International Archives Day on 9 June 2015 - Celebrate democracy and rights #IAD15

Reblogged from followanarchive and AskArchivists

Photo from the SABC Radio Archives 

International Archives Day

This year's activities on 9 June will concentrate on democracy in many ways.

The National Archives of the United Kingdom has come up with this topic, suggesting that we make June 9th. a "Twitter day where archives share stories and records within their collection showcasing democracy and rights in different ways". 

It is a subject, that most archives can relate to and tell stories about. No matter if you are a large, national archive, a municipal institution or a community archive, we all have records and other material, that can be used to tell the story of democratic development, and people who have stood up for their rights. 

Ideas about what to share, could be records that: 

• have established fundamental rights in your country 
• tell the story of individuals, who played a part in establishing democratic conditions 
• relate to rights of specific groups ( indigenous, ethnic, LGBT, women, children...) 
• show the history of the right to form trade unions and political or religious communities 
• picture election and election days, both national and local 
• sound archives with important speaches, interviews etc. 

Your contribution 

And finally your contribution could naturally also be constitutional documents of huge importance and great archival beauty. It is your choice, and we look forward to your contribution. 

#IAD15 #democracy : register on blog Ask Archivists 

If you wish to join, make a comment on the same blogpost on the weblog of Ask Archivists. And on June 9th. post your content to relevant platforms - blogs, flickr, instagram, your website, etc. - and tweet about it using the combination of two tags: #IAD15 #democracy. 

Join International Archives Day on Twitter! 

We hope a lot of archives will join, and help show the world, how archives play a vital part in documenting the history of democracy.

South Africa had a National Archives Week here last week, and The Archival Platform published ten reasons to celebrate archives. It slots in perfectly with International Archives Day.

TEN REASONS TO CELEBRATE ARCHIVES 

* Our national archival heritage is held safe in many hands, providing us with the resources that we need when we reckon with the past, try to understand the present and plan for or imagine the future. 

* The passionate and hard-working archivists who do their best to preserve and promote our archival heritage even though they often work under very difficult circumstances. 

* Records managers who work to keep the records of government safe so that they can be used by the state and civil society and honour the constitutional commitment to transparent and accountable governance. 

* Active citizens who use records to hold government to account – as citizens in a democratic state should. 

* The officials who process Promotion of Access to Information (PAIA) requests promptly to honour the constitutional promise of freedom of access to information. 

* Archive activists who collect and preserve the resources that complement the records of government and fill the gaps in the historical record. 

* Individuals and families who hold the records of their personal pasts safe for future generations. 

* Universities who make a significant but often unacknowledged contribution in building our national archival heritage. 

* Museums and libraries, though often not thought of as archives, who hold collections that people can draw on to understand the past. 

* The positive signs that tell us that government is beginning to take responsibility for ensuring that the national archival system is adequately resourced and capacitated to meet its important mandates!

Photo: From the Archives:
Record Cover of "Die Wêreld van Pierneef", a well-known painter of South Africa, with a tribute audio package compiled by J.F. Marais, for the radio service, Afrikaanse Diens. It was produced in 1963.
The painting reflects the South African landscape. 

This week marks South African Library Week themed: Connect @ your library" - SABC News video

          Youtube video

Published on 16 Mar 2015 

"This week marks the National Library Week. This to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use. This year's theme is "Connect @ your library". From our Pretoria studios we are joined by Rebecca Senyolo from the Library and Information Association of South Africa-and with us here in the studio we have Themba Gadebe -who is the Spokesperson for the Ekurhuleni Municipality-where a new library will be opened on Tuesday in commemorating this day.

          For more News visit: http://www.sabc.co.za/news

Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sabcnewsonline

         Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SABCNewsOnline 

         Category News & Politics 
         Licence Standard YouTube Licence

South African Library Week in pictures - Storify #SALW2015

South African Library Week from 14 - 21 March 2015

#SALW2015

"The Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) is pleased to announce that South African Library Week (SALW) will be observed during 14-21 March 2015 with the theme Connect @ your library.

