MALICO, the Malawi Library and Information Consortium is a young organisation on the Malawi Information Scene. It was established on 7 May 2003 and celebrated its 2nd Anniversary in style with the launch of its VSAT Network, giving academic connectivity from north to south of Malawi!

A Training Workshop held in June 2003 resulted in the development of the Mission, Vision, Constitution and Memorandum of Agreement. Founding members include the National Library Service, University of Malawi Libraries, Mzuzu University Library, Reserve Bank of Malawi, the National Research Council of Malawi and the Malawi Bureau of Standards. Malawi Institute of Management and the National Research Council of Malawi were the next members. Membership continues to expand with National AIDS Commission, African Bible College and Domasi College of Education. MALICO, in common with several other consortia in the region, was established with the assistance of a startup grant from OSISA (Open Society Initiative of Southern Africa) through the eIFL (Electronic Information for Libraries Network of the Open Society Institute). Current initiatives include:

• Participation in eIFL-IP, a group examining issues of intellectual property in a Digital Age: the MALICO representative is Mr F G Howse.
• A one-day Training Course : Internet Power Searching is also available on request
  MALICO Is also involved in initiatives linked with creating Digital Libraries or Knowledge Banks

MALICO is, in addition to being an eIFL member, a member of ICOLC : the International Coalition of Library Consortia.

One of the major constraints to accessing electronic information is slow internet speed, MALICO is beneficiary of an eIFL pilot project to upgrade speed through deployment of VSATs at 4 MALICO sites.
The Members of the MALICO Executive were elected at the First MALICO Council meeting held on 1st August 2003 at Malawi Bureau of Standards Board Room.

MALICO, the Malawi Library and Information Consortium is a young organisation on the Malawi Information Scene. It was established on 7 May 2003 and celebrated its 2nd Anniversary in style with the launch of its VSAT Network, giving academic connectivity from north to south of Malawi.

• To encourage national, regional and international cooperation among information stakeholders,
• To influence information policy at the national level,
• To work for adequate ICT infrastructure for members, especially sufficient internet bandwidth
• To assist in the development of appropriate ICT skills at all levels,
• To facilitate access to electronic journal articles in international databases,
• To organise and digitise Malawian content,
• To provide information consultancy.

The Malawi Library and Information Consortium (MALICO) has worked in partnership with the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) since its inception in 2003. INASP has supported MALICO in capacity building of consortium members and negotiations with e-resources publishers to ensure availability of the resources in Malawi at a greatly reduced price. As MALICO is becoming of age, it was envisaged that a strategic plan be developed to enable the consortium follow a clear road map and be self-sustainable. Although there are many areas in which the consortium needs strengthening, the strategic plan covers some of the areas deemed to be a nexus between previous and future activities of the consortium.

Download the MALICO Strategic Plan