In commemoration of the SA Library Week, the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Libraries will be hosting a hybrid Public Lecture themed: Libraries: Foster Social Cohesion at the Alan Pittendrigh Library, Steve Biko campus in Durban on Wednesday, 20 March 2023 from 12h00 to 13h00. The Public Lecture will be delivered by the dynamic Mr Kepi Madumo, CEO: National Library of South Africa.
Facilitating the event will be Mr Romeo Matumba, Librarian: Marketing and Communication at DUT. Students and staff are invited to attend this exciting Public Lecture which they can also join online via MS Teams. Guests will also be entertained through DUT’s aspiring poets and comedians.
The Public Lecture forms part of a week-long events planned by the DUT Libraries in celebrating the SA Library Week. The celebrations started on Monday, 18 March 2024 with a DUT Mini-Book Fair where DUT staff and student authors got an opportunity to showcase their books at the BM Patel Library. During this week also called the Amnesty Week, the DUT community will not be paying fines when returning overdue library books. Amnesty is applied to all materials except for short loans. Those wishing to get more information on qualifying for amnesty are free to visit the DUT Libraries friendly staff at circulation and information desks.
The munch anticipated speaker, Mr Madumo has been holding the position of National Librarian and CEO of the National Library of South Africa since 2019. He has a remarkable career spanning for over two decades.
According to Matumba, Madumo has held several senior leadership positions, solidifying his reputation as a seasoned executive. Notably, since 2002 he served as the Director: Provincial Library, Information and Archives Services in the North West Province. His impact extended to the National Department of Social Development, where he excelled as the Director of Information Management.
“His exceptional abilities propelled him to a Strategic Executive Director in the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts, Culture, and Libraries for the City of Tshwane (Pretoria) and later as Executive Director in the Department of Community Development for the City of Johannesburg. Additionally, he served as the Divisional Head of Strategy, Research, and Organisation Performance at the City of Ekurhuleni. His expertise also extends beyond South Africa, as he is a member of the South African Bureau of Standards ISO Technical Committee on Records and Archives Management. He currently holds significant roles, including being a member of the African Library and Information Institutions and Associations (AFLIA) Governing Council and Chairperson of the AFLIA National Libraries Section and Southern Africa Representative. He is also the current Chairperson of the Standing Conference for African National and University Librarians for Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (SCANULE-ECS) 2022-2024. He is a Fellow of the US State Department International Visitor Leadership Programme,” explained Matumba.
The DUT community is urged to join communities across South Africa who have come together to honour the vital role that libraries play in bringing people together, fostering connections, and promoting unity.
Pictured: SA Library Week Public Lecture poster.
Picture credit: National Library of South Africa/X
Simangele Zuma
