Conference MC

Buhle Mbambo-Thata

Dr Buhle Mbambo-Thata is the University Librarian of the National University of Lesotho.  She is a leader whose work spans international, continental and national work to advance the library sector as a key player in education and development.  She serves on boards of library organisations, nationally and internationally.  A distinguished librarian, her knowledge and expertise has been recognised with a number of awards.   Her research interests are in women and ICT, and in technology applications in libraries.  She is passionate about library development generally, and in Africa in particular.  She is also passionate about mentoring librarians.    

As Virtual Emcee, she will engage the audience, keep the energy up, segue from one session to the next, add insights, and thus enhance the conference experience for all the participants.

Entertainment

Mel Jones

Born and raised in Cape Town, Mel Jones is a single mother, an award winning comedian, an energetic MC, a writer, an actor and a former award winning radio producer and presenter.  She's appeared on many comedy tours including the King Size Comedy Tour, the Blacks Only, Mind The Gap, Kings & Queens of Comedy, the comedy & sketch show, Bitches, the Funny Festival, the Johannesburg & Cape Town International Comedy Festivals, on a Showmax comedy special, she can currently be seen on SABC2's Comedy Mixtape and she is hugely popular as a corporate comedian and MC.           

Keynote Speaker

Zanele Njapha

Zanele, or as her clients call her, "The UnLearning Lady", is an international Transitions Facilitator and Future of Work Speaker, helping companies navigate organisational changes and step confidently into the new world of work.
She is the host of the highly-rated (top 100 in the Entrepreneurship category in Zambia, SA, Ghana, Nigeria and top 200 in Canada, Portugal and Russia) entrepreneur-focused podcast "Future-Fit Fridays", hosting conversations with global experts on the future of work.
Zanele is also an award-winning speaker (the first speaker in Africa to be awarded the Speaker factor competition winner) and has served as the youngest EXCO member of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa.  She contributes articles to Forbes and the Thought Leader section of the Mail & Guardian, and was voted #45 on Avance Media's list of Top 100 Most Influential Young South Africans in 2019.

Kim Ashley Albertyn

Kim Albertyn is a Teen Public Librarian at the City of Cape Town Wynberg Library.  Prior to this she worked for five months at Pelican Park Library, one year and five months at Grassy Park Library as a General Librarian, where she also worked with teenagers.  She completed her Master's degree in Library and Information Studies at the University of the Western Cape in March 2021.

Topic: A Teen Librarian's journey in post lockdown Cape Town.  Teenagers are generally a challenging age group, but Kim's passion for teenagers has allowed her to come up with innovative ways to attract teenagers to the library before COVID-19 and during the pandemic.

Day 2 | Session 7 | 13:00 - 14:30

Lorette Jacobs

Peter Lor

Peter Johan Lor holds a D.Phil. degree (1991 as well as an honorary doctorate (2008) from the University of Pretoria.  He was South Africa's first National Librarian (2000 - 2003), and served as Secretary General of IFLA during 2005 - 2008.
In retirement he continues to pursue scholarly interests as a research associate in the Department of Information Science, University of Pretoria.  His current research focuses on international and comparative librarianship, with an emphasis on research methods and on the ethical and political economic aspects of international information relations.  He is an honorary member of the Library and Information Association of South African (LIASA).

Topic:

Day 1 | Session 4 | 14:45 - 16:15

Monde Madiba

Monde Madiba is currently employed at the University of the Free State as a Deputy-Director: Collection Development and Management.  He is a former English and Geography teacher and a Senior Education Specialist in the Free State Department of Education.  He graduated with a Master's Degree in Information and Knowledge Management at Stellenbosch University (SU) and a second Masters in Higher Education Studies at the University of the Free State (UFS).  He is currently pursuing a PhD qualification at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).  He is a strong believer in lifelong learning. 

