New Music Librarian: Jacqueline Wilson

Jacqueline Wilson is the new music librarian at the Music Library. She has been at the SABC Music Library for 2 months.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself. (Where you grew up, where and what you studied and your work experience before you joined the SABC Music Library?)

I was born and raised in then North West in a small town called Zeerust. I started my schooling in 1997 and matriculated in 2009 from Hoërskool Zeerust. I enrolled at the University of Pretoria (Tukkies) in 2010 doing my Bachelors of Information Science. I completed my degree in 2012 and graduated in record time in 2013. My work experience started with me doing some vacation work in retail stores but for my field of study it has been at the SABC where I started my internship in the Information Library of the SABC in 2013. After completing my internship programme I had a break where I started looking for something more permanent and I successfully landed the job at the Music Library.

Tell us more about your collection and the scope of material you need to preserve.

We have a vast amount of material in our collection, where our biggest category is the orchestral collection. We then have some vocal scores, light music, chamber music, choral music and voice and piano. Everything that we have in the library is worth preserving. Some of the material we have is still in the handwriting of the composer and/or we are the only library that still have it.

Please tell us about a normal day in your office. What material do you give priority to?

My day starts at 08:00 till 16:30. I start by checking emails and if there are any queries. Currently we are looking at importing to a digital platform, so I also do some research on what other music libraries use so that we conform to a standardised form of cataloguing. Our priority now is the orchestral and vocal scores because they get requested more often by clients. We want to start ingesting them into Inmagic as it will save us a lot of time and help us being able respond promptly to clients' requests.

Do you struggle with technical difficulties, and if so, what?

So far I haven’t really experienced major technical difficulties.

If you have an anecdote about a specific piece of interesting music or musical instrument, please share it with us.

Getting to learn more about the instruments and even material is something that I cherish. The one story that always comes to mind is the Steinway Piano we have in the M1 studio. I got to learn that the piano actually has a life support system underneath it. The life support system is actually a humidity control system which keeps the piano in tune and prevents damage from climate changes. What happens is water and some form of chemical used for piano life support systems is mixed together and poured into the piano through a pipe which keeps its piano’s tune in place. This was such a fascinating discovery. And that piano is just beautiful!

Tell us why you enjoy doing the work that you do.

I love that I always learn something new every day. I love music and apart from not being that familiar with the classical music genre I am still very much open to new adventures. I also love what I do because I am able to learn how to play an instrument or two as well. 


Related post:

- The Music Librarian - SABC Media Libraries 

Blog post and questions by Karen du Toit

Out with the old, in with the new

A new set of timpani for the SABC Music Library.

By Suzette Lombard,  Principal Music Librarian

The SABC Studio Orchestra with conductor Theo Wendt,
taken in the old SABC studios in Commissioner Street in 1952

Most classical music instruments are made to last, and some do last a lifetime. Many of the instruments in the Library were purchased in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s of the previous century, when the SABC still had its own symphony orchestra.

Some instruments are still working hard, as a lot of regular library clients will be able to testify!

An old Ludwig timp which is being written off

A few of the older timpani or kettle drums have been repaired, overhauled and serviced countless times, but have now finally earned some rest. They will be replaced by a new set of Yamaha concert timpani bought recently.

A new Yamaha timp in its light-weight custom-made transport case

Related posts:

New Yamaha Grand Piano

Acquisition in the SABC Music Library - Paiste Crotales

Interview with the new Junior Record Librarian at the SABC Record Library

Image Sibuyi is a new appointment at the SABC Media Libraries.

This is part of an ongoing series of blog posts to gain a better understanding of the SABC Record Library, as well as part of a series of blog posts about the SABC Media Libraries. The interviews are generating a better understanding of what we do in the different sections and breaking the silos between us.

The interview this week is with Image Sibuyi, a new Junior Record Librarian in the SABC Record Library, who started to work here on 14 May this year.

