April2020 DigitalinclusioninSubSaharanAfrica:theroleoflibraries OghenerheGabrielSalubi,PhD DepartmentofLibrary&InformationScience UniversityoftheWesternCape SADCCountries DigitalInclusioninSouthernAfrica SouthernAfrica,likemanyotherregionsintheworld, facessignificantchallengesintermsofdigitalinclusion. Whiletheregionhasmadesomeprogressinincreasingaccesstotechnology,manypeoplestilllackaccesstobasicdigitalservicesandtheskillsneededtousethemeffectively. Whatdodatalibrariansworkwith? Language Literacyandaccess WhatcanLibrariansdo? Promotingpoliciessuchasuniversalservice fundsande-strategies. WhatcanLibrariansdo? Centreofdigitalexcellenceintheircommunities WhatcanLibrariansdo? Librariesfosteringenvironmentalsustainability throughopendatadigitalinclusion WhatcanLibrariansdo? Facilitationofaccesstodatathroughdata citizenship ThereisagaptomakeAfricadigitallyreadyandinclusive,thereisaneedtobridgethegap,there isworktobedone,Letuspickourrolesasinformationprofessionalsinbridgingthesegaps