Strengthening digitisation skills in Lesotho

Blog series Endangered archives

Author Cecile Communal, Head of International, British Library

This year, the British Library partnered with the National University of Lesotho and the British High Commission in Lesotho on a successful application to the Soft Power Fund, launching a multi-phase programme to strengthen digitisation skills among archivists and librarians in Lesotho and leading to the launch of a national digitisation and preservation framework for all cultural institutions in Lesotho.

The project aims to establish a coherent, collaborative, and sustainable national approach to digitisation that enhances access to information while safeguarding heritage resources for future generations.

Established by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to encourage collaboration and knowledge-sharing through international partnerships, the initiative presented an ideal opportunity to deepen our work with the National University of Lesotho, the British Library’s regional hub in Africa for the Endangered Archives Programme Hubs project — a network dedicated to international training in documentary heritage protection and outreach.

Building on the strong existing relationship between the two libraries, we used the fund to further our shared work in making Lesotho’s cultural heritage more accessible and better protected for future generations. The project brings together a broad range of institutions involved in the creation, management, and preservation of documentary and cultural heritage in Lesotho. These include the National University of Lesotho, Morija Museum and Archives, the National Library of Lesotho, Paray School of Nursing, Scott College of Nursing, Lerotholi Polytechnic, Lesotho College of Education, and the Royal Archives.

Digitisation was at the core of the project, offering a practical way to expand access to Lesotho’s documentary heritage while supporting its long-term preservation and research. With the National University of Lesotho, we focused on widening access to archives for researchers and local communities, while strengthening relationships between the UK and Lesotho through open, collaborative cultural exchange.

Together, we co-designed a staged training programme supporting professional development in digitisation practices for archivists and librarians in Lesotho. We began with one webinar on preservation strategy for audio collections with Adam Tovell (Head of Sound & Audiovisual Preservation, British Library),​ followed by a second webinar on planning a digitisation project with Andrew Longworth (Digitisation Workflow Manager, British Library). These sessions laid the foundations for a shared understanding of best practice and long-term thinking.

The collaboration then moved from virtual to in-person, as we welcomed a delegation of professionals from Lesotho to the British Library. Their visit offered an opportunity to experience first-hand our Conservation and Sound and Vision studios in St Pancras, as well as our digitisation studios in St Pancras in London and Boston Spa in West Yorkshire. These tours were paired with in-depth conversations about the challenges and opportunities of digital preservation in different contexts. These exchanges were as valuable for us as they were for our partners, presenting an opportunity to learn from each other and reflect on our own practices.

Building on insights from the study visit, the National University of Lesotho organised a Digitisation Framework Workshop in March 2026 in Lesotho, which provided a platform for stakeholders from different institutions to explore how a national digitisation framework for Lesotho should be structured, including its guiding principles, scope, and institutional responsibilities.

The final phase of the training, which ended in May 2026, brought the learning together through two practical workshops delivered by British Library staff at the National University of Lesotho: one focused on conservation for digitisation delivered by Veronica Zoppi (Conservation Training Programme Manager) and Zoe Voice (Conservation Training Manager), and the other on setting up a digitisation studio on a budget delivered by Jonathon Vines (Senior Imaging Technician) and Eugenio Falcinio (Imaging and Digital Product Manager).

By offering these workshops in succession to the same cohort, we were able to take a more integrated and holistic approach to preserving documentary heritage, one that brings together conservation, digitisation, and long-term stewardship into a coherent, sustainable practice.

On Friday 8 May, a ceremony was held in Maseru, Lesotho’s capital, to officially launch the Lesotho National Digitisation Framework in the presence of Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Motlatsi Maqelepo, British High Commissioner Martine Sobey, Vice Chancellor Professor Isaac Olusola Fajana and 100 guests including representatives from the European Union and UNESCO.

The framework is now available online for all cultural institutions in Lesotho to start their digitisation journey. As part of the ceremony, Dr. Tahleho Emmanuel Tseole demonstrated the National University of Lesotho’s platform and collection items digitised by his team now available online.

This project demonstrates what can be achieved through thoughtful international partnerships. By collaborating with partners to co-design training programmes, we can create lasting impact through building professional skills, strengthening institutional relationships, and preserving and sharing documentary heritage through greater access and engagement. I would like to thank Dr Buble Mbambo-Thata, Dr. Tahleho Emmanuel Tseole, the British High Commissioner Martine Sobey and all the teams at the National University of Lesotho and British High Commission for all their support and enthusiasm with this project.

For information about future workshops taking place at the Endangered Archives Programme Hub at the National University of Lesotho, visit our website.