4. VISION AND MISSION FOR A NEW NATIONAL LIBRARY

The vision and mission for a new national library must be derived from an analysis of the national library's clients and the needs it must satisfy, considered in the context of the South African situation, as set out in the previous section.

4.1 Vision statement

The following vision statement, which was jointly developed by representatives of the South African Library and the State Library, is proposed for a new, unified national library for South Africa:

The National Library of South Africa is committed to developing an informed nation.

In the following sections, pending a final decision on its name, the proposed new national library will be referred to as the National Library of South Africa (NLSA).

4.2 Mission statement

The following mission statement, which was jointly developed by representatives of the South African Library and the State Library, and further refined following discussion at the fourth meeting of the Working Group, is proposed for a new, unified national library for South Africa:

The National Library of South Africa contributes to social, economic and cultural development by collecting, recording, preserving and making available the national documentary heritage and by facilitating access to the world's information resources.

The National Library does this by delivering appropriate, timely and excellent information products and services to institutions and individuals in support of:

• Life-long, self-motivated learning
• The development of a skilled and productive workforce
• Literacy and information awareness
• Research, development and innovation
• Investment in the economic infrastructure
• Planning and decision-making in the public and private sectors
• Democratic and transparent government
• Empowerment of communities to participate in development
• Scholarly understanding of South African history, society and cultures
• Creative literary, artistic and cultural expression
• Promotion of indigenous authorship and publishing
• The development and appreciation of the nation's languages
• Tolerance and appreciation of our diverse heritage
• The promotion of a shared and unifying South African experience

The mission of the NLSA supports that of the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, which reads as follows:

To realise the full potential of arts, culture, science and technology in social and economic development, in nurturing creativity and innovation, and promoting the diverse heritage of our nation.

Its sphere of activity as evoked above also relates to, but is not limited to, the corporate goals of the Department, which have been stated as follows:

The Department will support:

• The arts, culture and heritage, by valuing diversity and promoting economic activity.
• The linguistic diversity of our country as a resource in empowering all South Africans fully to participate in their country's social, political and economic life.
• The equitable development and preservation, conservation, protection, promotion and making known of our collective history, national symbols and heritage.
• The development of science and technology expressed through the enabling mechanism of the National System of Innovation, for communities, researchers, industry and government.
• Its own transformation into an organisation ensuring lifelong learning and accessibility to all South African citizens.

4.3 Note on the role of the NLSA in respect of heritage

It should be noted that the NLSA will emphasise the published documentary heritage. Libraries differ from archives in that they are mainly concerned with material that was produced for distribution to a public, whether general or particular. This does not preclude the collection, preservation and making available of unpublished material such as manuscripts and photographs, especially materials which complement the library's published holdings.

Generally speaking the published documentary heritage with which the NLSA will concern itself comprises all published printed, audio-visual and electronic information-carrying materials. Thus it includes not only conventional printed materials such as books, pamphlets, periodicals, newspapers, maps, etc., but also derivate media such as microfilm, microfiche and CD-ROM. In addition, it includes audio and sound recordings of all types and electronic media, whether distributed in discrete physical formats (e.g. diskettes) or online. The proposed new legal deposit bill, which is to be submitted to Parliament in the first half of 1997, makes provision for the legal deposit of all these types of materials and is worded in such a manner that information media which have not yet come onto the market, can also be made subject to legal deposit.

The documentary heritage of primary concern to the NLSA can be broadly described as that which helps South Africans to gain a better understanding of their country and its place in the world. The primary component, which is sometimes referred to as "patriotica", comprises:

• Materials published in South Africa.
• Materials about South Africa published in foreign countries.
• Works by South African authors, or authors associated with South Africa, which have been published in foreign countries.

A secondary component (not strictly part of the heritage) would be information materials relating to neighbouring countries, other African countries, or countries with which South Africa has strong historical or current links.