Topic: E-books take centre stage in the shifting purchasing patterns at the University of the Free State in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic

Day 3 | Session 11 | 13:00 - 14:30

Siphiwo Mahala

Dr Siphiwo Mahala is a short story writer, novelist, playwright and critic playing his trade in both English and Xhosa.  His most recent books is Red Apple Dreams and Other Stories (2019).  He holds a PhD in English Literature from UNISA.  He was the Head of Books and Publishing at the national Department of Arts and Culture for over 10 years.  He is the editor of Imbiza Journal for African Writing. In this talk, Dr Mahala, will present "strategies that can be used to augment transformation in the LIS sector and support the promotion of local content".

Topic: The Role of Libraries in Promoting Local Content

Day 2 | Session 5 | 09:00 - 10:30

Dina Mashiyane

Dina Mashiyane is an Assistant Director (Campus Librarian) with a demonstrated history of working in higher education Library and Information Services.  She is skilled in Electronic Resources, Analytical Skills, Knowledge Management, Digitization, Information Literacy, Research Methodology, Library Marketing and library liaison.  She is an upcoming author and researcher who has published in reputable academic journals, and an accredited facilitator.  She was a candidate for the Carnegie CPD Programme "Enhancing librarians' ICT skills for research enablement in African universities".
She has presented papers at LIASA, ICIL and NADEOSA conferences.  She is fascinated by changes and development in her area of expertise. 

Topic: Friend or foe: TikTok as an Information Literacy facilitation platform during a time of crisis.

Day 2 | Session 6 | 10:45 - 12:15

Anika Meyer

Anika Meyer is a Lecturer in the Department of Information Science, University of Pretoria.  She is currently enrolled for her doctoral studies at the Department of Information Science, University of Pretoria, titled: Stakeholder information sharing: a naturalistic case study of software development.  Her research interests include information behaviour, knowledge management, guided inquiry, third space and creative spaces.  She has presented at international conferences (e.g. ISCI and EAHIL) and is a member of ASIS&T and KMSA.  She published her first book in 2021 in collaboration with Prof Preben Hansen and Prof Ina Fourie, titled: Third Space, Information Sharing and Participatory Design.

Topic: Autoethnography as research, reflection and coping mechanism for librarians in times of crisis. (A viewpoint paper)

Day 2 | Session 7 | 13:00 - 14:30

Sonto Moleme

Balungile Brightness "Sonto" Moleme is currently the Director of Information access Services and the Cape Town Campus Coordinator at the National Library of South Africa.  She joined the NLSA in 2014.  She has extensive experience in working at Academic Libraries and Public Libraries.  Her interests are heritage awareness and Special Collections.  She holds a BA and Bachelor of Social Science Honours from the University of Natal, and an MA in Library and Information Science, specialising in Digital Librarianship from the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Topic: Implementation of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Project for the digitisation of heritage assets for the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. 

Day 1 | Session 3 | 13:00 - 14:30

Sagren Moodley

Sagren Moodley has been working in academic libraries for over 30 years, mainly in library IT.  For the past decade he has been in key leadership roles at the Durban University of Technology, managing IT, innovation, staff development and site libraries.  He is currently the Manager for Information Systems and Resources, where he plays a critical role in driving the library's digitalisation strategy.  He has a passion for data analytics and has led multiple data projects, contributing significantly to the development of a data informed culture in the library.     

Topic: An analysis of virtual library services during the different levels of the South African COVID-19 national lockdown.

Day 3 | Session 11 | 13:00 - 14:30

Malefu Mophosho

Malefu Mophosho studied B.A (Media Studies) at the University of the Free State and started work at the UFS Sasol Library as an intern in 2008.  In 2009 she was appointed as a library assistant working in ILL and later moved to the circulation desk where she worked until she graduated with a Post-graduate Diploma in LIS from the University of Cape Town in 2013.  From 2015 to 2018 she worked as the librarian responsible for the faculty of Humanities.  In January 2019 she started work at the Frik Scott Medical Library doing both information and ILL. 