The national launch event will be held on Saturday, 14 March 2015 in Cape Town.
The theme “Connect @ your library” resonates with the belief that libraries connect people to each other, to knowledge and information, to print and electronic resources, to technology and professional support. 

Libraries must take the lead in being active community partners towards developing an informed and educated nation. This means providing access to information about health & hygiene, economic empowerment, poverty eradication and education in desired spaces that foster lifelong learning and knowledge exchange. This is further enhanced by skilled and proficient library staff who connect their communities to relevant and appropriate
information & knowledge resources, emerging technologies, as well as dynamic and innovative programmes & services for personal and community development.
Libraries are fast emerging as technologically enabled environments, which provide individuals the opportunity to connect to: 

• The Internet
• Databases, online learning & research tools
• Friends, families & colleagues via social networking sites
• Employment opportunities
• Digital libraries, which include institutional repositories
• Emerging mobile technologies such as tablets, e-Readers, smartphones, etc. 

This theme also highlights the importance of library practitioners connecting with each other, across all sectors, for the sharing of skills, best practices, global trends and national priorities, so that a strong cohort of professionals emerge with a common understanding and vision for the development of an informed nation.
It is therefore important for all to make the connection that libraries are desired one-stop, socially inclusive spaces that enable one to Connect @ your library to family, friends, technologies, information and the world. 

ABOUT LIASA

LIASA is the national professional association that represents libraries and information institutions; all library and information workers; and millions of users & potential users of libraries in South Africa. LIASA aims to unite, develop and empower all people in the library and information field. It represents the interests of and promotes the development and image of library and information services in South Africa. 

More information can be found at:
http://www.liasa.org.za. 

For further information, please contact Annamarie Goosen, LIASA Manager at 012 324 6096 or manager@liasa.org.za"       

Press release: LIASA

International Association for Sound and Audiovisual Archives Conference 2014 #iasa2014

Centre for the Book, Cape Town

The IASA annual conference was this year held in Cape Town, from 5 - 9 October 2014.

The theme of the conference was: "Connecting Cultures: Content, Context, and Collaboration"

"It was an inspiring, exciting event informed by the dynamic and diverse, natural and cultural landscape of South Africa and the Southern African region. It supported the connection of  cultures and open many new ways for collaboration to ensure the safeguarding of our valuable sound and audiovisual heritage.
It was hosted in the heart of multicultural literacy and publication -- the National Library of South Africa's Center for the Book -- the venue for the conference.
It was a week of discussions, debates and sharing of ideas with local and international experts on matters of sound and audiovisual archives.

Conference themes:Content and technologiesConnecting dataContextualisation and CurationCurators and creatorsCustomer-driven services issuesCrowd-sourcing, cataloguing and content managementCollaborative learning"  - IASA

The Storify compiles some of the social media engagements during the week of the conference.

Blog post and Storify by Karen du Toit

A Heritage Braai at the SABC Media Libraries

Not only do the SABC Media Libraries help in preserving the rich heritage of South African Broadcasting in audio and print, but we also celebrated Heritage Day in true South African style!


 We had a Heritage "Braai" (barbecue) sponsored by our manager, Bennie Jacobs and his managers. Thank you! It was on Tuesday, because Wednesday, the official Heritage Day on 24 September, was on a Public Holiday here in South Africa!

The Braai Master, Themba Mtshali, made sure that the meat was grilled to perfection!


Blog post and photos by Karen du Toit.

South African Library Week 2014 in pictures #SALW2014 #libraryweek (#STORIFY)

See the rest of the South African Library Week 2014 curated on Storify: South African Library Week 2014 #SALW2014

Storify by Karen du Toit.


