27 YEARS AS HEAD OF THE VETERINARY SCIENCE LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA
Erica van der Westhuizen
The Faculty has played such an important role in my life for the past 27 years that retirement at the end of September will take some getting used to! However, the joys of water aerobics, tea parties with old girlfriends and frequent Cinema Nouveau visits should compensate somewhat!
These were momentous years, with mostly highs, fortunately. Four Deans (Proff. Le Roux, Coubrough, Kriek and Swan), 3 BVSc degree changes (51/2 years, 6 years, 7 years), the amalgamation (MEDUNSA and UP = new National Faculty), all impacted on my work as the Head of the Veterinary Science Library, now named the Jotello F. Soga Library.
The support of the Deans has been especially important in helping the library to achieve its goals. The success of our 2 international veterinary librarians conferences which we organised and hosted (1995 and 2005) was largely due to Prof Coubrough and Prof Kriek respectively.
As we now increase our focus on electronic storage and accessibility of information, in particular the research output of the faculty, it is the present Dean, Prof Swan who is our main ally and supporter.
I would also like to mention the successful and inspiring cooperation of departmental heads and lecturers through the years. Prof Johnny van der Walt was one of our most enthusiastic users, helping us to build a strong physiology book and CD collection, Prof Abrams, former head of Poultry, always ensured that the library had fresh sweet peas, Prof Anna Verster who donated the unique photo collection of the Theiler daughters to the library for safekeeping, Prof Frank Verstraete (now at the University of California Davis) who invited me to witness the crowning of a tiger’s tooth, Prof Herman Groenewald who allowed us to digitise the unique biomedical illustrations of Christine Seegers, making them electronically available worldwide, Prof Banie Penzhorn, a regular, much appreciated donor of conference proceedings, Prof Koos Coetzer and Prof Roy Tustin who are currently involved with us in placing digitised slides in the electronic SA National Veterinary Repository – these are examples of the type of clients that help a library to develop as a unique and relevant information provider.
Students also play an influential role in library affairs. I must mention the students who are involved in library activities, such as the Vet Books for Africa project (started by the library in 1993 with the help of Gerhard Steenkamp, then a final year student, now head of the Dental Clinic). It has been especially rewarding working with the after-hours student library assistants. These have included such well-known vets as Drs Willem Burger, Paddy Morgan and Gary Bauer.
Of course, a successful library and information service needs an enthusiastic, creative, highly intelligent, witty and resourceful team of information specialists and library assistants. I was blessed with such a team – thank you, Amelia, Antoinette, Barbara, Johannes, Joe, Marguerite and Tertia
(and the students, Aileen, Kate and Vince).
Erica van der Westhuizen
The Faculty has played such an important role in my life for the past 27 years that retirement at the end of September will take some getting used to! However, the joys of water aerobics, tea parties with old girlfriends and frequent Cinema Nouveau visits should compensate somewhat!
These were momentous years, with mostly highs, fortunately. Four Deans (Proff. Le Roux, Coubrough, Kriek and Swan), 3 BVSc degree changes (51/2 years, 6 years, 7 years), the amalgamation (MEDUNSA and UP = new National Faculty), all impacted on my work as the Head of the Veterinary Science Library, now named the Jotello F. Soga Library.
The support of the Deans has been especially important in helping the library to achieve its goals. The success of our 2 international veterinary librarians conferences which we organised and hosted (1995 and 2005) was largely due to Prof Coubrough and Prof Kriek respectively.
As we now increase our focus on electronic storage and accessibility of information, in particular the research output of the faculty, it is the present Dean, Prof Swan who is our main ally and supporter.
I would also like to mention the successful and inspiring cooperation of departmental heads and lecturers through the years. Prof Johnny van der Walt was one of our most enthusiastic users, helping us to build a strong physiology book and CD collection, Prof Abrams, former head of Poultry, always ensured that the library had fresh sweet peas, Prof Anna Verster who donated the unique photo collection of the Theiler daughters to the library for safekeeping, Prof Frank Verstraete (now at the University of California Davis) who invited me to witness the crowning of a tiger’s tooth, Prof Herman Groenewald who allowed us to digitise the unique biomedical illustrations of Christine Seegers, making them electronically available worldwide, Prof Banie Penzhorn, a regular, much appreciated donor of conference proceedings, Prof Koos Coetzer and Prof Roy Tustin who are currently involved with us in placing digitised slides in the electronic SA National Veterinary Repository – these are examples of the type of clients that help a library to develop as a unique and relevant information provider.
Students also play an influential role in library affairs. I must mention the students who are involved in library activities, such as the Vet Books for Africa project (started by the library in 1993 with the help of Gerhard Steenkamp, then a final year student, now head of the Dental Clinic). It has been especially rewarding working with the after-hours student library assistants. These have included such well-known vets as Drs Willem Burger, Paddy Morgan and Gary Bauer.
Of course, a successful library and information service needs an enthusiastic, creative, highly intelligent, witty and resourceful team of information specialists and library assistants. I was blessed with such a team – thank you, Amelia, Antoinette, Barbara, Johannes, Joe, Marguerite and Tertia
(and the students, Aileen, Kate and Vince).
The photo shows Erica with her oldest staff member on the left, Johannes Moropotli, and her newest staff member, Joe Sindane, right.
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