Topic: The inevitable new role of Inter-library Loans at the University of the Free State

Day 3 | Session 10 | 10:45 - 12:15

Carmen Nel

Dennis Ocholla

Professor Dennis Ocholla joined the University of Zululand as Professor (FP) and Head of the department of Library and Information Science (1996 - 2014) and was appointed senior Professor at the University in 2006.  He has served the University of Zululand as Dean (1998 - 1999), Vice Dean (2007 - 2011), Deputy Dean of Research and Internationalization (2014 - 2019) in the Faculty of Arts.  He graduated with a PhD (Kiev and Leningrad/St Petersburg) in 1988 in the former Soviet Union.  His research and teaching interest, where he has published and graduated many masters and PhDs, include information seeking, KM and IKS, ICT4D, LISE, applied bibliometrics / infometrics, information ethics, scholarly communication and research methods.  He serves/has served on the editorial and peer review boards of many national and international journals, conferences and research organisations.  He is currently (since 2009) the Editor-in-Chief of Inkanyiso: Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences and before that, Editor -in-Chief (2002 - 2008) of the South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science (SAJLIS).  His research awards include NRF [RSA] established researcher rating. You can access some of his publications here.

Day 1| Session 4 | 14:45 - 16:15

Naailah Parbhoo-Ebrahim

Naailah Parbhoo-Ebrahim is a full-time lecturer in the Department of Information Science, University of Pretoria (UP).  With a Bachelors and Honours Degree in Information Science as well as a Masters in Information Technology with specialisation in library services, she is currently completing her doctorate in Information Science at the University of Pretoria.  In 2017, she became the African Centre of Excellence for Information Ethics (ACEIE) at the Department of Information Science, UP, office manager where she coordinated digital wellness workshops.  In 2020, she became the ACEIE convenor.  Her research focus includes information behaviour, information retrieval, information ethics, cold case investigations. 

Topic: Digital Wellness: suggestions for implementation in academic libraries.

Day 3 | Session 11 | 13:00 - 14:30

Kgomotso Radijeng

Kgomotso Radijeng is the Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI) Knowledge Commons manager responsible for information and knowledge management, as well as Research Management.  She has a bachelor's degree in law (LLB) from the University of Botswana (1999), a Master's Degree in Library and Information Science (MScLIS) from the Catholic University of America (2002), and a Post Graduate Diploma in Knowledge and Information Systems Management from the University of Stellenbosch (2014).  She has worked as a librarian since 2000; first as the Law Librarian at the University of Botswana Library (2000 - 2007), Resource Centre Coordinator at BNPC (2007 - 2014), and Knowledge Commons Manager at BITRI (2014 -).

Topic: Digitally divided academic and research libraries in Botswana strive to provide services during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown

Day 3 | Session 11 | 13:00 - 14:30

Maropene Ramabina

Maropene Ramabina is currently the Law Librarian at the University of Venda, Thohoyandou, Limpopo Province. He previously worked as a Serials Librarian at the Constitutional Court Library before he Joined eNCA as an audio-Visual Archivist.  He studied BA Law and PGDipLIS at UCT and BLISH at UKZN where he is currently studying towards his Masters degree.  He has attended LIASA, IFLA and ZimLA Conferences.  He served as LIASA Limpopo Branch Chairperson, PRO and Additional Member.  He won the Bitner Research Fellow at Cornell University Law Library, USA; the UniVen VC Award and was the LIASA Limpopo Librarian of the Year in 2016.

Topic: The effectiveness of a virtual Information Literacy programme for first year law students at the University of Venda

Day 2 | Session 6 | 10:45 - 12:15

Cornell Scheltema-van Wyk

Cornelle started working at the University of the Free State Library and Information Services in 2003, still a rookie in the library world. It quickly became apparent that her interests and talents lay with the developing digital world in libraries, moving from information librarian to IT and systems, then Open Access and institutional repositories, always ready to experiment and test new developments. Closing in on 20 years’ experience, she has learnt the value of continuously learning, trying new things, and letting go if something doesn't work (before finding something that does!). Cornelle earned her Masters degree in Digital Curation at the University of Cape Town in 2018 and is currently taking her time in considering a PhD.

Topic: A Digital Scholarship Centre at the University of the Free State

Day 1 | Session 3 | 13:00 - 14:30

Anita Shaw

Anita Shaw was appointed in February 2021 as Project Coordinator of the Presidential Stimulus Employment Project at the National Library of South Africa.  She has extensive experience in the public library sector, working for a total of 25 years at various public libraries in Cape Town.  She also worked as Deputy Programme Manager at the NLSA's Centre for the Book and as Communications Coordinator at the International Federation of Workers Association.  She holds a Masters Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Cape Town and a Masters Degree in Social Development from the University of Sussex.    

