Issued by: Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology
16 SEPTEMBER 1996
The Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology and the Minister of Education have appointed a Working Group to advise them on mechanisms to ensure good governance of the library and information system at the national level in South Africa to facilitate maximum availability and use of all relevant information sources to advance the Reconstruction and Development Programme.
The draft report of the Working Group is hereby released for comment by everyone who wishes to comment on the recommendations made in the report.
The Working Group has investigated in-depth mechanisms to be established in order to ensure co-ordination of the national LIS system with a view to improving access to information for all communities.
Access to information must be ensured, for raising the educational status of the population and for life-long learning, as well as for empowering communities to participate in decisions affecting them.
It is envisaged that this investigation could be followed by further investigations regarding other aspects of library and information services.
Any library and information service, organisation or individual wishing to submit comments in the Draft Report of the Working Group must please do so before 31 October 1996. Comments can be sent to:
Mrs R M Cillie, Chief: Meta-information Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology Tel: (012) 314-6074, fax. (012) 323-8308/323-2720 e-mail: cillie@acts2.pwv.gov.za
Copies of the report may also be requested from Mrs Cillie.