To commemorate the South African Library Week (SALW) held annually between 20-26 March, the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Library will host a Public Lecture online, via Microsoft Teams on Thursday, 23 March 2023 from 12h00 to 13h00.
The Public Lecture will be delivered by Mr Mandla Ntombela and it will be based on this year’s South African Library Week theme: Libraries-Telling Powerful Stories. Mr Ntombela is currently employed as Chief Sales Officer at Nevada LMS. Prior to joining Nevada LMS, Ntombela worked as a Director at Msunduzi Municipality Library Services for eight years. He has vast experience in the Library Services field and has served on various local and international Library Boards. His recent appointments being the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the South African Library for the Blind (SALB) and a Member of the Governing Board of the International Federation of Library Associations & Institutions (IFLA) 2022-2023.
Mr Ntombela holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). He also graduated with an Honours Degree in Library and Information Science, a Postgraduate Diploma in Library and Information Studies, and a Bachelor of Theology from UKZN. Additionally, he holds a Public Relations Certificate from the University of Cape Town and a non-degree course from the University of Illinois.
Besides the SALW Public Lecture, DUT Library has lots of exciting activities planned for this week. Firstly, DUT Library has declared this week, Amnesty Week where they will be lenient and not charge fines to students whose library books are overdue. This grace period is only valid for this week.
Students who are still learning their way around the university libraries should not fear as the DUT Library is also planning to launch the Self-Check System in all library sites. This is where the students will learn how to borrow and return books on their own.
There are also lots of awesome prizes to be won during the SAWL. DUT Library is running a competition where students are encouraged to share their interesting and powerful stories on the unit’s Facebook page: @DUTlibrary. This is also meant to encourage the students to “tell powerful stories”.
To attend the SALW Public Lecture on Thursday, 23 March 2023 from 12h00 to 13h00 please click on the following link: https://bit.ly/3Foc2O3
Pictured: Mr Mandla Ntombela.
Simangele Zuma