Topic: Implementation of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Project for the digitisation of heritage assets for Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.

Day 1 | Session 3 | 13:00 - 14:30

Prashanth Sivsaran

Prashanth Sivsaran joined the Durban University of Technology in 2015 as the Library's Computer Technician.  His passion for technological innovation and vast industry information technology experience moved him rapidly into more senior roles.  In 2018, he became the Web & Systems Support Officer, playing a key role in transforming the library's access to information resources and services.  Prashanth holds a National Diploma in Engineering Computer Systems and is also a Cisco certifies technician.  He is currently studying towards a bachelor of Information Science degree at UNISA. 

Topic: An analysis of virtual library services during the different levels of the South African COVID-19 national lockdown

Day 3 | Session 11 | 13:00 - 14:30

Janusz Skarzynski

Janusz Skarzynski started working in Cape Town public libraries in 1997 while completing his BAdmin.  This was followed by a PGDipLIS and later MPhil (research) in Library and Information Science at UCT.  That experience inspired him, with the support of LISC, to undertake research projects in public libraries.  This led to presenting at local and international conferences, working on collaborative projects, like the Poverty and Inequality Initiative and the Mistra Urban Futures.  In the recent past, Janusz has been working for an NGO to establish and serve on the Community Libraries Information Portal (CLIP) Advisory Committee. 

Topic: It is a matter  of what's in the frame and what's out: re-framing our view of information literacy in the South Africa context.

Day 2 | Session 6 | 10:45 -12:15

Mark Snyder

Mark Snyder currently occupies the position of Manager for Scholarly Communication at the University of the Western Cape Library.  Mr Snyders' duties include administration of the UWC Research Data Repository(Kikapu), the Open Access repositories and managing the library's Online Publishing Support Service.  This service publishes a number of university journals and supports journal editors and managers with training, advocacy, the development and management of new journals and navigating various aspects of the publishing ecosystem.  The Scholarly Communications unit also supports researchers with research data management and administration as well as any publishing queries. 

Topic: The research data management landscape at the University of the Western Cape. 

Day 3 | Session 11| 13:00 - 14:30 

Brenda van Wyk

Brenda van Wyk is the Deputy Dean: research and Postgraduate Studies at The Independent Institute of Education, and internationally accredited private higher education institution.  She holds a PhD in Information and Knowledge Management from the University of Pretoria, South Africa.  She has a second Master's in Educational Technology.  Her research interests are digital scholarship research curation, competitive advantage and knowledge capital of research, institutional repositories, and digital leaning commons. She has published in journals and conference proceedings. 

Topic: Are academic library information services ready to accommodate a "phygital" generation? A critical case study

Day 1 | Session 3 | 12:15 - 13:00

Xolelwa Xorile

Xolelwa Xorile was born and raised in Sterkspruit, Eastern Cape.  She works at the University of Free State Library and Information Services (UFS LIS) at the circulation desk.  She is currently studying towards a BA degree in Information Science with UNISA.  Her involvement in the library community earned her an award as the ambassador of the year at UFS LIS in 2019.  As a former radio presenter, she now uses her voice for library marketing audio and video materials and to advocate for reading with primary school learners.  She was involved in the LIASA Free State Branch, where they established reading clubs in a number of schools in Mangaung. 

Topic: How the University of the Free State library and information services collaborated with the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and KOVSIEFM to develop its first Podcast.

Day 3 | Session 10 | 10:45 - 12:15

Tony Zanders

Tony Zanders is an award-winner software entrepreneur and library technology executive, currently serving as the founder and CEO of Skilltype - a software platform for information professional and their teams to analyse, develop, and share expertise.  Prior to Skilltype, Zanders served as the inaugural entrepreneur-in-residence at the Boston University Libraries, advised the senior leadership team on talent and the future of work. For nine years, he held executive roles at EBSCO and Ex Libris, where he consulted library leaders across six continents on technology strategy.

Topic: Using linked data and personalisation to reskill the library and information services profession