Department of Information Science 2012 Imbizo, 22-24 February 2012

Department of Information Science's 1st quarterly meeting and Imbizo, 22-24 February, Casa Toscana Lodge


The Department of Information Science took some time off-campus to dedicate its three days- gathering to discuss important issues in the Department. Among other matters of discussion were curriculum review, tuition and learning, research.

Here are highlights of the event:

Prof M Majanja and Ms E von Kloeg focused their presentations on curriculum review. Undergraduate programme, honors qualifications, masters & doctoral proposal module and admission requirements for masters & doctoral students were some of the issues that were discussed.

Ms L Kamanja, from the DCLD presented on the revision of the study guides indicating the importance, frequency and all the steps involved.

Prof P Gundani’s presentation focused on research. He touched on Unisa's research policy and how the Department’s research plans should be aligned to this policy.

Other matters that were discussed during the Imbizo were Quality assurance issues, online teaching, Research fellows and Post-doctoral researchers.

Professors Onyancha and van der Walt as well as Dr Dube chaired different sessions. This was captured during the Imbizo:

Department of Information Science Research Seminar-13 March 2012

As part of the Unisa Research and Innovation Week (12th-15th March 2012) the Department of Information Science organised Research Seminar on the 12th March 2012. At this Seminar, staff members discussed the various research projects that they are currently involved in.
1. Ms Nampombe Mnkeni-Saurombe: Public programming Of public archives in the East and Southern Africa Branch of the International Council of Archives (ESARBICA): Towards an inclusive and integrated model (Doctoral Research proposal)

2. Ms Isabel Schellnack-Kelly: Records management fundamentals and the attainment of public sector integrity (Doctoral research proposal)

 

3. Mr Salmon Makhubela: Knowledge retention in mining industries: A case study of platinum mines in the North West Province (Masters Research Proposal)

4. Ms Nicoline Wessels: Strategies for deep learning in an information literacy module in an ODL environment (Doctoral Research Proposal)

 

5. Mr Jan Maluleka Factors influencing research collaboration in Library and Information Science schools in South Africa. (Masters Research Project)

6. Ms Veli Jiyane: The role of the information and knowledge society in poverty alleviation and economic empowerment among informal sector women entrepreneurs in South Africa. (Completed Doctoral Research)

7. Prof Bosire Onyancha: LinkedIn for property? Web status of national libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa (Research project)

8. Prof Thomas van der Walt and Ms Veli Jiyane: Children and climate change: a caste study of Isimangaliso Wetland Park (Research project)

9. Prof Thomas van der Walt and Ms Namps Saurombe-Mnkeni: People in their own right: children’s rights as reflected in children’s literature (Part of a collaborative research project: Korczak’s children: paths on the pedagogical and literary thought of the work of Januscz Korczak) (Research project)

10. Prof Thomas van der Walt and Mr Jan Maluleka: Children’s reading behaviour in Africa: part 1 – Namibia. (Collaborative research project with the University of Namibia)

Staff achievements

Two research proposals of staff members of the Information Science Department approved

Two proposals of colleagues in the Department of Information Science were approved by the Higher Degrees Committee meeting held in February 2012.

Doctoral research proposal

Mrs Nampombe Mnkeni-Saurombe: D Litt et Phil. 

The title of her intended research is“ Public programming of public archives in the East and Southern Africa Branch of the International Council of Archives (ESARBICA): Towards an inclusive and integrated model”.   The purpose of this study is to explore public programming activities in the public archives of the ESARBICA region using a survey approach and document analysis.

Masters research Proposal

Mr Jan Maluleka: M Inf.

 The title of study is “Factors influencing research collaboration in Library and Information Science schools in South Africa. It seeks to (1) assess the extent and determine the trends and patterns of research collaboration in LIS schools in South Africa; and (2) explore factors influencing research collaboration in LIS schools in South Africa.

In the same vein, Mrs Patricia Mantsie, Academic Assistant, passed her Honors studies. She will be awarded her Honors degree by Unisa on 8^th June 2012 at Bolivia Lodge, Polokwane.

The Department of Information Science congratulates them and wishes them well in their endeavours.

Staff member on R & D Leave

Research and Development leave for Mr Tony Rodrigues


Mr Rodrigues, who is an expert in Archives and Records Management, was granted R & D leave for 6 months from 1st March 2012. During this time, Mr Rodrigues will be focusing on his PhD project.

