Gauteng North

Newsletter

Gauteng North Branch newsletter December 2013

Dear Colleagues

Once more this edition highlights some of the activities organised by the branch and member

institutions.

We managed to execute most activities as outlined in our annual programme. It remains our

wish that more members should not only join LIASA but actively participate in its organised

events.

We are looking forward to working with you in the New Year in our quest to build a stronger

branch which contributes positively to LIASA and the profession.

Modisa Khosie Chairperson: LIASA Gauteng North Branch

Launch of Support Staff Interest Group (SSIG)

The meeting was held on the 1st August 2013 in the National Library Auditorium. Mr Morris Mabasa, the main speaker spoke on Career Development through patriotism. He challenged members to be patriotic about their careers, to grow and develop their careers and make their stay at work joyful and fruitful. His highly motivating presentation was followed by testimonials by Mr Harry Nkadimeng,

Librarian NLSA and Ms Duduzile Ntombela, Librarian University of Limpopo, Medunsa campus.

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They both started from zero to heroes, they encouraged members to study further and to

nurture their love for the work they do.

SSIG Gauteng North Branch was launched. Elizabeth Modiga and Justice Baloyi were nominated as interim convenors to lead the Interest Group. The guest speaker pledged membership fee

payment for the two (2) convenors for 2014.

The guest speaker and Chairperson promised

to contribute an additional R500 each to

contribute to the purchasing of toys in

support of the Steve Biko project.

2013 Annual General Meeting 2013

The Annual General Meeting which was held at the National Library of South Africa on Friday 6

September 2013 was attended by 64 people. The purpose of the meeting was to report back to

members on matters affecting the branch, activities done the whole year, challenges facing the

branch, achievements and future plans for the branch. The minutes of 2012 AGM were

adopted, 2013 AGM report presented and the 2013 financial report also presented. The 2013

Librarian of the Year, Ms Therese Els was announced and trophy presented to her by the 2012

Librarian of the Year, Ms Martha de Waal. Prizes were awarded for best spring attire. New

Interest Group Convenors for

MAIG, SSIG, RETIG, and

HELIG announced.

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2013 Librarian of the Year

Therese has been employed by the Pretoria and Tshwane

Community Library and Information Services (TCLIS) since 1994

and while starting out as a library assistant, has worked her way

up to be promoted to Head of the TCLIS Glenstantia Branch

Library.

Her previous experience in the library and information services

profession includes working at the Council for Scientific and

Industrial Research (CSIR) and LIBFO Library and Information

Services CC.

She is passionate about promoting a culture of reading within her library community and as

such, was involved in the establishment of a Library User Interest Group (GLUIG) at the

Glenstantia Community Library. With the support of the Interest Group Therese is engaged in

various fundraising and outreach projects which benefit community development. Through book

donations to schools, old age homes and students, she not only promotes the culture of reading

but also facilitates reading circles in the library community. One recent project was to

collaborate with the „Child Trace‟ organization to raise the issue of child safety. She established

a firm relationship with the Afrikaanse Taal en Kultuurvereniging (ATKV) and encourages her

young library patrons to participate in the annual ATKV reading competition, with great success.

Through her community projects she also transfers her professional skills by offering library

orientation programmes, the training of learners on the value and use of the Dewey Decimal

Classification System and promoting computer literacy amongst her library patrons.

Therese has been a member of LIASA since its inception. Her passion for public library

communities, the Association and its members, is clear from her dedicated commitment towards

the Gauteng North Branch, the Public and Community Libraries Interest Group (PACLIG) and

LIASA in general. She has been active in branch activities as well as national events and is

known for her skills and teamwork in planning and organising Library Week events, Branch

workshops and LIASA conferences, as well as the well-known Gauteng North Literacy Walks

within the city centre of Pretoria.

Therese has played a vital role in the National PACLIG as Vice Chair and Secretary. She served

on the LIASA Gauteng North Branch Executive Committee in various portfolios over many years

and is the current National Secretary for the 2012-2014 term of office. A highlight of her career

was to be selected for participation of the 2004 South African Library Leadership Project

(SALLP) which allowed her the opportunity to amongst other things, refined her leadership,

management and advocacy skills.

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Unisa Library hosts UNZALISA team

The Unisa Library had the pleasure to host a delegation from the University of Zambia Library and Information Studies Association (UNZALISA) from 3 to 6 December 2013. The objectives of UNZALISA‟s study tour included efforts to expose their students to a broader understanding of the role of a librarian beyond arranging books in shelves – but a realisation that librarians are at the centre of information provision, preservation, and technology. “We also want to help students create networks and links with librarians at an international level for future collaboration,” said Raymond Sikanyika, tour organiser and librarian at Copperbelt University.

“An opportunity to share information and ideas on the continent is always exciting,” said Unisa Library Services Executive Director, Dr Buhle Mbambo-Thata as she welcomed the guests. In her introduction and overview of the Unisa Library, she stated that “a good library is always good for the continent”.

