From Heather Morrison in Canada on the Editors list of E-LIS
A post about your award is on OA Librarian at:
http://oalibrarian.blogspot.com/2006/10/fatima-darries-award-winning-south.html
Dear Colleagues
The radio station, Voice of the Cape (100.4 and 95.8 fm), carries a story about Fatima Darries, LIASA/Sabinet Librarian of the Year at http://www.vocfm.co.za/public/articles.asp?articleid=22316. Interviews were conducted with Naomi Haasbroek, former chair of the Western Cape Branch and Fatima herself.
Regards
Ingrid Thomson
National Public Relations Officer
LIASA
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
LIASA conference 2006: Bringing the trophies home
The Gala dinner on Wednesday, 27 September 2006, at the 9th LIASA Conference at St George's Hotel, Pretoria was an absolutely wonderful evening for me. I am grateful to LIASA and SABINET Online for recogizing my contribution to LIS in SA. Of course it is extremely gratifying to me to win such a prestigious award. I am pleased that I am in such good company; congratulations to Joyce and Tienie.
It has been absolutely fantastic to be bringing both the LIASA SABINET Online Branch librarian of the year and the Librarian of the year 2006 home.
I was asked how does one become Librarian of the year. My immediate response was - 10 year of hard work. However, a more thoughtful response is the key ingredients is enthusiasm and finding joy in the work that we do. Knowing that the challenges we encounter is worth overcoming.
Still have not completely taken it in.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Artist's Way
You may have seen the link to the Artist's Way int he side bar. I have been doing her book since end last year - 2005. And have started on my second round of the 12 week programme. I must say that this time around I am feeling the experiences that of what's the point of the morning pages and the whole idea is of belly dancing etc and some of the other things I have been doing pretty stupid and childish. I have to remind myself that my artist is a child and so the stuff I do will be child -ish. It suppose to be. Also remind myself to be gentle.
As a result of my first round through the 12 week programme I realised that if my head had become detached from my body I would not really have noticed. So I had looked for a way to honour my body as the temple of my soul. Belly dancning or Oriental dance, the correct term, came to me. It is a way not only to honour my body as seat of my soul, but also as a woman, as co-creator. So the divine within me.
The studio is called the Feminine divine - a link to Tenille's site also in the sidebar - is therefore very apt. God really trying to tell me something.
Yesterday was of course women's day in SA, and had a class but decided that I would skip it.
In the very few weeks of doing the Artist Way - the first time around - I had yearned for having my garden organised. So over the weekend I planted my Palergoniums back into a bed of soil, from the pots they were in and replanted my oragumum into the bed. I now had two pots to plant my 'rank' roses in. I had always wanted to have these in my garden. On my way home from Madrasah in the afternoon I would walk pass these in my neighbourhood. They were beatifull pink ones. I finished replanting them too late to make my class. So it became a decision between my belly dancing and my garden.
I also bought the most beautiful two seater white wrought iron bench - something that I had dreamed about for a while. Decided whether the landing is ready or not, I would like to have it already.
Just before women's day I fethced my bambanani bowls - which I absolutely love. Bambanani means to hold, to support. It is a cirlce of women, holding hands and the skirts make up the bowl. It spoke to me - of the HERS network, the circle of artists, the cirlce of women in all of these.
And of course I had to have the joy of the presence of these bowls in my house on womens day.
As a result of my first round through the 12 week programme I realised that if my head had become detached from my body I would not really have noticed. So I had looked for a way to honour my body as the temple of my soul. Belly dancning or Oriental dance, the correct term, came to me. It is a way not only to honour my body as seat of my soul, but also as a woman, as co-creator. So the divine within me.
The studio is called the Feminine divine - a link to Tenille's site also in the sidebar - is therefore very apt. God really trying to tell me something.
Yesterday was of course women's day in SA, and had a class but decided that I would skip it.
In the very few weeks of doing the Artist Way - the first time around - I had yearned for having my garden organised. So over the weekend I planted my Palergoniums back into a bed of soil, from the pots they were in and replanted my oragumum into the bed. I now had two pots to plant my 'rank' roses in. I had always wanted to have these in my garden. On my way home from Madrasah in the afternoon I would walk pass these in my neighbourhood. They were beatifull pink ones. I finished replanting them too late to make my class. So it became a decision between my belly dancing and my garden.
