AIDS and culture: The case for an African information identity

The library and information profession in Africa is not well recognised. It does not carry an identifiable set of core activities that share a common understanding across societies in Africa. The number of libraries in Africa is limited for a variety of reasons, including lack of resources, populations that are not based in print literacy, and having its roots in the British model of librarianship. HIV/AIDS continues to pose severe problems for sub-Saharan Africa. Some countries in the region have successfully reduced the number of HIV/AIDS cases, citing information as the main source of prevention, presenting library and information professionals a unique opportunity to collectively organise and establish their role in the fight against the disease. This chapter discusses the opportunity for how library and information science professionals engaged in HIV/AIDS information activities can develop and strengthen a positive status for the library and information discipline in sub-Saharan Africa.