Aug 2007 [Afrikaans]

Universiteit Stellenbosch Biblioteek-en Inligtingsdiens  ● Stellenbosch University Library and Information Service

Dear Readers

With this issue of Bibnuus we are sharing, once again, some newsworthy items on developments and activities at the Library with you.  We also invite you to share your viewpoints and suggestions about the Library with us by means of the Library's new blog, BiBlog.

Lucia Schoombee (Editor)

New staff

Ms Sarah Kibirige has been appointed Assistant Director: Technical services and Electronic Resource Management at the Library and Information Service as from 6 August.  Ms Kibirige was previously the Campus Librarian of Monash University, South Africa in Roodepoort.  Before that she held various positions, inter alia Acting Deputy University Librarian: Technical Services, Acting University Librarian and Senior Librarian: Technical Services at the University of the North West.

Extended hours continued at the Health Sciences Library
 

Extended hours at the Health Sciences Library will continue until 20 November 2007. The hours are as follows:
 

In the photo (above) Johan Engelbrecht receives a gift from Elda Nolte (Assistant Director: Client services) 

Farewell

Mr Johan Engelbrecht, Deputy Director of the Library and Information Service, took early retirement at the end of July this year.  He had been with the Library close on 25 years and served 23 years as Deputy Director.  Johan made a substantial professional contribution during his long tenure at the Library.  He leaves behind deep footprints as well as many friends and acquaintances at both the Library and the University.  With deep appreciation we wish him the very best for the future as well as for the new professional challenge he will be undertaking abroad.
 

Open Day


Anneke Schaafsma and Marié Roux in conversation with prospective students at the Library's Open Day booth

The Library's information booth at the University's Open Day, held on 4 August, was a first.  Brochures, water bottles and pens were distributed to those interested and a continuous Powerpoint slideshow depicted the Library and its various activities.  It was an excellent opportunity to create awareness for the library's services and facilities and to accentuate its accessibility.  We look forward to next year and the opportunity to project the Library's image even stronger to potential students of the University.

Ms Ellen Tise elected President-elect of IFLA
 

The election of Ms Ellen Tise, Senior Director: Library and Information Services, as President-elect of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), in June this year, is regarded a special honour for the SU Library and Information Service and for the South African library fraternity as a whole.  IFLA is the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their clients worldwide.  Ms Tise will serve in this position for the period 2007 to 2009 after which she will automatically serve as President for the period 2009 to 2011.

It is an exceptional achievement as this office is regarded as the highest position in the library profession.  Our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes go to Ms Tise for the task that lies ahead.

Read more on the Library's news webpage.

Off-campus access to electronic resources improved
 

Access to electronic resources from the Library homepage has been improved by the disposing of separate webpages for on-campus and off-campus clients.

There is now only one list for databases, e-journals and e-books and e-reference works respectively.  The links on these pages provide access for both on-campus and off-campus clients.

After selecting a specific database off-campus clients will merely be prompted for their SU campus network or portal username and password in order to proceed.

Multiple access to electronic databases
 

Use of the search engine, Metalib, which provides multiple access to the Library's electronic databases, by Library clients is currently actively being promoted and encouraged.

Metalib, introduced earlier this year, is a search engine that facilitates searching for information in various databases simultaneously.  The search engine is used in conjunction with SFX which provides access to full-text information.

To promote the use of Metalib the Library offers training in the use of the search engine on a one to one basis between August and October 2007.

An individual training session lasts approximately 15 minutes.  Please contact a faculty or branch librarian to make an appointment.

Presentation of the JJ Smith catalogue
 

The Library and Information Service recently celebrated the completion of the JJ Smith catalogue in the Manuscripts Section of the JS Gericke Library. The very valuable JJ Smith collection was donated to the Manuscripts Section by the Smith family in 2000.

JJ Smith (1883-1949) became the first editor of the Afrikaans dictionary, Woordeboek van die Afrikaanse Taal, in 1926. He was an exceptional linguist who left a lasting impression on the history of the Stellenbosch University, as well as the press in South Africa (Nasionale Pers). He was also the first professor in Afrikaans and Dutch at the Stellenbosch University in 1919 and first editor of the Afrikaans magazine, Die Huisgenoot. He will be remembered for his significant contribution to the development of the Afrikaans language.

Generous grants from the Louis Hiemstra Trust and Naspers enabled the staff of the Manuscripts Section to undertake the task of cataloguing the collection. The collection spans 7,2 meters shelf space and contains amongst others, correspondence with peers, family correspondence, manuscripts, articles, notebooks, speeches and radio talks. The collection is now completely described, catalogued and indexed, and available to researchers.

World Libraries International Congress held in South Africa
 

Nineteen library staff members had the privilege of attending the 73rd IFLA General Conference that was held in Durban between 19 and 23 August 2007. The theme of the conference was "Libraries for the future: Progress, Development and Partnerships".

IFLA, now called World Libraries International Congress (WLIC), holds its World Library and Information Conference in a different country each year. It is the most prestigious event in the international library and information services sector and it is always an honour to host the conference. This year's conference will only be the second ever held in Africa. The first was in Kenya in the 1970s. The average number of delegates who attended the World Congress in the past ranged between 3 500 and 5 000 from over 100 countries.

The topics that dominated this year's conference, included: information technology and research, library frontiers, multicultural library services, best practices, managing e-resources, preservation management, managing technologies, continued professional development, African libraries, information literacy, Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE), services for the disabled and parliamentary libraries.
 

Click here for the previous editions of Bibnuus.

Bibnuus is published by the Library and Information Service.
We welcome your suggestions.  Please send an e-mail to Lucia Schoombee.
Credit to: Sonja Badenhorst for the title banner.