Winner of the 2008 ILIG International Award announced
Mr Gray Nyali, Director of the Malawi National Library Service (MNLS) has won a prestigious International Award in recognition of the way he has developed and taken library and information services out to a large number of people throughout Malawi, thereby enriching their lives. This award has been given by the International Library and Information Group of CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals) in the United Kingdom.
The award is given annually to someone “making a difference in Libraries and Information Services outside of the U.K.” Last year’s awardee was Mrs Jan Lewis, a British resident of Barbados since 1998, for her voluntary work at Her Majesty’s Prison Harrison Point.
Gray Nyali was nominated for the award by Beth Murphy of Book Aid International (BAI) who has known him through the longstanding partnership between BAI and MNLS, as well as his collaboration in several pan-African workshops run by BAI.
The ILIG committee were impressed by the number and variety of spheres that Gray Nyali manages to include in his work. The MNLS operates 12 library service points in 10 cities or towns in Malawi. In addition to this core work, Gray Nyali is responsible for co-ordinating a number of outreach projects in rural areas to connect with rural communities through small local library centres which focus on such matters as district communities, rural growth, adult literacy or schools.
In addition to a wide range of work activities Gray Nyali also enjoys participating in national symposiums, IFLA and the Book Fair in Cape Town where he has contributed papers on the LIS scene in Malawi, of which he is also a key initiator.
When told that he had received the ILIG Award Gray said, “I am very excited about winning this important award. It has come as a dream to my staff and me. I would like to thank my staff and the Board of the National Library Service for their support without which most of the assignments could not have been achieved. My thanks to Beth Murphy of Book Aid International for proposing my name for this award. This news has brought joy and happiness to the National Library Service and all our International and Local cooperating partners in the fight against illiteracy in Malawi”.
Although Gray Nyali will not be present at ILIG's AGM in June, Beth Murphy of Book Aid International will present the Award to him on 15th April, 2008 when she visits Africa, making this the first time the Award has been presented in the home country of the winner.
Anyone wishing to contact Gray about his work for literacy in Malawi can do so by e-mailing him at gnyali@hotmail.com
Press contact:
Kathleen Ladizesky, Treasurer of CILIP’s International Library and Information Group
Tel: 01974 282 411
Email: mailto:ladizesky@yahoo.com
Notes for Editors
1. CILIP International Library and Information Group
ILIG exists to unite CILIP members both in the UK and abroad who have a strong interest in international work. Its purpose is to foster good international relations within the profession; lessen professional isolation; encourage closer international understanding, and contribute to the development of library and information services overseas. Further information.
2. CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals is the leading professional body for librarians, information specialists and knowledge managers. It forms a community of around 36,000 people engaged in library and information work, of whom around 21,000 are CILIP members and around 15,000 are regular customers of CILIP Enterprises.
3. ILIG International Award
Further information.
4. Further details on Gray Nyali’s career
Gray Nyali studied for a Masters degree in Librarianship from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth and a BSc in Agriculture from University of Malawi's Bunda College of Agriculture. After a variety of library related jobs when he had particular interest in the creation of local databases using CDS/ISIS, in 2002 he was appointed Director of MNLS. He is also a trustee of the Malawi Library Consortium, on the board of the Malawi Teacher Training Activity and of the Primary School Support Project.
Gray Nyali is also responsible for the organization of several ventures funded by a variety of partners and donors for development of libraries and information provision in Malawi such as:-
• Canadian NGO, CODE 5 year project on Procurement, Distribution and Promotion of use of Reading Materials for Children in Selected Primary Schools Libraries, Community reading rooms and branches of the National Library Service,
• National Aids Commission's funding of a range of information materials on HIV/AIDS,
• World Bank funding of the Malawi Centre for Development Information at MNLS HQ,
• UNICEF provision of printed and AV materials to support SARA project for young girls and their problems and opportunities,
• Norwegian aid agency project to get mothers reading to their pre-school aged children (Mother and Child Project.),
• Book Aid International /Headily Trust Women Reading Clubs Project,
• Building Futures setting up satellite Libraries in Lilongwe City.
-Ends-
Updated: 26 June 2008