          

This comes after another colleague was granted R & D leave for 12 months from March 2011. Mrs Madely Du Preez also used her leave to accelerate her PhD project. She will assume duties in April 2012.

Colleagues, the Department of Information Science wishes you all the best with your studies

Highlights of 2011

Department of Information Science: Highlights in 2011


1) Former CoD becoming Acting Director of School, and new Acting CoD


Prof Mabel Minishi-Majanja became the Acting Director in the School of Arts. Professor Bosire Onyancha took up her position as the Acting Chair of Department.

 2) Conferences hosted by the Department


The Department hosted 3 conferences in 2011 as follows:


6th Progress in Library and Information Science in Southern Africa (PROLISSA) conference, took place on the 9th -11th March 2011. First there was the Pre-ProLISSA Doctoral Forum as well as the Pre-ProLISSA conference, a Round table discussions platform with African Scholars which preceded the main PROLISSA conference. These two preceding events were held on the Unisa Campus on 9th March 2011. The main ProLISSA Conference was held at the Farm Inn on the 10th & 11th March 2011.

1st IBBY-Africa Conference hosted at The Ranch, Polokwane on … Delegates from 17 countries participated. The conference was organized by the Department on the request of the IBBY (International Board of Books for Young People) branches of Africa

3rd Unisa Storytelling Festival held at Polokwane Community Library.  Storytellers from Greece and Cameroon and several storytellers from Limpopo Province participated. Presenters from Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Tunisia and Greece presented workshops on storytelling and illustrating and writing for children.

3) Inaugural lecture


Professor Thomas van der Walt delivered his inaugural address as full Professor in the Department of Information Science on 8 November. The title of his address was: From guardianship to abandonment: children‟s literature and Library and Information Science.

4) Masters and doctoral students that graduated


Mrs K. Govendor received her master degree (MInf) in 2011 supervised by Prof Myrna Machet


Mr WK Gyimah received his master degree (MInf) in 2011 supervised by Dr Jackie Fourie and co-supervised by Prof Myrna Machet.


Ms Nafisa Abdelsadek received the doctoral degree (D Litt et Phil) on 21 September 2011. The topic of her thesis , supervised by Prof Thomas van der Walt, was “The effects of social and political dislocation on Persianate children‟s literature: change and continuity”.


Ms Marie Khanyanji Khayesi received the doctoral degree (D Litt et Phil) in September 2011.The title of her thesis supervised by Prof Hester Meyer and co-supervised by Prof Myrna Machet, was “Information behavior in healthcare of home-based elderly people in Nakuru District, Kenya”.


Ms Ellen Caroline Martins received her doctoral degree (D. Litt et Phil) in May 2011. The title of thesis supervised by Prof Hester Meyer, was “Identifying the organizational and behavioural factors that influence knowledge retention”.


5) Publications by staff members, research fellows and students


Ndwandwe, SC & Onyancha, OB. 2011. Job functions and requirements for knowledge managers: lessons for library and information science (LIS) schools in South Africa. Mousaion, 29(2): 209-224.


Ngulube, P & Onyancha, O.B. 2011. What is in a name? Using informetric techniques to conceptualize the knowledge of traditional and indigenous communities. Paper submitted for possible publication in Indilinga: African Journal of Indigenous Knowledge Systems


Onyancha, O.B. & Ngoepe, M. 2011. The protection of information bill and access to information in South Africa: an informetric study of the media coverage. ESARBICA Journal: Journal of the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives, 30:207-228.


Onyancha, O.B. 2011. Post-graduate research in information and knowledge management at institutions of higher learning in South Africa. South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science, 77(2): 155-168.


Onyancha, O.B.2011. Self-archiving by LIS schools in South Africa: practices, challenges and opportunities. ESARBICA Journal: Journal of the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives, 30:66-84.


Onyancha, O.B. 2011. South Africa‟s continental and international research collaborations, 1986-2005. African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science, 21 (2): 87-97.


Onyancha, OB 2011. South Africa‟s research collaborations with African and other countries, 1986-2005: an informatric analysis


Onyancha, OB. 2011. How is „Knowledge management‟ similar to or different from „information management‟? An informatrics perspective.


Onyancha, O.B. & Maluleka, J.R. 2011. Knowledge production through collaborative research in sub-Saharan Africa: How much do countries contribute to each other's knowledge output and citation impact? Scientometrics, 87: 315-336.


