosina Ramokgola (University of Pretoria, South Africa).

11:10 – 12:20 | Panel Discussion: AI and SDGs.
Moderator: Ms. Nthabiseng Kotsokoane, University of the Free State on behalf of Professor Cory Lampert (University of Nevada and IFLA IT Section Chair).
11:10 – 11:20 | Mr. Isak van der Walt (University of Pretoria, South Africa).
11:20 – 11:30 | Ms. Paola Ascención-Morales (Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Peru).
11:30 – 11:40 | Ms. Rosina Ramokgola (University of Pretoria, South Africa).
11:40 – 11:50 |  Prof Ruth Hoskins (University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa).
11:50 – 12:20 | Discussion and Q&A.

Session 2: AI and LIS Education.
Session Chair: Prof Ruth Hoskins, Teaching and Learning, College of Humanities, UKZN.
12:20 – 12:40 | Library Education and the Rise of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning – Dr Nthabiseng Mosala-Bryant (Mangosuthu University of Technology, South Africa).
12:40 – 13:00 | From Know-What to Know-Why: Towards Integrating an AI Literacy Program into the LIS Curriculum – Dr Lynn Kleinveldt (University of the Fraser Valley, Canada).

13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch.

14:00 – 14:20 | Proposed Curriculum for Library and Information Science (LIS) Education to Meet the Emerging Trends in Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Ms. Chitundu Precious Chisunka and Prof Zawedde Nsibirwa (University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa).
14:20 – 14:40 | AI in Our Libraries: Transforming Knowledge, Access, and Innovation – Ms. Neesha Ramsumar (Universal Knowledge Software, South Africa).

Session 3: Exhibitors’ Presentations.
Session Chair: Mrs. Nonjabulo Ngcobo (UKZN).
14:40–15:40 | Exhibitors Presentations.
14:40–14:50 | Universal Knowledge Software (UKS).
14:50–15:00 | Elsevier.
15:00–15:10 | Clarivate.
15:10–15:20 | Sabinet.
15:20–15:30 | EBSCO.
15:30-15:40 | University of KwaZulu-Natal Press.
15:40-16:20 | Tea Break

Session 4: AI and Libraries.
Session Chair: Dr Nonhlanhla Ngcobo (UKZN).
16:20 – 16:40 | Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Learning Analytics into Academic Libraries for Resource Optimization in South Africa – Ms. Neli Tshabalala (North-West University, South Africa) and Dr Mashilo Modiba (University of South Africa).

16:40 – 17:30 | Lightning Talks
Session Chair: Dr Roshini Pather (UKZN).

1. Artificial Intelligence in Library Services: Advancements, Challenges, and Bias in Large Language Models in South Africa – Ms. Karina Chetty (University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), South Africa).
2. Case Study: AI – Meeting the Challenges, Creating Opportunities: The University of Edinburgh Experience – Dr Elizabeth Williams (University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom).
3. Beyond Boolean: Student Perception of Generative AI-Assisted Literature Reviews – Mr. Sixolile Nkonyeni and Ms. Ivy Segoe (University of Johannesburg, South Africa).
4. Evaluating AI-Generated Prompts for Enhancing Library Services: A Comparative Study of ChatGPT and Copilot – Mr. Maropene Ramabina (North-West University, South Africa).
5. Black at The Ascots: Missing Histories and Contemporary Realities of Black People “Doing Nice Things” – Dr Sireita Mullings (University of Bedfordshire, United Kingdom) and Dr Elizabeth Williams (University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom).
6. Power Automate: Enhancing Workflows in Institutional Repository Management – Mr. Cecil Ntobeko Gasa and Ms. Neli Tshabalala (North-West University, South Africa).

17:30 – 17:40 | Q&A.

17:40 – 18:00 | Wrap-Up Discussion: Ms. May Chang, IFLA IT Section.

Day 4: Thursday, 19 June 2025
Conference Presentations:
08:30 – 09:00 | Registration and Tea.
Programme Director: Mrs. Aphelele Xulu (UKZN).
09:00 – 09:30 | Keynote Address: Mr. Santiago Villegas-Ceballos (Director, MedeJean – Cultural Intelligence, Columbia).

Session 5: Ethics, Policies and Frameworks in AI.
Session Chair: Mr. Nkululeko Duke Magwaza (UKZN).
09:30 – 09:50 | The Ethical Dimension of Information Society and the Quest for Open Science – Professor Stephen Mutula (UKZN, South Africa).
09:50 – 10:10 | Towards a Framework for Application of Artificial Intelligence Technologies in Thomas Mofolo Library – Professor Wole Michael Olatokun and Ms. Lineo Lucia Mafitoe (National University of Lesotho, Lesotho).

10:10 – 10:30 | Tea Break.

10:30 – 10:50 | Ethical Use of AI in Higher Education: Student Perspectives from the University of the Western Cape – Mr. Andrew E. Ennis (University of the Western Cape, South Africa).

