REPORT OF THE WORKING GROUP ON THE NATIONAL LIBRARIES OF SOUTH AFRICA

SECOND DRAFT

DEPARTMENT OF ARTS, CULTURE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

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CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. The context of Library and Information Services in South Africa

2.1 Non-technological factors
2.2 Contribution of library and information services to the Growth and Development Strategy
2.3 Role of libraries in science, technology and innovation
2.4 Technological factors
2.5 The development of library and information services in South Africa

3. The need for a national library

3.1 The clients of the national library
3.2 National library and information needs according to Maurice Line
3.3 The satisfaction of national library and information needs in South Africa - the current legal and de facto situation
3.4 Does South Africa need a national library?
3.5 Positioning the national library in the South African LIS environment
3.6 Conclusions

4. Vision and Mission for a new National Library

4.1 Vision statement
4.2 Mission statement
4.3 Note on the role of the NLSA in respect of heritage

5. Functions

5.1 Classification of functions
5.2 Core library functions
5.3 National functions
5.4 A missing national function: Promotion
5.5 General administrative functions
5.6 Summary of functions

6. Organisational Units

7. Structures

7.1 Need for a single national library
7.2 Options for unification
7.3 Division of responsibilities between the two campuses

8. Resources

9. Information Technology

10. Governance (legislation)

Bibliography
Annexure A: National Library Functions
Annexure B: Illustrative list of organisational units and projects of the NLSA
Annexure C: Draft Brief for Information Technology consultants
Annexure D: Membership of the Working Group on the National Libraries and its Reference Committee
List of acronyms and abbreviations

1. INTRODUCTION

In 1996 the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology initiated a review of all the legislation it administers. This legislation includes the National Libraries Act, 1985 (Act No. 56 of 1985). As part of the review process the Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology appointed a Working Group on the National Libraries of South Africa, with the following terms of reference:

The Working Group on the National Libraries is to advise the Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology on the following:

• The vision, mission, functions, programmes, structures and resources of the National Libraries to facilitate access to, and provide information nationally and internationally, in order to support growth and development in a cost-effective and efficient manner.
• The role of the National Libraries in the information society and the impact of information technology and its utilisation in service delivery.
• The possible inclusion of the South African Library for the Blind in the National Libraries Act.

The investigation of the Working Group on the above matters could result in an amendment of the National Libraries Act, 1985 (Act No. 56 of 1985).

The Working Group was chaired by Mr A.S. Khutsoane, University Librarian, University of the North-West. It consisted of twelve members and was assisted by a Reference Committee. The members of the Working Group and its Reference Committee are listed in Annexure D. The Working Group and Reference Committee met on 25 July, 19 and 20 September and 14 November 1996.

This first draft of the Working Group's report deals with the South African Library and the State Library only. The representative of the South African Library for the Blind has reported that the Board of that institution intends to submit proposals for the amendment of the National Libraries Act, 1985, to make provision for the SA Library for the Blind as an institution separate from the National Library of South Africa that is proposed below. The proposals of the SA Library for the Blind will be presented in a separate report.

This draft is based on:

• The working documents prepared by members of the Working Group.
• Working documents submitted to the Working Group by the Integration Forum SAL-SL, a forum of management and staff representatives of the South African Library and the State Library, which met on 1996-06-19, 1996-08-05 and 1996-11-04/5.
• The discussions at the Working Group's above-mentioned meetings.
• Additional comments and submissions received from members of the Working Group.
• Submissions from other interested parties who had been invited by the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology to comment on the Working Group's terms of reference.
• The meeting of the Task Team on Programmes and Structures, on 1996-12-23.