Van der Walt, T.B. Re-thinking and re-positioning archives: taking archives to the children. ESARBICA Journal, 30:115-134.


Van der Walt, T.B. Social and cultural issues in the illustration of Iranian children‟s books. Co-author with Nafisa Abdelsadek . Mousaion, 29(3).


Du Preez, M. 2011. Engineers‟ task related information behavior. In, Proceedings of the 10th Annula Inofrmation and Knowledge Management Conferences:managing information and knowledge in the new decade: an interdisciplinary approach


Du Preez, M. & Meyer, HWJ. 2011. Exploring conceptual models to study consulting engineers‟ social networks. Mousaion 29(2):74-93.


Okello-Obura, C. 2011. An assessment of Makerere university library and information science students‟ participation in field attachment. Mousaion 29 (1):17-36.


Okello-Obura, C. 2011. Assessment of the problems postgraduate students face in accessing e-resources in Makerere university, Uganda: a comparative analysis between LIS and education students. Mousaion 29 (2):41-60


Okello-Obura, C. & Ssekitto, F. 2011. Records and information disaster preparedness in selected organizations in Uganda. ESARBICA Journal. 30: 126-147.


Ngoepe, M. 2011. Assessing the extent to which the National Archives and Records Services of South Africa has fulfilled its mandate of taking the Archives to the people


Ngulube, P. , Modisane, C & Mnkeni-Saurombe, N. 2011. Disaster preparedness and the strategic management of public records in South Africa: guarding against collective cultural amnesia. Information Development.27(4): 239-250


Komba, M. & Ngulube, P.2011. E-government adoption in developing countries: trends in the use of models. ESARBICA Journal.30:162-176

Ngulube, P & Mavodza, J. 2011. Exploring the use of knowledge management practices in an academic library in a changing information environment. South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science.77 (1):15-25.

Wessels, N. 2011. Methodology in action: exploring action research for masters studies in information science. Innovation 42:98-112


Dube, L. 2011.Quality assurance practices in University libraries in South Africa. South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science. 77(1):26-36

Dulle, F. 2011. The adoption of open access scholarly communication in Tanzanian public universities: some influencing factors.  Mousaion. 29 (1): 112-135.

6) Conferences/workshops attended and papers/lectures delivered by Staff


Prof TB van der Walt deliver a paper, “Social media, children and the public library of today” as the conference “The modern library in modern formats” in Ekaterinburg, Russia on 29 November 2011.


“African heritage and children: sustainability in a globalised world” at the International Conference on Social Sciences (ICSS) in Izmir, Turkey on 7 October 2011.


“Children‟s literature and reading: the abdication by Departments of Information Science of their role towards creating informed and literate citizens of tomorrow” at the 11th Annual DIS conference, University of Zululand, 15 September 2011


“The abdication of our role towards creating informed and literature citizens of tomorrow: Information Science teaching and children's literature and reading” at the Student Symposium, University of South Africa, date?


Prof van der Walt also delivered 2 public lectures in the School of Information Studies, University of Wisconsin, USA on 2 and 4 April 2011on “Race, racism, South African young adult literature and its readers” and “Library services for children in South Africa”


Prof Onyancha delivered the following papers:


11th Annual DIS conference, University of Zululand, 14-15 September 2011. Co-presented three papers:


a. …with Maluleka, J. M&D students’ preferences for references and referencing in LIS research in South Africa.


b. …with Makhubela, S & Dube, L. LIS education and training in South Africa: who are our students?


c. …with Mnekeni-Saurombe, N, Burger, M, Mokwatlo, IK, Maluleka, J. Developing a glossary of terms using informetric approaches: methodological issues


First Annual Conference of the Faculty of Communication and Information Science at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) on Indigenous Knowledge and Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Africa, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, 23-24 August 2011. Presented a paper in collaboration with Prof P Ngulube entitled “What is in a name? Using informetric techniques to conceptualize the knowledge of traditional and indigenous communities


South African Society of Archivists Conference, Sunnyside, Pretoria South Africa, 14-15 July 2011. Chaired a session.


13th ISSI (International Society for Scientometrics and Informetrics), Durban, South Africa, 4-8 July 2011. Presented two papers and poster paper and chaired two sessions:


d. ...with Okon, A. A measure of research productivity in Nigerian Universities: a bibliometric analysis


e. How is ‘knowledge management similar to or different from information management? An informetrics perspective.


f. ...with Ocholla, D.N. and Ocholla, L. What is the growth and scientific impact of global warming research, 2008-2010?