I also bought the most beautiful two seater white wrought iron bench - something that I had dreamed about for a while. Decided whether the landing is ready or not, I would like to have it already.
Just before women's day I fethced my bambanani bowls - which I absolutely love. Bambanani means to hold, to support. It is a cirlce of women, holding hands and the skirts make up the bowl. It spoke to me - of the HERS network, the circle of artists, the cirlce of women in all of these.
And of course I had to have the joy of the presence of these bowls in my house on womens day.
Chair and Awards 2 August 2006
I have been awarded the Western Cape LIASA Sabinet Online Librarian of the year at the branch AGM on 2 August 2006, at UWC Library Auditorium.
The framed and signed certificate, and trophy also to be handed on a later occasion, came as a surprise. I assumed that an announcement on the award would be made at the AGM. But thought it would be an announcement only.
From the LIASA website the selection criteria below:
SELECTION CRITERIA
All nominations submitted will be treated with the strictest confidence. All nominees will be evaluated on the following criteria:
The nominee should:
» Be a paid up LIASA member for a least two (2) consecutive years
» Be an expert and very knowledgeable of the library sector and its resources
» Be committed to improving library and information services in South Africa
» Be involved in a library project or demonstrate best practice
» Demonstrate high levels of professionalism
» Demonstrate excellence in marketing, promoting and advocating for library and information services
» Be currently engaged in library and information work
» Have a minimum of five (5) years experience in the field
» Be an excellent communicator
Naomi read the entire motivation. The next day at the SABINET regional seminar there were lots of congratulations from Johann and Helene Smit and the Stellenbosch crowd. Lots of e-mails from colleagues and friends - all highly appreciated. I must say it was absolutely lovely to be acknowledged for one's work.
I was also elected branch chair for 2006-2008. I had though about this for a while and was concerned with the impact on personal time. It had become a decision between me and time with my son and service to others. On another level, also about whether I had something to contribute that no-one else could - unique contribution. I do believe the same philosophy I had in WCHELIG is what I have to offer to the branch.
In my acceptance speech I had written:
From the vision statement, of LIASA will strive to provide dynamic leadership. The Western Cape has certainly provided that dynamic leadership. It has offered the Western Cape LIS community with quality workshop, events and speakers. It has set the standard for other branches. The WC won the 2005 Presidential Branch Award, and is set to do so again this year. To a large extent this has been due to the nurturing, direction and guidance of the people who have occupied the seat of chair of the branch, since its inception.
It is therefore an honour and a privilege to be elected chair, and have placed in me the confidence of the membership and the outgoing executive committee to take the branch into the next decade of LIASA’s existence. I thank you for that, from myself and on behalf of the newly elected committee.
In 2007, LIASA will celebrate its 10th anniversary. The imperative for this term of office is to continue offering to our members in the Western Cape with -
what has worked, - therefore what do we do more of
what has not worked and therefore to stop what does not work,
to envision what does not yet exist,
But have to add that my guiding philosophy is:
*Non-profit does not mean - no surplus
*LIbrarians need to value one another if we are to be valued outside of the profession and therefore we need to value the time in monetary terms as an indication of valueing the people, their competencies, skills, experiences and insights.
The framed and signed certificate, and trophy also to be handed on a later occasion, came as a surprise. I assumed that an announcement on the award would be made at the AGM. But thought it would be an announcement only.
From the LIASA website the selection criteria below:
SELECTION CRITERIA
All nominations submitted will be treated with the strictest confidence. All nominees will be evaluated on the following criteria:
The nominee should:
» Be a paid up LIASA member for a least two (2) consecutive years
» Be an expert and very knowledgeable of the library sector and its resources
» Be committed to improving library and information services in South Africa
» Be involved in a library project or demonstrate best practice
» Demonstrate high levels of professionalism
» Demonstrate excellence in marketing, promoting and advocating for library and information services
» Be currently engaged in library and information work
» Have a minimum of five (5) years experience in the field
» Be an excellent communicator
Naomi read the entire motivation. The next day at the SABINET regional seminar there were lots of congratulations from Johann and Helene Smit and the Stellenbosch crowd. Lots of e-mails from colleagues and friends - all highly appreciated. I must say it was absolutely lovely to be acknowledged for one's work.
