The SABC Information Library - Did you know?

"The SABC celebrates South African Library Week
from 15-22 March 2014"

During the most recent South African Library Week 2014, the SABC Information Library had an internal awareness campaign running in the SABC about the services that they provide to their corporate clients.

"The information library started using a manual way of cataloguing 

which ended in 1979 and it was called a card system."

"During 1988 the library was computerized and started ordering and 

circulating periodicals on behalf of all SABC staff."

"Dr. Burgers together with Ms Rhoda made a small collection of fiction books 

and organized them to assist radio announcers. 

The collection grew to 10,000 in 1979"

Some more facts about the SABC Information Library:

Did you know? 

• The information library was established in 1961 and it is situated at Radio Park K2 A1-19.

• The vision of the library is to be the leading provider for the public broadcaster and it’s stakeholders ad it’s mission is to acquire and make available, at all times, information required by the library’s users-both internal and external and again to provide relevant information upon request.

• The information library has three sections that comprises of book section, magazine and newspaper section.

• That the SABC has a fully-fledged and well equipped Information Library with about 30012 Books that can be borrowed and used by staff for free.

• The book section’s collection comprises of books of different subjects not only limited to broadcasting also include academics.

• That Thelma Hlapolosa, Abel Thulare and Themba Mtshali are responsible for the newspaper cutting section in the library. This section has a huge collection of newspaper clippings like Mandela collection, TRC, biographies and etc.

• The magazine section is managed by Nomawethu Mgangxela and consists of more than 35 titles. We have weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual magazines and more than 39081 indexed articles on our system which is good for research. Biographies, finances, personalities, politics and many more form part of the indexed articles.

• That SABC information library has subscriptions to the online databases that you can search information for work and personal use. You can search African Electronic Journals (SA ePublications), access to SA ePublications, and Law collection via the Sabinet Reference platform.  www.sabinet.co.za

• A hard copy version of newspapers online is available at 
  http//library.pressdisplay.com/

Information supplied by the SABC Information Library.

Follow a library day today #followalibrary

@Followalibrary on Twitter

It is again time for libraries worldwide to connect and to follow each other, and to share their collections with the world.

The #followalibrary team is going strong, and the blog post can be read here:
Join ons on #followalibrary day 2012 on Oct 1st

They have an awesome video up  by David Green and the Shelharbour Libraries (@sclibs) on the blog, but you can check it on YouTube as well: #followalibrary day... so follow 

David Green says the following about #followalibrary day:

"funtastic folk will be tweeting the AWESOMENESS of libraries and using the hashtag #followalibrary. We’ll be tweeting about reading, creating, playing, communicating, learning, sharing & all the other excellent stuff we do in libraries. It’s such a cool way to spread library love" 

If you are not yet following the SABC Media Libraries, as well as our different sections on Twitter, please do so today:

SABC Media Libraries on Twitter:

@SABCMediaLib on Twitter

SABC Information Library: @SABCInfoLib

SABC Radio Archives:         @SABCRadioArc

SABC Music Library:             @SABCMusicLib

SABC Record Library:            @SABCRecordLib

SABC Audio Restoration:      @SABCAudioRest


A special shout-out to all South African libraries as well. Please let us know that you are taking part, and we will gladly follow you back!

Happy #followalibrary day!


Blog post by Karen du Toit @karentoittoit

Interview with the new Librarian at the SABC Information Library

Agrineth Mashile was an intern here at the SABC Information Library, who has now been appointed as a new librarian in a permanent position.
She started working in the Information Library from 1 June 2012.

The questions helps us to break the silos which exist between the different departments in the SABC Media Libraries, as well as getting to know the job functions of each and every one.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself. 

My name is Agrineth Mashile, from a small village called Moomane in Limpopo, Sekhukhune District. 
I grew up there, started school in 1994 at Moomane Primary and matriculated at Ngale Secondary in 2006.  When I was doing matric, I applied for admission at University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus) for Computer science. When I got there I was told that I can’t be accepted in their school because my Mathematics marks were low, they were looking for “A” and “B”. I was so confused and I decided to check the prospectus for other courses offered, because going back home it was just out of the question.
 I decided to register for BA MDST (Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies), in which they only requested a proficiency in the English language. I had no idea what was all about but I thought it was better than going back home. In my second year I realized that it was not for me.
I decided to make Information Science my major course but still continued with media studies and communication studies as electives.

