Gauteng North Newsletter

Gauteng North Newsletter Gauteng North Branch newsletter November 2012 Gauteng North Branch 1997-2012 Branch Executive Committees

Branch Librarians of the Year 2006-2012 2006 Tienie de Klerk (National Library of South Africa) 2007 Alida Schlebusch (Tshwane Community Library Services) 2008 Ujala Satgoor (University of Pretoria Library Services) 2009 Roselle Jansen van Vuuren (National Library of South Africa) 2010 Mona Niemand (Gauteng Department of Education) 2011 Elsabe Olivier (University of Pretoria Library Services) 2012 Martha de Waal (University of Pretoria Library Services) 2

The 2012 Annual General Meeting and 15 th Anniversary celebration The Gauteng North 2012 AGM was held at the National Library of South Africa on 4 September 2012. Mr Mashudu Mavhungu, Executive Head: Human resources welcomed participants on behalf of the NLSA leadership. The keynote speaker was Dr Ria Slabbert, a clinical and counseling psychologist. She spoke about emotional intelligence, social intelligence and how to handle difficult people in the workplace. The outgoing Branch Chair, Ms Segametsi Molawa, presented the Branch Annual Report and the outgoing Branch Treasurer Mr Harry Nkadimeng presented the audited financial statements. Ms Martha de Waal was awarded the 2012 Gauteng North Branch Librarian of the Year. She received a floating trophy and a place in the finals of the National Librarian of the Year. The prize was handed over by Ms Fatima Darries, the 2006 National Librarian of the Year. The Gauteng North Branch Executive Committee (BEC) for 2012-2014 was announced: Chairperson: Mr Modisa Khosie (University of Limpopo Medunsa Campus) Chair-Elect: Mr Danie Malan (University of Pretoria Library Services Merensky Library) Secretary: Ms Motsarome Mabena (Tshwane Community Library and Information Service Eldoraigne Library) PRO: Ms Mmakgoshi Reetseng (University of Limpopo Medunsa Campus) Treasurer: Ms Salamina Molamu (Africa Institute of South Africa) Additional Members: Ms Siphethile Gcukumana (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Information Services), Ms Lerato Bopape (National Library of South Africa Pretoria Campus), Ms Suzy Nyakale (University of Pretoria Library Services Pre-Clinical Library) and Ms Mmaditshipi Seageng (Dept of Water Affairs & Forestry Library). In his acceptance speech, the Chairperson congratulated the new committee members and thanked them for accepting the nomination. He also thanked the respective institutions and their managements for their continuing support and for affording the BEC members time and resources to enable them to carry their roles. The Branch celebrated LIASA s 15-year anniversary by sharing a huge birthday cake with all those in attendance. 3

Gifts were handed to 3 members dressed in bright spring colours Several Carnegie Library Leadership Academy alumni from the academic, public and the national library sectors in Gauteng North, attended the Branch AGM ***** 4

Gauteng North 2012 Librarian of the Year: Martha de Waal Martha has been selected to be the 2012 LIASA Gauteng North Librarian of the Year -- in acknowledgement of her dedicated and loyal support of and service to LIASA and the Library and Information Services profession. She has been employed by the University of Pretoria Library Services since 2009 as Programme Co-ordinator for the Centre for African Library Leadership (CALL), which was established in the Merensky Library with a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. During this period she successfully coordinated the library leadership development project and the participation therein of 120 selected library leaders from the public, academic and national library sectors. Through her perseverance, friendly and caring personality and quiet gentleness she motivated and inspired the participants, but also allowed herself to grow and learn. Her liaison with sector professionals, lecturers from the academic environment and experts from the corporate world during this period, made her a worthy advocate for the profession. During her career as cataloguer in the South African National Bibliography Project of the National Library of South Africa she served on various national cataloguing forums within LIASA and Sabinet Online and internationally through participation in IFLA-related cataloguing initiatives. She has recently been appointed as Cataloguing Coordinator in the Library Technical Services Unit of the University of Pretoria Library Services and with a firm belief in knowledge sharing she is looking forward to contribute to the development of bibliographic control in South Africa through the new cataloguing standard, Resource Description and Access. Martha has been a member of Library Associations throughout her career. She has been a member of SAILIS, participated in the unification process of library associations in South Africa and is an active LIASA member since its inception. She served on the LIASA Gauteng North Branch Executive Committee in various portfolios and was the National LIASA Secretary for the 2010-2012 term of office. She influenced many professionals to be active LIASA members with an admirable diplomacy and persistence and continues to inspire individuals to join the Association. She is a proud LIASA member and acknowledges the role that the Association has played in her professional and personal development. Martha has made a lasting impression on the LIS sector with her high levels of professionalism and her ability to influence, empower and contribute to the professional lives of fellow librarians. Her excellent example of efficient, professional, enthusiastic and persistent brand of librarianship is infectious and greatly admired. With her dedication to hard work she deserves 5

