January/February 2017 Volume 61 | No 1

Know our Central
Reference Collection
Discover our rare and fascinating resources by Neville Adonis
The Central Reference Section (popularly known as SN)
is a section within Information Services, which is part
of the Central Organisation of the Library Service. The
function of Central Reference is to provide information
from its extensive collection to 15 regional offices and
368 public library service points in the Western Cape. The
Central Reference Section is situated on the third floor of
the Western Cape Library Service building, on the corner
of Chiappini and Hospital Streets in Cape Town. Central
Reference information services are available to all affiliated
public libraries. Library users may borrow library material via
their public library for a specific loan period. Items may be
requested via SLIMS/Brocade, fax, e-mail, telephone and post.
Central Reference consists of five special collections and a
ready reference service:
• the Central Reference Collection (books on specialised
topics, Africana, foreign languages)
• the Art Library
• the Film Library (16mm films, videos)
• the Audiovisual Library (DVDs, audiobooks)
• the Music Library (vinyl records, CDs).
In this series I would like to introduce you to some of the
various sub-categories available, such as: Africana, audio
language courses, audiobooks, vinyl records, CDs and DVDs.
In this article we focus on Africana, which is part of the Central
Reference Collection. Africana is described as rare books and
documents on African history, life and culture.
Africana Collection
Why an Africana collection?
• Africana is an excellent source of reference
• Africana is an excellent source of research
• Africana gives you an insight into the past
• Africana is an excellent source of written oral South African
history.
The Africana collection in Central Reference consists of
approximately 2,000 non-fiction and 200 fiction books. These
books date back from 1700 up to 1950 and contain information
of historical African value. Non-fiction in the Africana
category consists of books ranging from ancient South African
ghost stories, ancient African tales, South African stories and
historical documentation on South Africa.
Users may request books in this category, but due to the
historical value of the material, these books are reference
material and can therefore only be used in the library.
Africana books in Central Reference
Below is a selection of titles available.
ALEXANDER, Sam
Photographic scenery South Africa.- 1880.
‘56 pages of text + 50 leaves of stiff card with 100 laid
down photographs, 4 to (300 x 240 mm), pictorial title page
with portrait of Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere laid down in
centre, original full pictorial maroon leather gilt, a little rubbed
in places, design repeated in blind on the back, all edges
gilt, some foxing which does not affect the photographs.’
‘A collection of photographs published by subscription.
There are 100 views, and a letterpress extending to fiftysix
pages, describing the various colonies, public institutions
and prominent men connected with the Cape at this period’.
— Mendelssohn’s South African Bibliography Volume 2, p 345
Sam Alexander visited South Africa early in 1880 to collect
the photographs for this album. He advertised the book in
the Cape Argus of 20th April 1880 stating, ‘The photographs
will all be from first-class artists, and no portion of the
Western and Eastern Provinces of the Cape Colony, Natal,
Diamond Fields, worthy of a place in the book will be
unrepresented. There is scenery both of woodland and rock
in South Africa vying in beauty and grandeur with that of
any portion of the known world, but the chief part of which
has as yet never been subjects for the artists, and it is therefore
little known. S Alexander has been fortunate in securing
the Patronage of His Excellency Sir Henry Bartle Edward
Frere, to whom the work will be dedicated, by his Excellency’s
express permission. There are fine views of all the major
SA cities and towns and of Mozambique. Zululand views
include “Isandwahla”, “Fort Pearson”, “The Spot where Prince
36 Cape Librarian January/February 2017