Related posts:

- SABC Information Library with Bookshelfies for South African Library Week #SALW2014 #bookshelfie

- South Africa Library Week at the SABC Information Library

- South African Library Week SALW 17 - 23 March 2014 #SALW2014 

South African Library Week at the SABC Information Library

#SALW2014

Blog post by Justice Leshilo
Information Librarian at the SABC Information Library.

SABC Information Library, in cooperation with LIASA (Library Information Association of South Africa), is celebrating South African Library Week from 17-21 March.

This year South Africa is celebrating 20 years of Democracy. The SABC Information Library see it fit to also celebrate libraries in 20 years of democracy, as well as celebrate South African Authors in 20 years on their library shelves.

The THEME this year is “Check in @ your library”.
The SABC Information Library has 20 book tittles and their authors from 1994 - 2014 selected to celebrate during the week.

Librarians' Choice 

In terms of LIASA the Library Week this year will start from 15-22 March 2014, but here at the SABC Information Library it will officially be launched on 17 March.

SABC Information Library Flyer for SALW 2014

The SABC Information Library will be launching their new logo as part of marketing the library.

SABC Information Library logo

SABC Corporate Communications will help with the "Did you knows", and  many other communications to SABC staff through emails during the week.

"Did you know?"

During the period of Library Week the SABC Information Library will have authors who will come and review their books to staff and also to tell the staff about the importance of  “check in @ your library”.

Keep updated through  SABC Information Library Facebook Page.

South African Library Week SALW 17-23 March 2014 #SALW2014

Celebrating Libraries in 20 years of Democracy: 
CHECK IN @ YOUR LIBRARY

The Press Release:

"The Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) is celebrating South African Library Week from 15-22 March 2014 with the theme: Celebrating Libraries in 20 years of Democracy:check in @ your library”

South African Library Week will be launched by the Deputy Minister of Arts & Culture, Dr Joseph Phaahla at the National Library of South Africa, Cape Town, on Saturday, 15 March 2014.

Librarians across the country will be hosting special programmes during this week to highlight the services and resources available in their facilities. Members of the public are encouraged to visit their libraries during this period and participate in these activities. A selection of these programmes from around the country will be available on the LIASA website, http://www.liasa.org.za.

In 2014 South Africa celebrates 20 years of democracy and the theme Celebrating Libraries in 20 years of Democracy: check in @your library serves as an opportunity to focus attention on:
- Celebrating the development and role of libraries in the 20 years of South African democracy
- Highlighting how libraries are making the right to freedom of access to information, as enshrined in the Bill of Rights, a reality
- Enhancing nation building and community development by opening the doors of learning to all
- Showcasing libraries as desired spaces for:

• connecting people to each other, learning resources, communities, government, the world and the environment
• advancing literacy through the intellectual and aesthetic development of all ages
• providing access to global knowledge and information in different formats to advance research and create new knowledge
• fostering a spirit of enquiry and desire for lifelong learning
• challenging one’s own beliefs and inculcating a respect for diverse beliefs, opinions and views all
• contributing towards the development of an informed nation, and South Africa becoming an information society

Since 1994 great strides have been made to build new public and school libraries, merge academic libraries and upgrade historically disparate library facilities throughout the country. The burgeoning of the library and information services (LIS) sector in South Africa has resulted in a wide network of libraries that currently aims to serve all South Africans.
The current status quo of libraries include:

• The National Library of South Africa (Pretoria and Cape Town)
• The South African Library for the Blind
• 5 Legal Deposit Libraries
• Library of Parliament
• 23 Higher Education libraries
• 1993 public libraries (1612 provincial/381 metro)
• Approx 3000 school libraries
• Corporate libraries; law libraries and special libraries which include Research Council
• Libraries; Government libraries; Prison libraries; etc

This tangible national web of libraries gives predominantly free access to information and
knowledge from all types of libraries around the country and has created the opportunity for a
dynamic networked and connected society.

