Dear Colleagues
Happy Birthday to Our LIASA-Robert Pearce
Below is what I wrote when LIASA turned 10 years of age and when I was invited by the Gauteng North Branch to address them as the first Chairperson of the Gauteng Branch:
LIASA 10 years: A Chairperson and Editor’s Memoirs
Robert J Pearce
5 May 2007-National Botanical Gardens, Silverton Pretoria
Launch
It was the year 1997 and the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) was formally launched at the University of Pretoria on 10 July.
Branch Chairperson
Elections were held for Branch Chairpersons for all Nine Provinces and I stood as Candidate for Gauteng, but was beaten by my Colleague and Mentor, Joan de Beer. I was disappointed, but accepted defeat. Disappointed, because I was part of the ULIS 2 conference and workgroups that worked under the guidance of Peter Lor and I thought that it should be automatic that I should serve on the Executive of the new LIASA. However, my disappointment was short-lived when I was requested by the LIASA Executive Committee to Chair the Gauteng Branch as Joan de Beer had to attend to a pressing work schedule and could thus not fulfil her duties as Gauteng Chair. Enthusiastically, I embarked on building the Gauteng Branch, which when it started was not yet divided into North and South. With a Team of Librarians consisting of John van Niekerk, later replaced by the late Joe Mulidzwi as Treasurer, Simon Mohatli as Secretary, Gugu Maseko, Nelly Sithole, Lindile Nhlapo, Refiloe Mabaso, Nelly Sithole and Marie Reynecke. Others that would also play a significant role were, Joan de Beer, Andries Kekana, Segametsi Molawa, June Matlala, Dennis Esau, Lukie Ferreira, Zola Mdledle, Victor Ndaba, Esther Sibanyoni, Christine Mallo, Mary Reynolds, Lukie Ferreira, Mercy Mokgele and Nomvula Nhlabati. Gauteng had the largest Membership and geographically it is a vast area. I had to travel to Medunsa (far north), around Pretoria, Johannesburg, Springs and Germiston and also to the Vaal Triangle on the borders of the Free State Province to attend to Meetings and Workshops and canvass for more Members. It was also the time when I had to persuade Members of LIWO and READ to become LIASA Members as well as the “old” SAILIS Members, some of them who adopted a wait-and-see attitude. Furthermore, some of the “old” ALASA Members propagated the inclusion of a “Black Caucus” within LIASA –based on the idea of a such a Caucus within the American Library Association. Fortunately, this did not succeed. As I have served on the SAILIS Executive for a number of years, I thought that it should be automatic to persuade my fellow SAILIS Members to join LIASA and I held meetings at various Universities, Technikons, Public and School Libraries only to be informed that they regard LIASA as a “Blacks only association” or a “Young Peoples association”. This did not deter me from still requesting them to join and share their expertise. Some eventually did and others remained in the wilderness.
The first conference in Bloemfontein from 15-17 November 1998 was a huge success and the theme was: “Towards a Library and Information Renaissance in South Africa. Ellen Tise was elected President. To me, this was a watershed conference for the Gauteng Branch. At that conference, with the full backing of the Gauteng Branch, I tabled the motion to divide the Gauteng Branch into “North” and “South”-which was accepted.
The 1999 Conference was held in Bellville and organized by the Western Cape Branch. I was present one morning at one o’ clock when the LIASA Executive had to vote on the “Colours”, “Design/Lettering” and the “Logo” for LIASA. All Executive members were tired, and half asleep but still chose the best from what was presented and that is still in use today.
Newsletter
It was the year 1999, the turn of the Millennium and Librarians and others had Y2K fears. Layla Vahed was the first Editor of LIASA-in-TOUCH. I received a call from Haffy Haffajee and an Air Ticket that I needed to travel to Durban urgently as the LIASA Executive wanted to consult with me. At that meeting, I was requested to become Editor-in-Chief. The Executive gave me leeway and I could choose an Editor, which was my Colleague from the then Vaal Triangle Technikon Library, Mrs Alida Nel. As LIASA’s funding was sparse, and advertising was slow in coming, we had to opt for an A5 format with Black and White pictures. I envy the colour pictures and colourful layout of the new Newsletter. At the end of 1999, I had to relinquish the Editor-in-Chiefship as I moved to the University of South Africa’s Library and could not take on the more responsibilities due to a hectic work schedule.
Conclusion
As with any Parent, who experienced the birth of a child, I was fortunate to be there where it all started. Although not active on Executive level anymore, I am still a Gauteng North Member and Reflective Practice Editor for the LIASA South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science. I Peer-review articles and write Book reviews. Also as a Parent, I am watching the progress of LIASA and am always in an advisory position when needed. Congratulations to our child LIASA that is 10 years old. Looking forward to the next 100 years!
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