It was at LISDESA that the first Steering Committee for the Unification of Library and Information Stakeholders (ULIS) was elected and given the mandate to carry forward the process for a new organisation.

[4] At the ULIS-1 conference, held in July 1996 in Johannesburg, an Interim Executive Committee (IEC) was elected and mandated to draft a constitution for discussion by all the stakeholders.

[4] Approximately 450 library and information workers representing all nine provinces in South Africa attended the Constituent Conference.

[4] Peter Johan Lor, former State Librarian and former IFLA[5] Secretary General, is listed as the very first LIASA member.

[citation needed] The Representative Council is made up of the five elected officials (President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and Public Relations Officer), the Chairs and Chairs-Elect of the LIASA Branches, Chairs of the Interest Groups, as well as the Editors of LIASA-in-Touch[6] (the official magazine) and the South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science (SAJLIS).

Several Interest Groups have organised pre-conferences at the annual conference, which have exposed members to further training and skills development by experts in the field.

This Conference serves as an opportunity for LIASA members to showcase best practices; learn about national and international trends; and meet experts.