Social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and YouTube are widely used by libraries
globally for marketing, communication and outreach. South African libraries are no different! The
theme provides us with an opportunity to reach out to those who are unaware of how libraries have
embraced technology to enhance access and learning. So, to the “Born Frees,” born in 1994 and
voting for the first time in the 2014 national elections, and all those who belong to Generation C
(connected digital natives & techno-savvy), it is definitely cool to check in @ your library!

Furthermore, the “Librarians' Choice: Top 20 South African Books, 1994-2014” will be launched
during this Week. In celebrating this theme, library workers across South Africa have been
requested to identify the Top 20 South African books published during these 20 years that:

• were written by a South African author in one of our official languages
• were published for the first time between 1994 and 2014
• reflect South African life by South Africans
• focus on issues of democracy or contribute to the consolidation of our democracy
• examine who we are and where we are heading as a nation.

The nominations are open to all genres, all types of literature from fiction to non-fiction, adult and
even children’s books. The Librarian’s Choice should be available to all when they “check in” at their
libraries!"

Read more about LIASA


The SABC Information Library is also planning an event for next week. See their Facebook Page: SABC Information Library 

Social Media for Libraries - Storify: presented at the Information and Library Management Africa 2013 Conference

This Storify is a compilation of the social stories for the presentation as part of the Information and Library Management Africa 2013 Conference.
The first day of the conference, 26 September 2013, was at the Crowne Plaza, Rosebank.

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

National Book Week 2 - 7 September #NBW2013

National Book Week

The ‘Books of Our Lives’ lies at the core of
National Book Week 2013
2-7 September

Johannesburg, South Africa (25 July, 2013) – Promoting and sharing the joy of reading books lies at the core of the South African Book Development Council (SABDC), in association with the Department of Arts and Culture, as they announce National Book Week 2013 (NBW), which is to be celebrated nationwide from 2-7 September 2013.

Reading statistics report that only 14% of the South African population are active book readers, and a mere 5% of parents read to their children. National Book Week is an important initiative in encouraging the nation to value reading as a fun and pleasurable activity and to showcase how reading can easily be incorporated into one’s daily lifestyle.

READ MORE

SABC Information Library ready for South African Library Week 16-23 March 2013

SABC Information Library 

Monica van Deventer, the Principal Information Librarian, about the SABC Information Library's plans for South African Library Week this week:


We will be distributing Easter eggs at the Radio and TV buildings during Library Week. Attached to the Easter eggs will be the theme of Library Week, the library’s membership form as well as a pamphlet listing the services of the library. 

Hand-outs for South African Library Week

Preparations for SALW 2013

We have also arranged with Corporate Communications that information on our online products will be send out every day during Library Week. 

We are hoping to get the staff of the SABC informed and interested in the services we offer.

Photos by Monica van Deventer & Karen du Toit

See LIASA for updates on what is happening nationally in libraries this week.

Related posts:

- South African Library Week 2013 #SALW2013 - Reasons, goals and partners

- South African Library Week 16 - 23 March 2013 "EDUCATE YOURSELF AT YOUR LIBRARY" #SALW2013

Blog post by Karen du Toit, SABC Radio Archives.

South African Library Week 16-23 March 2013 - "EDUCATE YOURSELF @ YOUR LIBRARY" #SALW2013

Press Release:

SOUTH AFRICAN LIBRARY WEEK – 16-23 MARCH 2013

“EDUCATE YOURSELF @ YOUR LIBRARY”

The Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) is celebrating South African Library Week during 16-23 March 2013 with the theme: “Educate Yourself @ Your Library”.
The launch of SA Library Week will take place at the National Library of South Africa, 228 Johannes Ramokhoase (Proes) Street, Pretoria, on Saturday, 16 March, where the Deputy Minister of Arts & Culture, Dr Joseph Phaahla will deliver the keynote address.

