library associations collections and the unisa archives

Library associations collections and the UNISA Archives

Unisa ArchivesAnnette le Roux

16 November 2010

Contents

• Background– Unisa Library– Unisa Archives– Archival collections

• Library associations

• Challenges in archival work

Background

Unisa Library

• 1946 accessioned first library book

• 2009 2 millionth book accessioned

• 2010 ± 2,5 million items

Highgrove Florilegium

Unisa Library

Unisa Archives & Special Collections

Unisa Archives & Special Collections

• Established in the early 1970s

• Collection building mainly through donations

• Currently 4 qualified archivists

• Unique and rare materials (±4 000 linear meters)

• Manuscripts, photographs, posters, sound & video cassettes - archives

• Finding aids/ inventories - archives

• Special books – OASIS catalogue

Special Book Collections• 12 Collections, ±52 000 items• old, rare, unique, out-of-print, expensive

Collections include:• JL van Schaik Africana (ASC)• Wagener Africana (WAGE)• Special Book Collection (S)• WA Joubert Old Legal Sources (OLD)• Van Schaik Publishers (JSC)

Archival CollectionsMain Archival groups:

• Unisa Archives (Vista & TSA)• Manuscripts Collection• Hesse Collection of German Africana• Documentation Centre for African Studies• Library Associations• South African Museums Association• United Party• Junod• Allan Boesak• Kenneth Birch

Library Associations

The beginning

Transition

New beginning

Library Associations & associated organisations

Accessions in the Unisa Archives

Library Associations & associated organisations

• SALA – South African Library Association, 1930 – 1979• SAILIS – South African Institute for Librarianship and

Information Science, 1980 - 1998 • LIASA – Library Association of South Africa, 1998 - present

• ULIS/ Translis/ LISDESA (Unification of Library & Information Stakeholders/ Library & Information Services in Developing South Africa)

• LIWO - Library & Information Workers Organisation,1990-1998• ALASA – African Library Association of South Africa, 1996• BLASA - Bantu Library Association• CBLASA - Central Bantu Library Association of South Africa• Cape Library Association (later Library League)• SA Indian Library Association

Library Associations & associated organisations

• NELS - Non-European Library Service, 1930-1980

• SCECSAL – Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Library Associations, 2002; 2006

• CHELSA - Committee for Higher Education Librarians of South Africa

• IGBIS - Interest Group for Bibliographic Standards - 2003 to 2008• SLIS – Special Libraries & Information Services Group, 1947-2000• OSALL – Organisation of South African Law Libraries

• Branches – Northern Transvaal / Gauteng North

• NLAB (NBAR) – National Library Advisory Board, 1968-1985

SALA & SAILIS

Contents of accessions

• agendas, minutes • official correspondence of the Board and committees• annual reports• other reports• study material & exampapers• newsletters, journal• photographs and conference papers

Non-European Library Services in South Africa

• 1930's Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY) donated money to start the Carnegie Non-European Libraries

• Collection:

- Official minute books, annual reports and correspondence are available

- material to support research, eg commissions of inquiries

- library associations for various “Non-European” groups: some material

Challenges in archival work

Challenges in archival work

Photographs with no description

Challenges in archival work

Photographs with no description

Environmental challenges

• Temperature

• Humidity

• Fire

• Water

• Light

• Pest infestations

• Measuring climate

Challenges …

Water/ damp / humidity / dust/ mould

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3589/3468297029_9412e74949.jpg?v=0

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/015002/f1/book1.jpg

http://www.drycogroup.com/Portals/9/DocumentMediaRecovery/Nasty%20Files.JPG

Challenges …. human factor

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/publications/archivist-magazine/015002-2030-e.html

Challenges …. human factorWar

Greed

Neglect

What can you do?

• Describe & date photographs

• Do not use rubber bands and paperclips

• Dust prevention

• Organise papers - dates

• Donate

Archives represent the memories of groups, peoples or

organisations

At the end of the day, if it is worth

keeping, it is in the ARCHIVES

Annette le Roux lrouxha@unisa.ac.za

012 429 2560

Thank you

Questions?