XXI ESARBICA Conference on Access to Information: Archives and Records in Support of Public Sector Reform in Context, Maputo, 8 -10 June 2011. Delivered two papers:


g. … with Ngoepe, M. The protection of information bill and access to information in South Africa: an informetric study of the media coverage


h. … with Mokwatlo, KI. How does LIS perceive records management? A trend and core/periphery model analyses


6th Biennial DISSAnet Conference, Pretoria, South Africa, 9-11 March 2011. Delivered a paper entitled “Job functions and requirements for knowledge managers: lessons for LIS schools in South Africa”.


Onyancha, O.B. How is „knowledge management similar to or different from information management? An informetrics perspective. In: E Noyons, P Ngulube, and J Leta (eds). Proceedings of ISSI 2011: the 13th Conference of the International Society for Scientometrics and Informetrics, Durban, South Africa, 4-8 July, pp: 626-637 [Research in Progress paper].


Ani, O.E. & Onyancha, O.B. A measure of research productivity of Nigerian universities: a bibliometric analysis. In: E Noyons, P Ngulube, and J Leta (eds). Proceedings of ISSI 2011: the 13th Conference of the International Society for Scientometrics and Informetrics, Durban, South Africa, 4-8 July, pp: 54-65.


Ocholla, D.N., Onyancha, O.B. & Ocholla, L. What is the growth and scientific impact of global warming research, 2008-2010? In: E Noyons, P Ngulube, and J Leta (eds). Proceedings of ISSI 2011: the 13th Conference of the International Society for Scientometrics and Informetrics, Durban, South Africa, 4-8 July, pp: 1040-1042 [Poster paper].


Mrs M Du Preez and Prof HWJ Meyer co-presented a paper at the 6th ProLISSA conference entitled “ “Exploring conceptual models to study consulting engineers‟ social networks”, at the 6th Biennial ProLLISSA Conference in March.


Mrs M Du Preez delivered a paper at the 10th Annual Information and Knowledge Management Conference, Johannesburg. The title of the paper was “ Enginners‟ task related information behavior.


Mrs N Wessels delivered a paper entitled The book: power and potential in South Africn townships school libraries at the ALA national library and information technicians conference, Perth 12-16 September.


Mrs Veli Jiyane delivered a paper entitled “ Benefits presented by Information and knowledge society on informal sector women entrepreneurs” at the 11th Annual DIS Conference, University of Zululand


Mrs Veli Jiyane delivered a paper entitled “ Contribution of informal sector women entrepreneurs to tourism industry n South Africa: issues and trends” at the 1st Emerging Research Paradigms in Business and Social Science Conference in Dubai on 23 November 2011.


Mrs Veli Jiyane co-presented a paper with Prof Patrick Ngulube at the 1st Indigenous Knowledge and Indigenous Knowledge Systems at the National University of Science and Technology, in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, 23-24 August 2011.


7) Mousaion


Three issues of the Departmental journal, Mousaion: South African Journal of Information Studies was published in 2011. The annual special number on children‟s literature and reading once again proved to be very popular and more than 30 articles were submitted for this issue.


8) Alumnus of the Year


Mr Robert Pearce, Director: Library & Information Services, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth was elected as the Department's 6th Alumnus of the Year.


9) Community involvement


Prof TB van der Walt and Mr Jan Maluleka are involved in a multi-disciplinary research project with the University of Namibia and Prof Marietha Nieman of Unisa‟s Department of Education on the reading habits of children in Namibia.


Prof TB van der Walt and Ms Veli Jiyane are involved in a multi-disciplinary research project on climate change and children: a case study of Isimangaliso with Dr Felicit Fairer-Wessels of the University of Pretoria.


Mrss Knoetze, Mnkeni-Saurombe and Wessels are involved in multi-disciplinary reading and literacy community and research projects in high-poverty primary schools in an urban South African setting under the auspices of the Academic Literacy Reseach Unit, Department of Linguistics. As part of the projects, school libraries have been introduced and set up at the schools to support the literacy programmes.


10) Involvement with other universities


Prof Onyancha is the External examiner, Department of Knowledge and Business Management, University of Johannesburg


Prof TB van der Walt acted as external examiner for the structured masters and doctoral courses and dissertations of the Department of Information Studies of the University of Ghana


Prof Van der Walt was also external examiner for the Children‟s literature course of the Higher Certificate in School Librarianship of the University of Western Cape and the


Children‟s literature and school librarianship module of the BInf Honours of the University of Zululand, 2011.

