Vision & Mission Statement

Vision

 

We believe that inquiries in the humanities fuel social development. Through our research library, Basler Afrika Bibliographien, we connect people in Europe and Southern Africa who share a curiosity and ardour for this endeavour.

 

 

Mission Statement

 

We curate, develop, and provide access to archive and library collections on Southern Africa for a national and international research and education community. Our regional focus is Namibia. We strive to maximise access to the collections using current and innovative technical standards.

 

 

Strategic Goals

 

• Strengthen partnerships and cooperation with African representatives from academia, research, culture, and education, and promote exchange with Namibian memory institutions,

 

• promote access to and international networking of knowledge on Southern Africa within the framework of Open Science/Open Access/Digital Humanities,

 

• strengthen cooperation with national and international partners and multiple stakeholders, thereby reducing digital, technological, or knowledge gaps and increasing equality of opportunity,

 

• support research and knowledge transfer, especially in the humanities and social sciences with a focus on Southern Africa, and strengthen not only the exchange with but above all the participation from the focus regions,

 

• provide a forum for research results in the humanities and social sciences from Southern Africa and make them accessible to a wide audience, especially through (Open Access) publications,

 

• contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage to and from Southern Africa, and ideally have this shaped by people from Southern Africa,

 

• establish an ethical and responsible approach to historical and current cultural heritage—both in its use and in public access.