I was also elected branch chair for 2006-2008. I had though about this for a while and was concerned with the impact on personal time. It had become a decision between me and time with my son and service to others. On another level, also about whether I had something to contribute that no-one else could - unique contribution. I do believe the same philosophy I had in WCHELIG is what I have to offer to the branch.
In my acceptance speech I had written:
From the vision statement, of LIASA will strive to provide dynamic leadership. The Western Cape has certainly provided that dynamic leadership. It has offered the Western Cape LIS community with quality workshop, events and speakers. It has set the standard for other branches. The WC won the 2005 Presidential Branch Award, and is set to do so again this year. To a large extent this has been due to the nurturing, direction and guidance of the people who have occupied the seat of chair of the branch, since its inception.
It is therefore an honour and a privilege to be elected chair, and have placed in me the confidence of the membership and the outgoing executive committee to take the branch into the next decade of LIASA’s existence. I thank you for that, from myself and on behalf of the newly elected committee.
In 2007, LIASA will celebrate its 10th anniversary. The imperative for this term of office is to continue offering to our members in the Western Cape with -
what has worked, - therefore what do we do more of
what has not worked and therefore to stop what does not work,
to envision what does not yet exist,
But have to add that my guiding philosophy is:
*Non-profit does not mean - no surplus
*LIbrarians need to value one another if we are to be valued outside of the profession and therefore we need to value the time in monetary terms as an indication of valueing the people, their competencies, skills, experiences and insights.
Monday, January 23, 2006
LIASA Conference 2005, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga
LIASA Conference 2005
Having been to the annual LIASA conferences for a few years, I have a developed a few traditions. One is to make my way to the exhibitors to find out about new products, get catalogues, pamphlets, flyers and posters, and sometimes CDs. These I distribute to my colleagues who may be interested, back home. This is a tradition I managed to maintain his year between sessions and blogging.
Talking about blogging, this I hope will become a tradition that the Western Cape members attending the LIASA conferences will continue. You can view the blog at westerncapeliasa.blogspot.com. Another tradition is the Western Cape LIASA Conference photo. This year the Western Cape conference photo was truly memorable. The picture was taken on the occasion of the Western Cape being awarded the first Presidential Nielson Bookdata Branch Award. The criteria included membership and renewals as well as activities held.
Before I get to the other traditions of the Conference itself, such as the invited guests, let me tell you about another tradition I would rather not keep, being a city person myself. My accommodation, despite my best intentions, has always involved animals, both the domestic and the wild variety. In Port Elizabeth, it was just being splashed wet by the playful dolphins. In Rustenburg, my little chalet was raided by a gang of Baboons, who ate all my food. Luckily they did not get to my chocolate in the fridge. In Polokwane, very eager little doggies wanted to jump on me every time I opened the door. This year I again had very enthusiastic doggies, a 15 cm insect on the shower curtain and hippos to contend with. My colleague, whom I shared with, also thought it may be an interesting experience to sleep with cabin door wide open. I was enormously grateful that the grey haired monkey’s in the area had not been active during that night.
The pre-conference workshops are good value for money and are hard skills orientated. If you are attending conference to see immediate and direct return on your, money, then you have to attend the workshops. However, if you wanted to judge the quality of the conference then you have to look at the quality of the papers. Reflecting on the papers of the invited speakers, Mr Matos, Cuban National Librarian, and Ms Putri Saniah, President of the Malaysian Librarians Association, were valuable and inspiring because of the successes they have in their countries despite the economic challenges their countries faced during the 1990’s. Dr James O Daniel, President of the Nigerian Association spoke more generally of Africa and argued that libraries are part of the solution to Africa’s challenges, most notably, poverty. Jane Sharka, spoke about school libraries and studies conducted that shows that ‘Libraries matter’ in improving academic achievement of learners. Checkout the study that produced the evidence for what we all know to be true at www.islma.org/resources.htm. Then there was our very own Prof. Archie Dick who spoke passionately about the public library services in South Africa and argued that Libraries for the people, does not mean taking it away from other people. Statistics from the Census 2001 report shows that there are 1800 public libraries for 44 billion people, put another way, there is only one library per 25 000 people. Astonishing then that public libraries are being closed. I wonder whether the solution for us in South Africa is to move the public library system from the provincial and municipal goverance to the National Library, following the examples of Cuba and Malaysia.