Please tell us about a normal day in your office. 

I come early every day at 07h15 as arranged and knock off at 15h45.  My duties at the Information library include cataloguing and classification of new books and indexing of SABC Radio Bulletins from Springbok Radio. I help in assisting students from the Sound Engineering College with the Internet, as well as printing and photocopying. I am also doing research for clients.  
Working at the front desk is stressful sometimes and very demanding. It demands someone with lots of patience.  Dealing with clients, externally and internally, can prove to be very difficult. It is my job to make sure that they are happy with the services we offer them.

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

We have a large collection of books from different subjects. The SABC Information Library is a special library, but it is very accommodating. It does not only acquire books on broadcasting, media and communications, but also on a wide range of other subjects. We have a large collection of journals (magazines and newspapers). The daily and weekly newspapers are scanned and indexed for future reference. 

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

Since I was an intern and did my practicals with SABC, I have learned a lot from the systems we are using.  I can proudly say that I am comfortable with the Newbase system and Inmagic Genie and I don’t find any difficulties.

If you have an anecdote about a specific piece of interesting information, please share it with us.
I really can’t remember anything right now, but I have list of interesting books that people might enjoy reading: For politics: 8 days in September; for spiritual: The shack; for leisure:  The no.1 ladies detective (the whole collection of six)

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

Surrounded by loving and caring colleagues is the best thing one could ask at the workplace. The Information Library has such a warm atmosphere that when you get up in the morning you don’t have to worry about going to work because you know you will find people who will make your day easy.  
I love reading. Reading is my passion, so my heart is close to what I enjoy and like doing. It is interesting when a client comes in and you are able to discuss or review the books you like or enjoy reading. 


Related post:
Interview with the intern in the SABC Information Library, Agrineth Mashile


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

Interview with an intern at the SABC Information Library - Justice Leshilo

The SABC Information Library has a new intern, Justice Leshilo, who will be working here for 10 months.

The purpose of the intern-ship is to acquire valuable skills, but also to help with the workflows in the SABC Information Library.

Justice Leshilo is a qualified librarian.

Questions are asked to understand the type of skills that he has to offer, but also to get a better understanding of what he is doing here in the SABC Information Library.


Please tell us about your personal history as well as your studies. How did you become an intern here at SABC?


I was born and raised in Sekhukhune (Limpopo) in a village called Ga-masemola. I started school in 1991 and matriculated in 2003. I went to the University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, in 2004 and enrolled for BPSCH (Psychology). I dropped out in 2005. In 2006 I started with BA-Social Science which I successfully completed in 2010. In 2011 I enrolled fro Higher Diploma in information Studies (HDINF) which I completed the same year. During my studies I volunteered for being a peer counselor at the counseling centre and a lab assistant at our general lab purpose of ICT. I was later promoted to be a supervisor of the labs. I also did my practical in our academic library and a four week practical at SABC Limpopo in 2011. I heard about this internship from my friend and former varsity mate Agrineth Mashile. I applied and went through the interviews and fortunately was appointed in April of this year.

What does your job entail here at SABC?


My job in the information library entails scanning, cutting and indexing of newspaper articles in the newspaper section using the Newbase system. It includes indexing, cataloguing, classification, issuing and shelving of books in the books section, as well as indexing articles, receiving and filing in the magazines sections. My job also involves indexing SABC bulletins that will be digitized in future. We also deal with information requests from internal and outside clients.

What have you learned already while you have been there?


I have learned important skills of scanning a newspaper, responding to information requests and indexing of articles in many formats and also learned working in a busy media organization.

Tell us of any interesting anecdotes story with regards to your intern-ship.


I have found myself being a colleague of TV and radio personalities that I used to admire (still does) and I have to learn to stop being a fan but a colleague, sometimes awkward.

Tell us about you social media involvement for the SABC Media Libraries.


I love social media and being involved in social networks. I am active on Twitter and the blogs of the SABC Media Libraries when I have time. I participated on International Archives Day on June 9 2012 where I tweeted for most of the day using the hashtag #archday12. I have learned a lot and have marked it as one of my favourites.

What are you planning to do after this?


I have developed a love of media archiving and media libraries. I am looking forward to work in a broadcasting related field or any type of media organization.




Related posts:


Interview with an intern in the SABC Information Library - Agrineth Mashile

Interview with an intern in the SABC Information Library - Veronica Machate 


Blog post by Karen du Toit, Afrikaans Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives.