Introducing an archival collecting model for the records created by South African Portuguese community organisations

This article is based on a study which aimed at broadening archival representation by investigating how to bring the contemporary history of the South African Portuguese community into the country’s archival heritage. To achieve this aim, the study sought to develop an archival collecting model for the records generated by Portuguese community-based organisations, since these materials are deemed an important source for preserving the social history, memories and experiences of an under-documented group, such as the Portuguese in South Africa. National and international sources were analysed and reviewed, and an empirical investigation to examine the Portuguese community organisations was conducted, in order to gain an understanding of the most effective strategies for collecting, managing and preserving these records. This article therefore proposes an archival collecting model for the records generated by South African Portuguese community-based organisations which demonstrates the processes, resources and other factors that are necessary to establish and sustain an archival collecting initiative for the Portuguese community in South Africa. It is hoped that, in addition to benefitting the Portuguese community, the model will also benefit other underdocumented communities in South Africa interested in preserving their histories and experiences.     

Compliance with freedom of information legislation by public bodies in South Africa

In South Africa, freedom of information (FOI) is entrenched in section 32 of the Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right of access to any information held by the state or by any other person that is to be used for the protection or exercise of any right. The Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) is the law that gives effect to section 32 of the Constitution. Regardless of a remarkable trend towards the adoption of FOI laws, international trends have shown this does not automatically translate into fulfilment of people's right to information. This study utilised mixed method research through the explanatory sequential design to assess compliance with FOI legislation by public bodies in South Africa, with a view to develop a model for implementation of FOI. The study first conducted a quantitative study by analysing the reports of the South African Human Rights Commission from the reporting years 2006/07 to 2016/07 to assess compliance with sections 14, 15, 16, 17 and 32 of the PAIA. Thereafter, a qualitative study through interviews with purposively chosen participants was conducted to substantiate the findings of a quantitative study. Key results suggest that over the years, there were problems in the implementation of the FOI legislation in South Africa and its use was limited. Where implementation has taken place, it has been partial and inconsistent. The responsibility for the implementation of FOI legislation in most public bodies is assigned to legal departments that do not have knowledge of what records are created, and where and how they are kept. With regard to compliance, in terms of the degree of comparison, the situation was better in national departments, worse in provincial departments and worst in municipalities. The study recommends the establishment of an information governance unit to implement FOI in public bodies. Failure to assign responsibility to a relevant unit would perpetuate the non-compliance with FOI legislation by public bodies in South Africa. A model for the implementation of PAIA within a public body is suggested.     

The Role of Legal Deposit of Books in the Polish Library Scheme: The Case of Poznań University Library

This article discusses the legal deposit system in Poland, outlining important issues, legal regulations, cooperation with publishers, and the importance of delivering books for academic environment. It emphasizes the significance of legal deposit for shaping collections and improving institutional quality. Poznań University Library is presented as an example of the Polish approach to the issue of book acquisition, including the library’s mission statement and elements of its collection development policy. The author also writes about tasks for the Legal Deposit Office and the library in the near future, including implementation of electronic legal deposit in Poland.     

论我国电子出版物呈缴服务环境的变革

电子出版物呈缴是图书馆在数字世界必须采用的战略手段和服务方式。实施电子出版物呈缴,建置良好的电子出版物呈缴服务环境必不可少。本文基于我国现行呈缴本制度存在的问题,从制度体系、呈缴管理、技术方案和合作机制四个方面,对我国电子出版物呈缴服务环境的变革提出了建议和思考。     

论法定缴送中的最优版本问题

目前我国尚无专门的缴送法律,相应法规体系尚未完善,包括"最优版本"细则在内的一系列实施细则的缺失,导致缴送工作在实施过程中面临着很多现实而棘手的问题。参考借鉴国外相关经验,建议国家图书馆加强对缴送文献"最优版本"标准的研究论证,促动相关立法和政策提案,尽快出台各类型出版物法定缴送的"最优版本"标准,为我国法定缴送实践提供借鉴与解决方案。     

Historical development of legal deposit system in Turkey

Legal deposit is essential for the accumulation of a national collection of published works such as scientific research, literature, etc., and its transfer to future generations. It is also a vital tool for maintaining bibliographic control at both the national and the international level. Hence, there is an international convention to establish a legal deposit system that works under legislative arrangements. However, a legal deposit law does not always guarantee a full implementation. The fact is, unless coordination and cooperation are provided between stakeholders, implementation of legal deposit cannot be effective. This paper, taking Turkey as an example, attempts to examine the problems concerning implementation of legal deposit and proposes solutions in this context.     

Questioning the pace and pathway of e-government development in Africa: A case study of South Africa's Cape Gateway project

The paper examines e-government development in Africa. This study is based on the Cape Gateway project in South Africa, a leading e-government initiative on the continent. We observe that African countries have jumped on the e-government band wagon by looking mostly at the benefits without a clear risk assessment. We argue that African countries should question the pace and pathway for their e-government programs. We caution that e-government models from developed countries do not necessarily work in Africa. E-government programs in Africa should be balanced with the provision of basic needs and infrastructure. We conclude that e-government in South Africa should adopt multi-cultural approaches, and must be underpinned by national development priorities. We recommend that the Cape Gateway must address the socio-economic context and needs of the country. The pace and pathway of its e-government must depend on the availability of both financial and human resources and also user satisfaction.     

美国农村图书馆的可持续发展探究

美国农村图书馆经过数百年的发展,经历了农村图书馆推广运动到区域化合作服务的历程,目前在全美已具有相当的规模和相对完善的运行机制。美国政府运用法律手段和财政手段,同时启动多项图书馆建设项目克服农村图书馆发展中出现的问题。在新世纪初,各州图书馆联合开展了农村图书馆可持续发展计划,该计划提出为农村图书馆扩展新的服务领域,并更好地为农村图书馆提供服务,这些措施从战略高度上决定了农村图书馆未来的发展趋势。     

Biowatch South Africa and the challenges in enforcing its constitutional right to access to information

This paper examines the difficulties encountered by Biowatch, a South African civil society environmental organization, in its attempts to obtain access to government information in respect of genetically engineered plants. After establishing the context of South Africa's access to information regime, including a brief discussion of several of its weaknesses, the paper engages in an extended account of the Biowatch case as an exemplar of some of the more pronounced challenges to the effective implementation of the country's access to information legislation. The elaboration of the case is based on interviews conducted with the Director of Biowatch and counsel from the Legal Resources Centre that aided Biowatch, as well as various internal and court documents provided by Biowatch and its lawyers.     

样本缴送制度下图书馆与出版社的互利共赢——广东省图书样本缴送工作分析

出版物样本缴送制度对于完整收藏与保存本国出版物、传承历史与文明具有重要意义.目前,图书馆在执行缴送制度时遇到了许多困难,如何解决这些困难也是业界同仁非常关心的问题.论文提出只有主管部门、出版单位、图书馆三方共同努力才能取得成功,并且提出了改革和完善出版物缴送制度的具体措施.     

网络环境下美国图书馆口述历史法律与伦理保护研究——基于对15家美国图书馆的调查

选取15家美国图书馆作为研究对象,利用网络调查、E-mail咨询、文献分析等方法,在阐述美国口述历史法律与伦理保护研究现状的基础上,对其开展的口述历史法律与伦理保护实践进行介绍与分析,总结其特色与经验,进而提出我国图书馆在开展口述历史法律与伦理保护中,应建立立体化的保护体系、加快建立健全伦理规范、加大技术手段的运用和树立法律与伦理意识和理念等建议。     

Archival orthodoxy of post-custodial realities for digital records in South Africa

Some public entities in South Africa have implemented digital records systems over a period of 20 years. In terms of the South African archival legal framework, there is a need for such entities to transfer the records into archival custody. However, there is consensus among researchers that there is no infrastructure to ingest digital records into archival custody in South Africa. Furthermore, some public entities have migrated from one system to another since implementation and there is a possibility that records might have been lost during migration. This study demonstrates through literature review the unconscious archival orthodoxy of post-custodial realities in South Africa. The study recommends that public entities should apply for exemption from archival legislation in order to develop an interim solution for the preservation of digital records. The National Archives and Records Service of South Africa (NARSSA) is also encouraged to develop a policy on distributed custody to allow government entities to create interim solutions for preserving digital records. Both public entities and NARSSA should invest in capacity development, including training and provision of sustainable infrastructure required to preserve digital records. It is hoped that this study will influence policy-making with regard to custody of digital records.     

Knowledge and skills for the digital era academic library

Technology has altered the traditional academic library beyond recognition. These dramatic changes have impacted significantly on the knowledge and skills requirements for LIS professionals practising in this environment. While there have been studies in other parts of the world which have investigated the knowledge and skills requirements for the digital era academic library environment, to date no comprehensive study has ‘drilled’ down into this area in the South African context. This paper reports on a preliminary study which is part of a wider study aimed at developing a comprehensive skills statement which would provide an objective framework against which professional LIS practitioners in the modern academic library environment in South Africa may both measure their existing competencies and also identify the need for further skills acquisition. The research question guiding this preliminary investigation was: What key knowledge and skills are required for LIS professionals to effectively and efficiently practise in a digital era academic library in South Africa? The triangulated findings (using content analysis of job advertisements and semi-structured interviews) from this preliminary investigation are used to ascertain an initial picture of key knowledge and skills sets required for LIS professionals in this environment. These preliminary findings also proved useful in teasing out some of the parameters for the wider study targeting the development of a comprehensive skills statement for higher education libraries in South Africa. The study reported here has relevance for the academic library context in other parts of the world as well.     

美国大学图书馆支持教学科研的全方位举措

通过访问美国7所名校图书馆,对美国大学图书馆服务教学、科研的方式方法进行了重点考察和研究,并重点介绍了宾夕法尼亚大学图书馆在学科馆员和知识服务、文献资源和硬件支持等方面的举措。     

International trends in health science librarianship part 13: Southern Africa (South Africa,Tanzania and Zimbabwe)

This is the 13th in a series of articles exploring international trends in health science librarianship in the 21st century. It is the first devoted to four different regions in the African continent. The present issue focuses on countries in Southern Africa – South Africa and Zimbabwe. The next issue will examine East Africa.     

New developments in the Nigerian library scene

The importance of a national bibliography can not be overemphasized. It may be published by any body in the country, though, usually the national library of the country is the body responsible for its publication. National deposit is necessary for its comprehensiveness. This paper deals with the state of the national bibliography in Ethiopia, its origin, establishment of the National Library of Ethiopia and law of deposit. Ethiopia is one of the three countries in Africa where lists of their publications from the 19th century are found. Two organizations were identified which were engaged in publishing the national bibliography in Ethiopia: one is the National Library and Archives of Ethiopia by the virtue of the power invested through legal deposit and another is the Institute of Ethiopian Studies, to enablc it to provide documentation services to its users. It seems uncconomical and irrational. It is recommended that all the three organizations, the National Library, the Institute of Ethiopian Studies and the National Archives of Ethiopia, should be separated to look after their own specific functions and perform their own specialized duties.     

中国高校图书馆的网上参考咨询服务研究

针对我国高校图书馆网上参考咨询服务的基本状况进行了一次抽样调查，通过调查结果的统计和总结，在基本层面上阐述了我国高校图书馆网上参考咨询服务的发展现状。并进一步对调查数据进行分析，从而对我国高校图书馆网上参考咨询服务的建设提出一些建议。     

我国社区图书馆发展概况及对策研究

文章简要阐述了我国目前社区图书馆的发展状况,并通过对国外发达国家社区图书馆发展情况的介绍,得出对我国社区图书馆发展的有用启示。同时指出了我国社区图书馆在发展中存在的不足,并提出从强化政府职能,制定法律规范,实行多元化办馆模式,完善社区图书馆的自身建设,加强馆员培训,建设社区图书馆队伍等方面来保障社区图书馆的可持续发展。     

Archives in the trenches: repatriation of African National Congress liberation archives in diaspora to South Africa

The African National Congress (ANC) liberation archives were created in countries all over the world. These liberation archives form part of the national archival heritage of South Africa as they bridge the gap of undocumented history of people who were previously marginalised by the apartheid government. After the ban on liberation movements was lifted in South Africa, the ANC embarked on the process of identification and repatriation of the records that were fragmented throughout the world. This study investigated the approaches followed by the ANC in identifying and repatriating its liberation archives from the trenches to make them accessible. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with purposively selected employees of the African National Congress, MultiChoice, Africa Media Online and the Nelson Mandela Foundation who were involved in the repatriation of the liberation archives. Interview data were augmented through content analysis of ANC documents such as policies, websites and annual reports, as well as observation of the storage conditions of the liberation archives. The key findings revealed that the ANC established an archives management committee that played an important role in the identification, repatriation and, ultimately, digitisation of liberation archives. The committee utilised former liberation struggle members to identify records in ANC hosts in various countries. It was established that, although the ANC was aware of where its records were abroad, not all its records were repatriated to South Africa after the unbanning of the liberation movements. For example, there were host nations, like Italy, that disputed the return of the ANC liberation archives to South Africa. The liberation archives are in the custody of the Fort Hare University as a chosen official repository for the ANC. It is concluded that the repatriation of the liberation archives is an ongoing process, as not all records have been repatriated to South Africa. As the ANC is in power at the time of writing, this is the opportunity for the organisation to negotiate with countries that still have custody of its liberation archives, such as Italy, to repatriate such records to South Africa. A further study on legal ownership and copyright, digitisation and ensuring the authenticity of the ANC liberation archives is recommended. This study can be extended to other liberation movements in southern Africa.