The Record Library houses all genres of recorded music. The music is regularly accessed by staff and made available to internal clients.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself. (Where you grew up, where and what you studied and your work experience before you joined the SABC Record Library)

I was born and raised in Buckbuckridge (Mpumalanga) in the village of Cork Trust, near the town of Hazyview . I started school in 1994 at Mkhumbini Primary School and matriculated in 2005 at Dumisani High School. Due to financial reasons in 2006 I was unable to enroll in a tertiary institution. 
I went to the University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, in 2007 and enrolled for the Bachelor of commerce in Business Management and Human Resource Management which I successfully completed in 2009. 
In 2010 I enrolled for a Higher Diploma in information Studies (HDINF) which I completed the same year. 
During the academic year 2010, as part of a practicum course, I had to attend practicals for four weeks at the Library of my choice. I chose the SABC Media Library in Polokwane. Fortunately during my practicals I could apply for an internship at SABC Mpumalanga.  
 I was successfully appointed as a Record Librarian intern from 01 February 2011 until 31 March 2012. 
During my last week of internship I applied for the Junior Record Library post. I was successful in my application and started to work in May 2012.

Tell us more about your collection and the scope of material you need to preserve in the record library.

In the Record Library we believe that music or sound/s never die or expire. We preserve all kinds of physical CD music genres (House, Rock, RNB, Hip Hop, Classic, etc.), from old to the latest, of which are played by all of the SABC Radio Stations. 
Most importantly we require copyright information. 
We also keep mood music and sound effects which are used by radio and television personnel.

Please tell us about a normal day in your office. What music do you give priority to?

I do the capturing of music which requires the copyright information from SAMRO such as title, performer, record label, composer, and publisher, etc.  I liaise with the other SABC regions to avoid duplications. I also advise clients with regards the registering of copyright information and how to make it visible on the physical CD. I also help out at the front desk service with issuing and returning of CDs.

Do you struggle with technical difficulties, and if so, what?

The music industry is migrating to digital. The SABC  Record Library are facing challenges in terms of the recording companies who are cutting costs on sampling physical CDs for us, especially of the international music. 
Luckily we have a very reliable computerized library system.

Tell us why you enjoy doing the work that you do. 

First of all I love working for the one of the biggest Broadcast Corporations. It comes with pride and joy. 
Ever since I join the SABC I have developed an interest in music. The capturing of music entails listening to music before capturing, so I enjoy “dancing with my head” while doing my work. 
I also enjoy helping artists with the information of registering their music.


Related posts:

Interview with the Manager of the SABC Record Library

Interview with a Record Librarian at the SABC Record Library: Sound effects and moods music

Interview with Aaron Magoro at SABC Radio Archives

Interview with a Systems Administrator at the SABC Record Library



Questions and blog post by Karen du Toit, Afrikaans Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives.

Musings in the Music Library #9 - Budgets

by Daniel Neal
Cape Philharmonic Orchestra Library


A vignette from the music librarian.

O tempora, O mores!  What we could do if we only had more budget!  

Artscape is now saying they may “renovate” the Library.  Well, they mean the room it’s in.  Considered old, ugly, dissheveled and antiquated (all true), the general upgrade of the entire Artscape Theatre Complex has now noticed another problem to be solved.  Motive?  To make it look modern and impressive, mostly.  

So a budget begins a theoretical dance, beyond my reach; a budget that if given to me would have a very different outcome.  

Like, maybe a full or even part time assistant?  Or lots of new score and parts sets?  

At least I’ve accessed the atmosphere by getting fifty archive boxes with which to re-box all the ballet sets and further to that other outsized local creations (quasi A4 sized parts and scores with huge plastic comb binders…an interesting challenge to fit into any storage facility).  

And look, let’s admit it is wonderful to have real interest in improvements.  

There have been so many retrenchments and closures in the last 18 years that I can drop my suspicious nature for a moment and really be grateful. 

Related posts:

Musings in the Music Library - "Librarians are nice" 

Musings in the music library #7 - Librarian stereotypes

Musings in the Music Library #6 - Cape Philharmonic Orchestra Library