I experienced her as a very dynamic person, she really awed me in her presentation. She addressed the importance of African Librarianship and this involves Africa, our importance of being active in our profession through collaboration, we are not isolated and we need to contradict stereotyping! African Librarianship starts at home. She opened up a new view for me on International and African Librarianship,.
Puleng Kekana (DAC) - not able to be present, and seeing a whole new world opening before my eyes (outside academic libraries) I would have loved to hear more info and involvement of public libraries.
CHRISTINE STILWELL PhD (Natal) is a professor of Information Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
She shared with the group her experiences and outcome of the future librarian she encountered in her study she did.
Then it was our turn - nerve wrecking!! Presentation time!!
FEEDBACK
The feedback received from Christine was positive and she said she enjoyed the presentations and the different approaches and views the groups had.
THE GALA DINNER
After an exciting and stressful day this was such an enjoyable occasion and everybody seemed to be so relaxed, the atmosphere was a happy and joyful one. After the storm the afternoon, the outside was as wet as could be and a slight drizzle of rain was still around, but we all gathered with Martha, Ujala, Hilda and Prof Theo for informal pictures to be taken of the group in the foyer of the hotel.THE GALA DINNER
We all moved to the venue for the gala event and were pleasantly surprised by visitors from the US that joined us in the celebrations. I was fortunate enough to sit next to Prof Christine and the director of Milwauke Wisconson University Library, Ewa Barczyk:
Director of Libraries
What a pleasant and interesting person - -enjoyed her company and her sharing with us what they do at their library. She also shared personal information: she has travelled many places as librarian and currently her husband is also a Professor at the University. They live plus minus 2km from the University and she loves walking to work and back each day, inspite of rain or snow. (some trivial - because of walking her shoe collection is mostly at work and if she need to attend a function with her husband they always need to go past her office to collect her shoes for the outfit she is wearing ;-))
She was also accompanied by a lady from the Public Library sector from Milwauke, a fellow lecturer (who comes from SA), and a PhD Student.
Speeches - personality - and the sad as the saying goes 'all good things have to come to an end'!
THANKING
- THE TEAM I WAS PRIVILIDGED TO BE PART OF - I THINK WE WERE A GREAT TEAM - will miss you all!
- The organisers and specifically Martha de Waal for all her patience ... arrangements and the flow of the program, as well as Ujala Satgoor - always so helpful, supportive and encouraging - thank you for that.
- The group (each and every one of the 19 other members for making this such a wonderful experience and for you honouring me - I really feel humbled by you all and I also learnt so much from each of you! You are so special each and every one - keep it up the good work and make the future happen!)
- Then Carnegie Foundation for the opportunity to be part of such informative, learning environment to build the future for our people