The theme for 2013 is “Educate Yourself @ Your Library” as libraries have always played a pivotal role in education and self-development, be it a school, academic, public or special library. Currently the public library is largely fulfilling a school library role to fill the gap left by the lack of school libraries. Apart from the “formal” role that libraries play in this arena, they have also always played an informal role in the education of communities as “the University of the People”. 

The concept of lifelong learning is embodied in all libraries especially public and community libraries. The fact that any person, young or old, rich or poor, employed or unemployed, can walk into a library and find information (in both electronic and traditional formats) to educate and enrich themselves, for free, is one of the major pluses in the favour of libraries.

The theme provides us with an opportunity to bring to the attention of the country, community leaders and decision-makers the role that libraries play in educating communities and the nation at large.

Librarians across the country will be hosting special programmes during this week to highlight the services and resources available in their facilities. Members of the public are encouraged to visit their libraries during this period and participate in these activities. A selection of these programmes from around the country will be available on the LIASA website, http://www.liasa.org.za.

ABOUT LIASA

LIASA is the national professional association for all library and information workers in South Africa. LIASA aims to unite, develop and empower all people in the library and information field. It represents the interests of and promotes the development and image of library and information services in South Africa. More information can be found at: http://www.liasa.org.za.

For any enquiries and information please contact:

Mandla Ntombela, LIASA National PRO
Tel.: +27 (0) 33 392 2626
Cell: 083 478 4626
Email: Mandla.Ntombela@msunduzi.gov.za or mandla.ntombela@gmail.com

Ujala Satgoor, LIASA President
Tel: +27 (0) 46-603 8079
Mobile: 083 336 0565
E-Mail: president@liasa.org.za

The importance of radio – on World Radio Day 2013 #WRD13 #worldradioday

As seen from the perspective of the SABC Radio Archive archivists.

This is the second year in a row that World Radio Day is being celebrated worldwide.
It is a day to highlight the importance of radio, and for broadcasters to make a connection to cooperate.

World Radio Day and UNESCO are focusing on the “promotion access to information and freedom of expression over the airwaves”

The SABC Radio Archives in South Africa collects and receives radio material from all South African Broadcasting Services (SABC) public broadcast services (PBS).
The material is catalogued and stored in various repositories across South Africa.


The archivists at SABC Radio Archives in Johannesburg have the following to say about the importance of radio:

Refiloe Jele (Acting Manager & Music Archivist): My history and my culture on record!

Johann Greyling (Sport Archivist & Team Leader: Cataloguing): Radio is the most important medium of communication in the world; it reaches where TV, the internet and no print medium can dream to reach.

Obakeng Phiri (Archivist: Sound Restoration): 1. Radio as a wealth of information is always readily available; 
2. Radio continues to play an important role in information sharing; and,
3. Radio broadcasts provide real-time information, broadcasting 24 hours a day to provide the most recent updates to listeners.

Retha Buys (Request archivist & Springbok Radio custodian): Radio is your any-time  anywhere companion and memory….

Morongwa Mokwena (English archivist): I think radio is a powerful tool for social change as it provides access to information . . .addresses issues for social change like gender inequality, HIV etc. and in this way it empowers society.

Joseph Lobeko (Archivist: Sound Restoration): Old preserved records of historical nature are re-purposed by being broadcasted on radio; e.g. the Mandela treason-trial speech is still relevant today in nation-building.  

Peter Raseroka (Ikwekwezi archivist): Radio is important because it updates you each hour on  news and programmes that are educational, religious, youth orientated and sports, to name a few. Radio people also watch television, but sometimes turn down the audio to listen to radio simultaneously, especially with sports.  Blind people are enjoying radio because they are able to visualize more. Radio gives you more information on what's happening! 

Elizabeth Mate (Channel Africa archivist): Radio is very important in the rural areas, especially where people don’t have television. It helps tremendously with death announcements!

