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