This conference was indeed hectic with many sessions being held on the same day and it was difficult to choose. I will report on the Higher Education Libraries Interest Group on the Western Cape HELIG blog at http://www.wchelig.blogspot.com/, a further two papers are important to mention however. The report of Reggie Raju on the investigation of statutory status of LIASA produced several options for LIASA to take. The full report is available from the LIASA website at http://www.liasa.org.za/. Finally, Ray Lonsdale, from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, who captured everyone’s attention and imagination with his paper on the role of the Internet in supporting literacy and its place in school and public libraries. Not only has the Net been used by publisher and authors, there are also web sites that support writing literacy, where the authors of stories are the children themselves.
Some people believe that we should come to conferences only if there direct, tangible and immediate benefits to the home institution. I believe it is important for practising librarians to not only attend but also to contribute to the building of the profession and professionals in SA. One way that we can contribute is to present papers ourselves that reflect on our practice in whatever sector of LIS it may be. Higher Education Librarians in particular have much to contribute, and have a wealth of experience and expertise to share with South Africa LIS professionals. This is how we give more than we receive. I challenge all South African Librarians to grasp the opportunity to contribute to the profession globally, and share with professionals from all parts of the world at the IFLA conference in 2007.
17 January 2006
Having been to the annual LIASA conferences for a few years, I have a developed a few traditions. One is to make my way to the exhibitors to find out about new products, get catalogues, pamphlets, flyers and posters, and sometimes CDs. These I distribute to my colleagues who may be interested, back home. This is a tradition I managed to maintain his year between sessions and blogging.
Talking about blogging, this I hope will become a tradition that the Western Cape members attending the LIASA conferences will continue. You can view the blog at westerncapeliasa.blogspot.com. Another tradition is the Western Cape LIASA Conference photo. This year the Western Cape conference photo was truly memorable. The picture was taken on the occasion of the Western Cape being awarded the first Presidential Nielson Bookdata Branch Award. The criteria included membership and renewals as well as activities held.
Before I get to the other traditions of the Conference itself, such as the invited guests, let me tell you about another tradition I would rather not keep, being a city person myself. My accommodation, despite my best intentions, has always involved animals, both the domestic and the wild variety. In Port Elizabeth, it was just being splashed wet by the playful dolphins. In Rustenburg, my little chalet was raided by a gang of Baboons, who ate all my food. Luckily they did not get to my chocolate in the fridge. In Polokwane, very eager little doggies wanted to jump on me every time I opened the door. This year I again had very enthusiastic doggies, a 15 cm insect on the shower curtain and hippos to contend with. My colleague, whom I shared with, also thought it may be an interesting experience to sleep with cabin door wide open. I was enormously grateful that the grey haired monkey’s in the area had not been active during that night.
The pre-conference workshops are good value for money and are hard skills orientated. If you are attending conference to see immediate and direct return on your, money, then you have to attend the workshops. However, if you wanted to judge the quality of the conference then you have to look at the quality of the papers. Reflecting on the papers of the invited speakers, Mr Matos, Cuban National Librarian, and Ms Putri Saniah, President of the Malaysian Librarians Association, were valuable and inspiring because of the successes they have in their countries despite the economic challenges their countries faced during the 1990’s. Dr James O Daniel, President of the Nigerian Association spoke more generally of Africa and argued that libraries are part of the solution to Africa’s challenges, most notably, poverty. Jane Sharka, spoke about school libraries and studies conducted that shows that ‘Libraries matter’ in improving academic achievement of learners. Checkout the study that produced the evidence for what we all know to be true at www.islma.org/resources.htm. Then there was our very own Prof. Archie Dick who spoke passionately about the public library services in South Africa and argued that Libraries for the people, does not mean taking it away from other people. Statistics from the Census 2001 report shows that there are 1800 public libraries for 44 billion people, put another way, there is only one library per 25 000 people. Astonishing then that public libraries are being closed. I wonder whether the solution for us in South Africa is to move the public library system from the provincial and municipal goverance to the National Library, following the examples of Cuba and Malaysia.