Ntokozo Khanyile (News & Actuality archivist): Radio tells various stories and brings news to the listeners as soon as they are available. Radio Archives bridges the history gap and makes all news accessible to all generations.

Nare Monyai (News, actuality & sport request archivist): Radio broadcasting is the modern instrument for informing, educating and entertaining listeners, even in remote areas of the country. 

Karen du Toit (Afrikaans archivist): Radio records the heritage of the cultures in South Africa. The radio archives are vital to store this memory for future generations.

Links to follow today's proceedings on World Radio Day:

World Radio Day

UNESCO celebrating World Radio Day


Related posts:

Springbok Radio - a radio station lives on because of dedicated listeners

World Radio Day 2013 - Press Release


Blog post by Karen du Toit.

British Library Audiovisual Archiving training workshop

British Library

A British Library Audiovisual Archiving training workshop is busy taking place here at the SABC from 28 March to 1 April 2011.

The workshop focuses on audio and video archiving and will be funded by the British Library who will also do the training. For this workshop the British Library in cooperation with the SABC Media Libraries have invited:

1. The SABC Regions who do not always have hands-on access to training
2. One participant from the following 5 countries who are SABA members: Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho, DRC and Angola. We are working closely with UNESCO in this regard.

The SABC hosts and provides the necessary equipment. Where the SABC do not have the required equipment, the British Library brought the equipment with them.The British Library is funding the workshop as well as the workshop delegates.

25 people are attending, with representatives from Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho and the DRC.

The SABC Media Libraries hope that this will be the beginning of a long-term relationship with the British Library and that both SABA and the SABC will benefit greatly from this initiative with more member countries to get involved. – Ilse Assmann (Manager, SABC Media Libraries)

The invitation letter from Dr Janet Topp Fargion, Lead Curator, World and Traditional Music of the British Library had the following details:

The British Library has received support from the World Collections Programme to run a course on sound and audiovisual archiving in South Africa. The programme builds on similar training provided in Kenya since 2009.

Participants for the programme are being drawn from the SABC Regional branches and from broadcast archives in other southern African countries.

The training will cover issues of documentation and collection management, digitization of audio and video collections, and storage. It will take place in studios of the SABC to ensure as much hands-on experience as possible. For this reason too the number of participants is being kept to a minimum.

The trainers from the British Library will include Dr Janet Topp Fargion (Lead Curator, World and Traditional Music), Andrew Pearson (Maintenance Repair & Design Engineer, Sound and Vision) and Will Prentice (Head of Technical Services, Sound and Vision).

From the Record Library

The historic event which will take place from the 11th June 2010 in South Africa, namely the 2010 FIFA World Cup, does not exclude the Record Library. Our local artists are already targeting all sectors of the market and are gearing up to make the event even more enjoyable. Some artists started to sing about the 2010 soccer spectacular as early as 2004. They would like to get us all involved - it is for South Africans, it is for Africa!

The personal favourites at present in the Record Library are as follows - Solly Moholo’s song 2010 SA We are the hosts from the cd Mandela O Llela Bana has the potential to become a great hit. So has the song 2010 by Mzwakhe Mbuli (The People’s Poet) from his cd Tribute to Mandela. Even the stalwart Afrikaans singer Laurika Rauch has recorded the song Skouspel 2010 for her cd called Tweeduisend-en-Tien!

These are just a few examples of the 121 songs which the Record Library has received up to now, and with all the hype surrounding the World Cup, one cannot help but become more involved in this great show coming our way!

by Justice Muthaki, SABC Record Library

Democracy in sound

Opening parliament on the 2nd February 1990, Pres. F.W. de Klerk, in his first speech after assuming National Party leadership, called for a non-racist South Africa, for unbanning of liberation movements and for negotiations about the country’s future. This year on the 11th February 2010, 20 years after the release of Nelson Mandela, South Africans commemorated these events by opening parliament in the evening for the first time in history.

- Bernard Monyai, SABC Radio Archives