Given Besa
Library Manager, Lubuto Model Library
Besa joined Lubuto in September 2013, overseeing daily operations in two Lubuto libraries operational in Lusaka at the time, and training library staff and volunteers. In 2017, she was selected as one of 19 African librarians to participate in the first IYALI (Initiative for Young African Library Innovators) learning experience, where she was able to see good library services in action in many countries. She now is the manager of the Lubuto Model Library in Lusaka. She has a double major degree in Library & Information Science and Public Administration from the University of Zambia. Prior to her work with Lubuto, Besa held positions with the Professional Teachers Union of Zambia and the Post Newspapers. Her passion is to see an increase in literacy levels among Zambian citizens and to protect children’s rights. She hopes to change the negative perception the general public has about libraries in Africa by showing the outcomes of highly professional children and youth library services, and to remove colonial tendencies by making sure that people understand the benefits and accessibility of libraries through the provision of quality customer service, publishing products, facilities and easy information access.