11) Photographs of some of the highlights:



Prof van der Walt with Mrs Jiyane in one of the KZN Schools with some learners and teachersAdd caption



















Attendees at the Storytelling Festival workshops in Polokwane



One of the storytellers from Africa

School learners at the Storytelling Festival in Polokwane

Prof van der Walt at 11th DIS Conference

Prof Bosire Onyancha at the first NUST Conference in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Mrs Nicoline Wessels at the ALIA Conference in Perth, Australia

Some Unisa delegates at the 11th DIS conference

1st Biennial IBBY Africa Conference: 31 August- to-2-September 2011

Background to the conference:

The biennial IBBY World Congress (International Board of Books for young People) is one of the most important international events that provides an opportunity for all those interested in children's literature and children's reading to meet and discuss matters of mutual interest. In addition to these international congresses, many national sections of IBBY organise either national or regional conferences. There is a regular regional conference in the USA that attracts delegates from North America, the Latin American sections of IBBY have a biennial reading conference in Havana, Cuba and the European Sections get together during the annual Bologna Children's Book Fair in Italy.

During the 32nd international IBBY Congress held in Santiago de Compostela, Spain in September 2010, the members of IBBY gathered together in their regional groups and discussed ways of future cooperation and possibilities. The Children's Literature Research Unit of the University of South Africa approached the delegates representing the African IBBY sections with an offer to organise a biennial conference in Africa. This was greeted with great enthusiasm and the first African Biennial IBBY Regional Conference is scheduled to take in Polokwane, Limpopo Province in South Africa at the end of August/beginning of September 2011.

The travelling of stories: children’s literature and reading in and of Africa

Call for papers
• 31 August-2 September 2011
• Venue: The Ranch, Polokwane, Limpopo Province
• Organised by the Department of Information Science, University of South Africa on behalf of the IBBY Branches of Africa
• Closing date for submissions: 15 June 2011

The following topics serve as suggestions:

• The travelling of stories across borders and cultures
• Children’s literature in translation
• Folktales and imagination
• Writing in indigenous/colonial/minority languages
• Colonialism and post-colonialism in children’s literature
• Traditional folktales and the modern tale
• Cultural relevance of children’s books
• The distinction between African children’s and adult books
• Oral narratives and literary research
• Converting oral literature into written literature
• Literature for didactic purposes
• The African diaspora and children’s literature
• Reading across cultures
• Library services for children
• Reading in the information age
• Comparative research in children’s literature and reading
• Depicting reality in children’s books
• Reading preferences of African children
• Teaching children’s literature
• Storytelling for young people
• Publishing for children in the 2rd World

Abstracts of not more than 250 words that address particular issues regarding reading and children’s literature related to Africa and the developing world are welcomed.

Mail abstracts and direct enquiries to:
Prof Thomas van der Walt, CLRU, Department of Information Science, University of South Africa, PO Box 392, 0003 Pretoria, South Africa
Fax: +27 12 4293792
e-mail: vdwaltb@unisa.ac.za

Prof Hester Meyer's retirement function

Professor Hester Meyer’s farewell lunch on 26 November 2010

On Friday 26 November 2010 the Department of Information Science hosted a farewell function in honour of Professor Hester Meyer. She was a member of the Department of Information Science for the last 26 years.


The guest of honour Hester and her husband Reinhard



What follows are photos of the venue and guests and colleagues who attended the luncheon.



Hester with her daughter Linda on the left, Madely and Adeline du Toit (a former colleague)



Thomas, Karin, Madely and Jackie Fourie (a former colleague)



Bosire, Nicoline and Karin



Mabel saying a few words



Linda, Hester, Marthie, Marlene and Jackie



Tina, Gontse, Sipho and Salmon



Veli and Luyanda



Sipho, Salmon and Jan



Nicoline, Karin, Namps and Tony



Tina, Sipho Salmon, Jan and Tony



Luyanda, Marthie, Marlene



Namps, Hannalie, Jan, Salmon



Salmon, Jan, Tony, Thomas, Luyanda



Marlene, Jackie



Hester



Luyanda presenting Hester with a gift from the Department



Veli giving flowers to Hester



Mabel presenting a gift on behalf of the Department to Hester



Opening the gift



Something to remember us by!