2006/2007 - University of Swaziland

Library - Continuedcommerce materials. The training of Library staff andlecturers in the Law Department on the effective usageof this resource was conducted by Lexis Nexis, assistedby UNISWA's ICT Department. Other donations of lawmaterials were made by the International Bar Associationand the World Intellectual Property Organization(WIPO). Additional titles on Peace and Reconciliationwere donated by the Lutheran Development Services.The joint stock of the three library units is 188,350 itemsSTAFFINGThe Library continued operating with a shortfall of stafffor both the support and academic cadres. The Libraryis using casual recruits to cover the support vacancies.However, this is not an ideal way to address the issue.Three academic positions; Cataloguing, SpecialCollections and Faculty of Health Sciences Library arestill vacant. Senior staff members on the ground areoverstretched because they have to cover for thesesections. It has been difficult to attract qualifyingindividuals for these positions.WORKSHOP HOSTED BY THE LIBRARYDuring the period under review, with financialassistance from OSISA, the Library hosted a two-dayNational Workshop on Consortium Building.Participants were drawn from academic and publiclibraries and information services, the Ministry ofEducation, the National Curriculum Centre, SPTC,Government Computing, tertiary educationalinstitutions such as Teacher Training Colleges, andother relevant stakeholders.The Workshop culminated in the launching of theSwaziland Library Consortium (SWALICO), whoseobjective is to share and enhance access to electronicinformation resources. Further, the Workshop electeda seven-member National Steering Committee tospearhead the official legislation of the Organisation.The Steering Committee comprises the followingmembers:The Steering Committee is in the process of drafting aconstitution for SWALICO, which will be discussedand officially adopted at another planned Workshopbefore SWALICO can be officially registered.WORKSHOP / SEMINARS / CONFERENCESATTENDEDLeiden – The Netherlands, CODESRIA-ASCConference on Electronic Publishing and Dissemination,Institutional Repositories: Time for African Universitiesto Consolidate the digital divide by: J.P. Anbu 6 – 8September, 2006.Mombasa – Kenya, 10th AHILA Congress on theMDGs and Health Information Provision, Healthinformation and poverty alleviation in Sub-SaharanAfrica: Challenges for health information professionalsby: M.L.N. Chibambo 23-27 October, 2006.Manzini – Swaziland, National Workshop onConsortium Building and Management, Resourcesharing in the University of Swaziland by: A. Thwala,29-30 June, 2006COMMUNITY SERVICEThe University Library once again joined the nationin commemorating the World AIDS Day on 1December 2006. It mounted an exhibition ofinformation resources on HIV/AIDS and redribbons were distributed to students and staff whovisited the Library to view the exhibition. A numberof the visitors, who were mostly students, pledgedto “keep the promise” and stop the spread ofHIV/AIDS in Swaziland.Dr. Z. G. Ngcobo - UNISWA, Chairperson;Ms. M L N. Chibambo - UNISWA, Secretary;Ms. V. Khumalo - National Library Services;Dr. A M Mahlalela - Ngwane Teachers Training College;Mrs. J. Manyatsi - National Curriculum Centre;Mrs. N. Mkhwanazi - National Library Services.Part of the exhibition which was mounted by the libraryduring the commemoration of the World Aids Day.66REPORT OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR 2006-2007