Athol Leach

The Provision of Information to Adults in Rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, by Non-Governmental Organisation

Information has been recognised as an important factor in the development process. However, little information is available in the published literature on how information is or should be provided to adults in a developmental context. To gain some understanding of how information is provided to such adults, interviews were held with twenty-two representatives of non-governmental organisations working in rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal. The study, which falls within a broad qualitative methodological framework, found that information provision was largely a participative, interactive process in which the oral or verbal method predominated. While other methods of information provision were used, they played, for the most part, a supportive role. Implications of the findings of the investigation for library and information services in a rural context are briefly discussed.

Hello tomorrow? Sources of HIV/Aids information used by residential students at the University of Natal.

This article identifies sources of HIV / AIDS information used by residential students on the Pietermaritzburg campus of the former University of Natal (now the University of KwaZulu-Natal). A questionnaire targeted at residential students on the Pietermaritzburg campus was used to determine which sources of HIV / AIDS information they used. The study upon which the article is based found that HIV / AIDS has become an everyday reality in the university system. There was a need for a clearer, more forceful definition of roles and responsibilities amongst all the partners in response to the epidemic. Residential students were generally satisfied with the existing sources of HIV / AIDS information but they did encounter problems in accessing some sources. The authors argue that it is time for the university sector and its partners to take stock of a situation that might quickly outpace the institution. Provision of relevant information in an appropriate format needs to be an integral part of the Universitys response to HIV / AIDS. Sources that were used most frequently should be utilised by university information stakeholders to disseminate information among students.

Exploring network literacy among students of St. Joseph's Theological Institute in South Africa

The main purpose of this study was to explore the level of network literacy among theological students at St. Josephs Theological Institute. The survey research method was used and the data collected through a self-administered questionnaire and an in-depth interview with the Librarian. The entire population of 188 students was surveyed; only 65 students responded. Findings revealed that the major problems facing Internet users at St. Josephs were the shortage of computers and lack of training in the use of Internet facilities. Further, students did not use a wide variety of Internet resources, had limited skills and knowledge to access networked information resources and made limited use of computer-mediated communication tools. Recommendations concerning network literacy at the Institute were made and suggestions for further research are put forward

The feasibility of unionising LIS workers : a case study of the tertiary education sector in South Africa

This article reports on the findings of a study that investigated the feasibility of unionizing LIS workers with special reference to the tertiary education sector in South Africa. The primary objectives of the study were to investigate the need for an organisation to address the industrial concerns of LIS employees and to investigate the organization most capable of addressing both the industrial and professional concerns of the sector. The majority of the respondents expressed the view that there is a need for an organisation to address the industrial issues of the LIS sector. The findings also reveal that there is substantial support for the professional association, as opposed to a generic trade union, to address the industrial and professional issues of the LIS sector.

“The Information Was Hard and Tough”: Low-Cost Housing Information in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

This article reports on an exploratory study on the provision of information about low-cost housing to the residents of the Tamboville housing project in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. These residents were selected because they were the beneficiaries of a government low-cost housing subsidy. Data was collected through interviews and questionnaires from a convenience sample of 53 respondents who were homeowners of low-cost housing. Data was also collected from the Built Environment Support Group (BESG), a non-governmental organization managing the Tamboville project. The purpose of the study was to find out what information on low-cost housing had been provided, how it had been provided and the extent to which the information assisted the homeowners in making housing decisions. It was found that interpersonal communication, backed by practical demonstrations, was the main method of information dissemination. The findings also indicated that the BESG, through its on-site housing support centre, provided essential low-cost housing information to assist the homeowners in making appropriate housing decisions. It was observed that not all the respondents understood and/or accepted the concept of incremental housing, which underpinned the subsidy scheme. The low levels of education and high unemployment rate among the respondents made it more difficult for some homeowners to consolidate their starter homes. One recommendation is that the subsidy scheme be part of an integrated community development programme with a well-articulated information component.

DEVELOPING GUIDELINES FOR SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC LIBRARIANS

Music librarians must have knowledge of the copyright laws which govern the transferring of music from the old analogue form to the new digital formats. These laws were a particular concern of the South African Music Archive Project (SAMAP) which aimed to create an online resource for indigenous South African music particularly that of musicians suppressed during the apartheid years. Polak’s (2009) study was an offshoot of SAMAP. This article draws on her study and identifies the specific problems encountered by music librarians with regard to digital copyright law pertaining to music. The guiding theoretical framework is based on the Berne Convention (2014) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty (1996) which provide the overarching international framework for guiding copyright. The literature review focuses on the international and national legislation; copyright in original recordings; duration of copyright; fair use, the public domain and information commons; copyright and fair dealing; and the South African Copyright Act (No. 98 of 1978). A survey conducted by e-mail identified problem areas experienced by the music librarians regarding the digital music copyright laws in South Africa. Two sets of guidelines for South African music librarians were formulated using their responses and the literature reviewed, and recommendations are made.