“What does a good library look like on the African continent?” asked Mbambo –Thata. In her presentation, her answer focused on the “commitment to investing in enriching our students, and preparing them for research, examinations and the work environment, among other throughput efforts”. Such efforts at the Unisa Library include services such as the AirPAC technology – which reduces the library website/catalogue to fit on a mobile device, therefore not limiting the student‟s access (journal articles and other e-resources) to a traditional PC; College Teams – various teams of specialists who include personal librarians, collection developers and search librarians to focus on specialised students‟ needs in specific Unisa colleges; and mobile libraries – buses equipped with books and technologies to service students who do not have a „walk in branch‟ at reach. She highlighted the importance of understanding how an ODL library works – reaching students with as much resources without them having the need to physically walk into a branch.

Each Directorate in the library was outlined in the effort to demonstrate how every section contributes to the well-oiled running of a large library as Unisa‟s – Presentations included: the Information Resources Distribution Services (request services, organising, delivery services); Information Resource Content Management Services (e-journals, e-books and institutional repository, quality reporting); Library Corporate Services (finance, research and quality assurance, marketing) and Client Services (personal librarian services, branch services, client raining and orientation).

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The delegation also visited Unisa Library associates and partners such as the National History Museum, the National Library of South Africa, the Tshwane Public Library and SABINET, in order to gain further understanding of the various information fields. Sikanyika said that the trip was important for them “to promote the librarian‟s profession by exposing students to international librarians in the region, because it is currently a profession looked down upon.”

Community service

In 2012 the Children at the Paediatric Oncology Unit of the Pretoria Steve Biko Academic Hospital were showered with toys and books and it brought big smiles on the Children‟s faces. In 2013 the Gauteng North Branch members have again donated Books and toys at meetings held throughout the year. On 05 November 2013, the BEC, Ms Kholofelo Phalama (SLYSIG Coordinator) and Ms Leonie Tiemensma (EX- BEC member) then gathered at the Africa Institute of South Africa to stamp the books. At 11:00 they handed over the donation to Ms Judy Schoeman, the Chief Dietician at the Paediatric Oncology Unit at the Paediatric Oncology Unit of the Pretoria Steve Biko Academic Hospital. The toys were distributed to boys and girls and the books were taken to the “Library” room. It was and will always be 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.

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Judy and her team are doing wonderful things. In 2013 they painted yet another wall of the ward to make the children feel at home. The BEC would like to thank Leonie, Kholofelo and Gauteng North members for their commitment and dedication towards this project. The BEC has been invited to celebrate International Childhood Cancer Day at the Pretoria Steve Biko Academic Hospital (Oncology Ward) on Saturday 15 February 2014. A suggestion from the Chair was that the project be moved to 67 minutes for Mandela Day that was initiated in honour of our late President Nelson Mandela. This will be discussed with Ms Judy Schoeman on the 15th.

2013 Year End Function

The GN End of the year function was held at the Ditsong National Museum of Cultural History. It‟s a tour to be remembered, the experience will forever remain in our minds. We saw South Africa‟s cultural diversity through exhibitions. Exhibitions include rock paintings and engravings of the San people; thousand year old Iron Age figurines from Schroda in the Limpopo Province.

The Art Gallery presents an overview of South African culture through time, using cultural objects, crafts, sculpture and paintings and an exhibition on Marabastad and the Egyptian

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Mummy. Members had an opportunity to be reminded of their historical heritage. It was a morning well spent.

Farewell

When someone passes away a light goes out, an empty chair remains, but their memory will stay with us and their love will forever be retained. We remember in great sadness the passing away of Prof Pieter van Brakel a professor in the Department of Information Science, University of Pretoria and Ms Wanda Miso a Librarian at Unisa Library.

Your contribution to LIS will be missed, Rest in peace dear colleagues.

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Best news to keep you motivated

On November 7th 2013, Prof Omwoyo Bosire Onyancha, who completed his PhD in the Department of Information Studies at the University of Zululand in 2007 and published over 42 peer refeered scholarly articles in local and international journals, was inaugurated as Full Professor at the University of South Africa after a brilliant lecture on a topic entitled “Can Informetrics shape biomedical research? A case study of HIV/AIDs research in Sub-Saharan Africa”. In his lecture, he recognised the role and importance of research, discussed the concept, scope and role of informetrics, particularly to those who are not familiar with its meaning and scope to understand where Prof Onyancha is coming from and why informetrics would be important in biomedical research, particularly in HIV research. He further discussed the application of informetrics in biomedical/HIV/AIDs research, reflecting on his work on this

topic for almost a decade. This part of the lecture would be understood better by remembering or considering the pain and suffering caused by common diseases in Africa such as HIV/AIDs, malaria, tuberculosis and rapidly spreading diseases such as diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases and cancer, whose devastating effects are widely known. He concluded with a conviction that informetrics can shape biomedical research by - among other things -

Enabling health research policy and decisions (e.g. accountability, funding, prediction)

Providing alternative methodology for supporting/triangulating clinical research

Describing and evaluating biomedical research activities and output Enabling the development of new biomedical research technologies Showing the regional distinction of HIV/AIDs manifestation where poverty,

ignorance/illiteracy, and retrogressive cultural practices play a significant role in Africa.