This conference was indeed hectic with many sessions being held on the same day and it was difficult to choose. I will report on the Higher Education Libraries Interest Group on the Western Cape HELIG blog at http://www.wchelig.blogspot.com/, a further two papers are important to mention however. The report of Reggie Raju on the investigation of statutory status of LIASA produced several options for LIASA to take. The full report is available from the LIASA website at http://www.liasa.org.za/. Finally, Ray Lonsdale, from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, who captured everyone’s attention and imagination with his paper on the role of the Internet in supporting literacy and its place in school and public libraries. Not only has the Net been used by publisher and authors, there are also web sites that support writing literacy, where the authors of stories are the children themselves.
Some people believe that we should come to conferences only if there direct, tangible and immediate benefits to the home institution. I believe it is important for practising librarians to not only attend but also to contribute to the building of the profession and professionals in SA. One way that we can contribute is to present papers ourselves that reflect on our practice in whatever sector of LIS it may be. Higher Education Librarians in particular have much to contribute, and have a wealth of experience and expertise to share with South Africa LIS professionals. This is how we give more than we receive. I challenge all South African Librarians to grasp the opportunity to contribute to the profession globally, and share with professionals from all parts of the world at the IFLA conference in 2007.
17 January 2006
Finnish Librarians at UWC, Joint LIASA/UWC event on 9 November 2005
Finland has a long history with the LIS in South Africa, going back to the Apartheid years when the South African political exiles were offered classes by the Finnish Library Association. When these exiles returned, the liaison with UWC Dept. of LIS began. This relationship continued to this day, according to Prof George Fredericks, Acting Dean for the Faculty of Arts.
This continued liaison resulted in a seminar on Wednesday, 9th of November 2005 at the Centre for Humanities Research, at UWC. Prof George Fredericks welcomed the Finnish delegation and the 30 attendees. The morning was divided into two sessions. First, the Finnish perspective on Information-seeking behaviour and the second, a round table discussion on Knowledge Management Curriculum.
Now if you’re like me, and did not particularly like User studies when you were studying, then ended up in user services, and found that you love being there, then Mariam Ginman’s presentation of several theories on information seeking behaviour from a Finnish perspective based on research, would have captured your imagination. I shall try to give you a taste.
Mariam Ginman presented information seeking behaviour in terms of three current paradigms of human behaviour: cognitive, social and socio-cognitive paradigm. Theories of information behaviour span the whole life cycle of information, from production, to its storage, retrieval and use. However, the focus of the current theories is on the constructive and active user coping with professional and everyday life. Information behaviour is the term now broadly used for how people need, seek and use information.
The cognitive view is based on theories in cognitive psychology. The theories evolved in the mid 70s and theorists such as Belkin and Kuhlthau viewed the information seeking process as context independent. Jannica Heinström studies of 2002 found three distinct groups of personality-related search behaviours. She found that “the neurotic, easily distracted and lazy Fast surfers have difficulties formulating searches and then interpreting what they find. Deep divers are identified by their willingness to consider viewpoints and to link ideas. Broad scanners are strategic thinkers, conscientious and have clear goals.
The social view emerged during the 90s and consider context as a carrier of meaning, in other words information seeking is context dependant. These theories focus on meaning and values associated with social, sociocultural and sociolinguistic aspects on information behaviour. The studies are based on theories from the social sciences. Elfreda Chatman work was presented in some details. Chatman developed the small world theory based on studies she conducted on the information seeking behaviour and life characteristics of poor people. Chatman and Maija-Leena Huotari combined the small world theory with social network theory to explain organizational behaviour.
The socio-cognitive view considers information seeking behaviour as too complex a phenomenon to be approached from only one view. The work of Anthony Giddens and Vygotsky has influenced this view. Studies focus on how cognition interacts with the sociocultural environment. Dervin’s theories evolving from the mid 80s, consider information seeking as a way of making sense of the world in order to cope with everyday life. This model is called the situation-gap-use, where we face a situation in which our internal sense runs out. A knowledge gap is created which has to be bridged by new information. When we use the information we bridge the gap created.