10:50 – 11:50 | Panel Discussion: Ethical Considerations in AI for Scholarly Communication.
Moderator: Dr Nonhlanhla Ngcobo (UKZN).

10:50 – 11:00 | Professor Donrich Thaldar, UKZN.
11:00 – 11:10 | Professor Stephen Mutula, UKZN.
11:10 – 11:20 | Mr. Andrew E. Ennis, University of Western Cape.
11:20 – 11:50 | Discussion and Q&A.

Session 6: AI Adoption and Skills Development in Libraries.
Session Chair: Ms. Goitsemang Ncongwane (UKZN).
11:50 – 12:10 | Upskilling for the Next Generation of Research Support: AI, Robotics, and Digital Transformation at the Forefront, the University of Pretoria Library Case Study – Mr. Chipa Maimela, Mr. Lathola Mchunu and Mr. Thulani Mahlangu (University of Pretoria, South Africa).
12:10 – 12:30 | Contextual Hurdles in AI Adoption: Insights from Zimbabwean University Libraries – Prof Vusumuzi Maphosa (National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe), Dr Rosemary Maturure (Africa University, Zimbabwe) and Mr Notice Pasipamire (National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe).
12:50 – 13:10 | Artificial Intelligence Tools in Data Visualization and Business Intelligence for Electronic Resources in Namibian Academic Libraries – Ms. Frieda Henok and Ms. Helena Nambili (University of Namibia, Namibia).
12:50 – 13:10 | Q&A

13:10 – 14:30 | Lunch.

Session 7: AI-Driven Library Services and User Engagement.
Session Chair: Ms. Nontobeko Sikhosana (UKZN).

14:30 – 14:50 | Library Services in a Digital Age: Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a Research Assistant in Library Services: The University of Johannesburg Experience – Mr. Omesh Jagarnath and Dr Gertruida Elizabeth du Toit (University of Johannesburg, South Africa).
14:50 – 15:10 | Repurposing Library Service Delivery in the Digital Age: Harnessing AI Technologies for Enhanced User Experience – Ms. Monica Chatikobo and Dr Blessing Chiparausha (Bindura University of Science Education, Zimbabwe).
15:10 – 15:30 | Enhanced Services and User Engagement: Prompt Engineering for Librarians – Ms. Anelisa Mente-Mpako and Mr. Janusz Skarzynski and Mr. Sylvester Jeffries (University of the Western Cape, South Africa).

Session 8: AI-Driven Transformation in Libraries.
Session Chair: Dr Roshini Pather (UKZN).

15:30 – 15:50 | Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Required to Improve Metadata Services in Libraries at Institutions of Higher Education in Namibia – Ms. Tissa Magano Titus and Dr Mashilo Modiba (University of South Africa).
15:50 – 16:10 | Riding the Artificial Intelligence Avalanche: Academic Libraries Navigating Disruption – A Review – Ms. Biziwe Tembe (Vaal University of Technology, South Africa); Ms. Nomonde Dos Santos (University of Mpumalanga Libraries) and Ms. Sanele Kunene (Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa).
16:10 – 16:30 | Transforming Education: AI Integration as a Catalyst for Innovation in School Libraries – Mr. Hosea Tokwe (Midlands State University, Zimbabwe).
16:30 – 16:50 | Emerging Trends, Patterns, and Complexities Surrounding AI Integration in Southern African Academic Libraries: A Bibliometric Analysis – Mr. Lungile Mdanyana and Dr Samuel S. Ncoyini (Walter Sisulu University, South Africa).
16:50 – 17:10 | Smart Libraries: Prospects and Challenges of Using AI Applications in Libraries in African Countries – Ms. Vengesai Petronella Garande (Harare institute of Technology, Zimbabwe).
17:10 – 17:20 | Wrap-up Discussion and Reflections, Ms. May Chang, IFLA IT Section on behalf of Professor Cory Lampert (IFLA IT Section Chair).

18:30 – 21:30 | South African Braai at Ascot Inn Bush Lodge.

Day 5: Friday, 20 June 2025
08:30 – 09:00 | Registration and Tea.
Session Chair: Ms. Nthabiseng Kotsokoane.

09:00 – 10:00 | Topic: Voices of Associations: Commitment to Responsible AI (Panel Discussion & Open Forum: LIASA, IFLA SSARD, AFLIA, IFLA IT Section and AI SIG).
10:00 – 10:30 | Vision 2030: Presentation by Professor Cory Lampert.
10:30 – 11:00 | Tea Break.
11:00 – 11:20 | Wrap-up Debriefing – Ms. May Chang.
11:20 – 11:30 | Participants Commitment to Responsible AI use – Dr Nonhlanhla Ngcobo.
11:30 – 12:00 | Closing Remarks & Vote of Thanks– Dr Nonhlanhla Ngcobo and Professor Cory Lampert.
12:00 | Lunch and Departure.