Professor Dennis Ngong Ocholla (University of Zululand), who supervised his PhD work, was his respondent at the lecture that was officiated by UNISA Registrar, Prof. M. Mosimege and the Executive Dean College of Human Sciences, Prof. R.M.H. Moeketsi. Among the dignitaries was the Kenyan High Commissioner in South Africa, Ambassador P.S. Wamoto.

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Motivation for 2014

We don‟t all find true fulfillment from our work. In fact, trying to stay cheerful in the workplace often seems like a losing battle. No matter how hard you try, you just can‟t keep a smile on your face. This article will explain some of the best ways to beat the workplace blues, and to start being up-beat and positive at work.

1. Adjust Your Attitude

If you‟re like most people who aren‟t working from their passions, you may simply assume and expect that you are going to have a lousy day. When you wake up to the sound of the alarm clock, you groan from the thought of the day ahead of you. Even if nothing has gone wrong, you‟re already certain that you will be miserable. To stay cheerful in the workplace, it‟s important that we get rid of this mindset. Everything does not have to go wrong and we don‟t have to be miserable! Instead of dwelling on the sorrow of going to work, try to focus on how much fun you will have when you see your co-workers, what good thing you will have for lunch or the beautiful flowers you see on the way there.

2. Enjoy Your Co-workers

You‟re going to have to spend an average of eight hours a day around co-workers, so there‟s no reason not to look for the best in them. Sure, Sally‟s whining about her aching back or Tom‟s griping about his mother-in-law may get old, but disliking them will not make things at work any better. If you can‟t enjoy your co-workers, you can at least get a chuckle at their bad attitudes and be glad it‟s not you!

3. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

Always do your best to stay up beat with everything that happens. Don‟t sweat it if you get reprimanded for not doing something perfectly, if you spill your coffee on your desk, or if a coworker gives you the cold shoulder. Instead of getting stressed out, try to fix the problem and then move on. Always give 100 percent and then you will never have to feel guilty if things don‟t work out perfectly.

4. Stay on Schedule and Organized

You‟re not going to be able to work well if you can‟t find your keyboard under the junk on your desk. So, tidy up your area and see if that doesn‟t improve your attitude. Try putting up pictures or momentous occasions that will keep a smile on your face; some of these might include silly artwork your child created or a photo of your cat doing something crazy.

5. Take Time for Some Fun

Unless it disturbs your concentration, take your iPod to work and enjoy some of your favorite tunes while you stay busy. Invite a favorite coworker to share lunch with you, use your break to email friends or check your facebook, or take time to play a harmless prank. All work with no play makes for a very depressing work day!

6. Leave Stress at Home

If you‟ve got stressful situations at home, then try to leave them there; devote all your time at the office to your work. When you step in the front door of your workplace, make it your goal to slam the door on all your troubles, leaving them far behind. Work can be stressful enough; if you bring all your family, relationship, and financial problems along with you, the office can quickly become unbearable.

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7. Participate in Small Acts of Kindness

There‟s nothing to cheer you up quite like doing something for others. Pick out coworkers that could benefit from some extra attention and then treat them to a small act of kindness. From baking brownies to simply complementing someone, taking the time to make a coworker feel good about them self will also leave you feeling good about yourself.

8. Enjoy Snacks

If food is allowed in your office, then take along snacks to help break up the day. Set aside certain times that you could nibble on your goodies, and then let those be something you can look forward to. Carrot sticks, raw broccoli, and string cheese are just a few foods that are fun while also being healthy and mess-free.

9. Encourage Yourself

While you may not have a pep team urging you to stay upbeat, you can work to constantly encourage yourself. Try to keep a positive attitude, even when everyone around you works to wear you down. When you wake up in the morning, make it your resolution to be more positive and cheerful than ever before; keep encouraging yourself throughout the day.

10. Create Goals

While you shouldn‟t plan to move mountains, you can create small, do-able goals for the day, week, or month. When you meet your goals, give yourself a pat on the back and do something special like picking up pizza on the way home. By improving your attitude at work, you will find that your entire outlook on life will improve. So, say goodbye to dreaded Mondays, put on a smile, and start enjoying the workplace.

John Brook.

Newsletter compiled by: Mmakgoshi Prescilla Reetseng.

PRO: LIASA Gauteng North Branch Mmakgoshi.Reetseng@ul.ac.za : 012 521 4527

Edited by Modisa Khosie.