Mariam Ginman concluded her session with the suggestion that information behaviour is part of the communicative process. For the presentation of Mariam Ginman, Director of Research at Abo Akademie University, Finland, see http://www.liasa.org.za/branches/WCape_Seminar_Nov2005_Ginman.ppt
The second session was a roundtable discussion on Knowledge Management curriculum. Miaja-Leena Huotari, from the Oulu University, Finland, chaired the discussion by several invited guests, representing the library, information systems and technology sector in higher education in the Western Cape. They considered several questions; amongst these were: What is knowledge management? What is the difference between knowledge management and business intelligence? What is the role of culture in knowledge management? Is a librarian a knowledge manager? What does the ideal knowledge management programme look like? As you can imagine there were lots of discussion and healthy debate reflecting really the worldview of the different disciplines represented.
20 January 2005
This continued liaison resulted in a seminar on Wednesday, 9th of November 2005 at the Centre for Humanities Research, at UWC. Prof George Fredericks welcomed the Finnish delegation and the 30 attendees. The morning was divided into two sessions. First, the Finnish perspective on Information-seeking behaviour and the second, a round table discussion on Knowledge Management Curriculum.
Now if you’re like me, and did not particularly like User studies when you were studying, then ended up in user services, and found that you love being there, then Mariam Ginman’s presentation of several theories on information seeking behaviour from a Finnish perspective based on research, would have captured your imagination. I shall try to give you a taste.
Mariam Ginman presented information seeking behaviour in terms of three current paradigms of human behaviour: cognitive, social and socio-cognitive paradigm. Theories of information behaviour span the whole life cycle of information, from production, to its storage, retrieval and use. However, the focus of the current theories is on the constructive and active user coping with professional and everyday life. Information behaviour is the term now broadly used for how people need, seek and use information.
The cognitive view is based on theories in cognitive psychology. The theories evolved in the mid 70s and theorists such as Belkin and Kuhlthau viewed the information seeking process as context independent. Jannica Heinström studies of 2002 found three distinct groups of personality-related search behaviours. She found that “the neurotic, easily distracted and lazy Fast surfers have difficulties formulating searches and then interpreting what they find. Deep divers are identified by their willingness to consider viewpoints and to link ideas. Broad scanners are strategic thinkers, conscientious and have clear goals.
The social view emerged during the 90s and consider context as a carrier of meaning, in other words information seeking is context dependant. These theories focus on meaning and values associated with social, sociocultural and sociolinguistic aspects on information behaviour. The studies are based on theories from the social sciences. Elfreda Chatman work was presented in some details. Chatman developed the small world theory based on studies she conducted on the information seeking behaviour and life characteristics of poor people. Chatman and Maija-Leena Huotari combined the small world theory with social network theory to explain organizational behaviour.
The socio-cognitive view considers information seeking behaviour as too complex a phenomenon to be approached from only one view. The work of Anthony Giddens and Vygotsky has influenced this view. Studies focus on how cognition interacts with the sociocultural environment. Dervin’s theories evolving from the mid 80s, consider information seeking as a way of making sense of the world in order to cope with everyday life. This model is called the situation-gap-use, where we face a situation in which our internal sense runs out. A knowledge gap is created which has to be bridged by new information. When we use the information we bridge the gap created.
Mariam Ginman concluded her session with the suggestion that information behaviour is part of the communicative process. For the presentation of Mariam Ginman, Director of Research at Abo Akademie University, Finland, see http://www.liasa.org.za/branches/WCape_Seminar_Nov2005_Ginman.ppt
The second session was a roundtable discussion on Knowledge Management curriculum. Miaja-Leena Huotari, from the Oulu University, Finland, chaired the discussion by several invited guests, representing the library, information systems and technology sector in higher education in the Western Cape. They considered several questions; amongst these were: What is knowledge management? What is the difference between knowledge management and business intelligence? What is the role of culture in knowledge management? Is a librarian a knowledge manager? What does the ideal knowledge management programme look like? As you can imagine there were lots of discussion and healthy debate reflecting really the worldview of the different disciplines represented.20 January 2005
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