The Durban University of Technology (DUT) commemorated South African Library Week by hosting a public lecture on 19 March 2026 at the BM Patel Library Conference Centre, under the theme ‘Reclaiming Knowledge, Empowering Futures.’ The event formed part of the wider celebration of South African Library Week, observed from 16 to 22 March across the country. The lecture reflected the university’s ongoing commitment to advancing knowledge, promoting research engagement, and fostering academic dialogue.
Delivering the lecture, Emeritus Professor Archie Leonard Dick from the University of Pretoria, Department of Information Science, provided thought-provoking insights into the philosophical dimensions of library and information studies. His discussion also touched on reading cultures and the historical development of knowledge production.
The programme was steered by the Marketing and Communication Librarian, Mr Romeo Matumba, who highlighted that South African Library Week is a nationwide initiative led by the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA), aimed at recognising and celebrating the role of libraries in community development.
Executive Dean of the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics, Professor Oludayo Olugbara, delivered the opening welcome address, where he highlighted the significant role that libraries play in supporting academic success, research development, and facilitating access to knowledge.
“Today, we congregate to celebrate intellectual freedom in the preservation of our heritage, cultural and indigenous knowledge. I like the significant roles of libraries in fostering, promoting background learning and contributing to community development by fostering public access to tangible and intangible library resources,” said Prof Olugbara.
Director of Library Services, Dr Malefetjane Phaladi, emphasised the importance of the event within the university calendar. He noted that the theme calls on libraries to safeguard accurate information, promote knowledge growth, and drive social change, particularly in an era marked by artificial intelligence, misinformation, disinformation, and knowledge inequalities. To address these issues, it is essential to empower communities with the necessary skills and capabilities to effectively sanitise such forms of misleading information.
“Reclaiming knowledge and empowering futures calls upon us to reflect very deeply in terms of the responsibility of libraries to restore, preserve, and elevate indigenous knowledge systems, promote African languages, and ensure knowledge remains accessible and relevant to our communities,” explained Dr Phaladi.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Archie Leonard Dick explored the theme in depth, highlighting the importance of protecting information freedom. He referenced the 2019 Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, adopted in Banjul, The Gambia, by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which underscores the universal right to access information.
Professor Dick further explained the relationship between knowledge and information, noting that knowledge exists as a personal mental state, while information is the communication of that knowledge through spoken, written, or published forms. He stressed the crucial role librarians and information professionals play in collecting, organising, and making information accessible to all.
“Knowledge and information are key terms in our profession and in its discipline. They connect with each other in important ways. Knowledge is a personal mental state of what is known, and when that knowledge is communicated, either as spoken, written, printed, or published, it becomes information. As librarians and information professionals, we collect, arrange, and make all of that information accessible to all of those who ask for it,” said Prof. Dick.
Following a series of entertaining and engaging discussions, the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Design, Professor Pholoho Morojele, delivered a vote of thanks, expressing appreciation to all attendees and extending gratitude to Professor Dick for sharing his knowledge and insights.
Pictured: Professor Archie Leonard Dick delivering the public lecture at DUT
Photographer: S’bonelo Dlamini
Thubelihle Dumakude