the award of 2012 Gauteng North Librarian of the Year. She is an excellent role model for young professionals, an ongoing inspiration for mature professionals and is a worthy recipient of this prestigious award. ***** Acknowledging LIASA Gauteng North Branch and its members I was first elected on the LIASA Gauteng North Branch Executive Committee in 2001 and had the privilege to have worked with 4 exceptional Branch Chairs (Mr Marinus Swanepoel, Ms Sonia Nel, Mr Robert Moropa and Ms Ujala Satgoor), as well as a group of remarkable Executive Committee members from various libraries and institutions. When I was first asked to join the Branch Executive Committee (BEC) I never for a moment thought what is in it for me. I just committed myself to contribute to my library association and my profession in my own small but unique way. And what a journey it has been! Over many years I served in almost every portfolio position, which also included 2 terms as Branch secretary. Yes we worked hard and it was not always easy. But we had a lot of fun, enjoyed the BEC meetings and the planning and organising of many successful branch events, library visits, national conferences and library week launches. I learned a lot from my fellow BEC members. I met incredible library professionals from different libraries and institutions from all over the country and the many networking opportunities were invaluable. I was fortunate to attend meetings, conferences and workshops from which I could gain and learn and develop. Being a LIASA Gauteng North member indeed contributed to my personal and professional growth. To those that I have had the privilege to work with over many years, thank you for your commitment, your support, for learning and sharing and for friendship and for enriching my life in so many ways! LIASA has certainly opened a lot of doors for me and I am proud to be associated with the Gauteng North Branch and its members! Thank you for honoring me as the 2012 Gauteng North Branch Librarian of the Year. May the Gauteng North Branch continue to grow and contribute to the professional development of its members! - Contributed by Martha De Waal ( martha.dewaal@up.ac.za) 6

Gauteng North Branch Community Outreach Programme The Children at the Pediatric Oncology Unit of the Pretoria Steve Biko Academic Hospital will remember Children s day with a smile. The BEC under the leadership of Ms Leonie Tiemensma visited the children s ward on 4 November 2012 to hand over a donation of books and dolls donated by Gauteng North members during the AGM meeting. The donation was received by Ms Judy Schoeman, the Chief Dietician at the Pediatric Oncology Unit. The toys were distributed to boys and girls ranging from 5 years to 11 years old and the books were taken to the Library room. It was an unforgettable and emotional experience filled with sadness and the realisation that life is precious and that every moment should be cherished. The children s little faces lit up with joy and appreciation and it was priceless to see how they were able to forget their pain and suffering in the moment. Judy and her team are doing wonderful things. They painted the walls of the wards pink to accommodate the girls and blue to make the boys feel at home. On one of the wall in the girls' room a beautiful script has been put up: The incoming BEC would like to thank Leonie and past BEC members for their commitment, hard work and dedication towards this project. The incoming BEC will do their best to continue with this rewarding project. - Submitted by Danie Malan 7

Carnegie Library Leaders Symposium The Carnegie Library Leadership Project, offered between July 2009 and April 2012 by the University of Pretoria Library Services with a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, has been concluded with a Library Leaders Symposium held on 27 and 28 October 2012 at Leriba Lodge in Centurion. 77 of the 111 emerging library leaders who graduated from the Academy, gathered to share their experiences, successes and challenges and to decide on the way forward. A declaration of intend would be compiled, to include the following agreement: - the alumni pledged to be lifelong members of LIASA - Library Leadership would be a standing item on the Annual LIASA Conference Programme - a library leaders portal would be created on the LIASA Website - representatives from the academic, public and national library sectors would be selected annually to coordinate alumni activities - the alumni pledged to be committed, involved and active. The Year-End-Function Ms Kubeshni Govender Jones, a business and social entrepreneur, Director and Senior Consultant of Black Earth Consulting since 2006, A specialist in the areas of strategic management, knowledge management and innovation made a presentation on Turning libraries into Knowledge Centres, at the Year- End function held on the 29 November 2012 at the University of Pretoria Merensky Library. More about the function will follow in the 2013 (1 st quarter) newsletter. ***** Message from the incoming BEC We have big shoes to fill and would like to thank the previous Branch Executive Committee for the amazing job that they have done. It will be a huge task to build on what has been accomplished in the Branch but we will certainly draw on the knowledge and expertise of those that have paved the way for us. The Gauteng North Branch Executive Committee wishes all its members a happy festive season. Enjoy the holidays and travel safe. May we all return in the New Year with renewed energy. ***** Newsletter compiled by: Mmakgoshi Prescilla Reetseng. PRO: LIASA Gauteng North Branch. Mmakgoshi.Reetseng@ul.ac.za : 012 521 4527 8