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Librarian Ronet Vrey invests in students' academic journeys

27 July 2020 | Story Nonsindiso Qwabe | Photo Charl Devenish

She is affectionately called ‘Tannie Ronet’ by the dozens of students coming her way, and Faculty of Education librarian Ronet Vrey would not have it any other way. While Vrey loves to remain behind the scenes, her passion for students makes her a big hit with every student crossing her path at the University of the Free State Library and Information Services on the Bloemfontein Campus.

Vrey has been a librarian for as long as she can remember; a path she says was inspired by her educator mother. But instead of standing in front of a class, she gets to invest in students' academic journeys by being a helping hand in times of need. She is a UFS alumna, having graduated in 1988 with a degree in Library and Information Sciences, specialising in Education, Library Services, and Technology.

"I was interested in library information services because back then, we were exploring the use of computers and moving in the direction of technology. Little did we know about digitisation and curation that would follow."

In 2005, she started working as librarian for the Faculty of the Humanities, before working jointly for the Faculties of the Humanities and Education. Since 2011, she has focused solely on the Faculty of Education, serving as the link between the library and the faculty. "I am supposed to focus only on students from the first year to honours level, but because of the relationships built there, many students often choose to stay with me. When they come to me for help, I don't say no," she says.

Information literacy a lifelong skill

Vrey shares the love for her job with her fellow librarians from other faculties. In 2019, the group presented a paper on embedded librarianship at the International Conference on Information Literacy (ICIL). She said they are in the process of having their paper published. "We want to be embedded in faculties in order to make students at the UFS information literate. If we can teach students information literacy skills to help themselves, we will have lifelong learners who can develop all the time, and you would have established a community of lifelong learners," she said.

One student who has benefited from Vrey's dedication and passion for students, is Dr Norma Lehasa, who obtained her PhD in 2019 after a seven-year journey due to ill health.

Vrey known as beacon of hope

Lehasa met Vrey in 2016, and says she owes her success to the likes of Vrey. Lehasa said each year when students graduate, it is people like Vrey who are supporting them behind the scenes to reach their goals.

"My wonderful librarian, Ronet, made me focus and never give up. She used to go the extra mile for me, even teaching me how to use the resources to search for literature myself. The outcome of me being a Doctor of Philosophy today is because of people like Ronet. People like her need to be recognised for the good work that they do," Lehasa said.

Lehasa's PhD topic was: An Adult Learning Perspective on Professional Development in the Human Resources Department of the Free State Premier.

News Archive

Walk to Cape Town closes on high note

2014-06-03

Photo Gallery of arrival in Cape Town
Dagbreek interview (kykNet) (YouTube)
Thank you from all UFS students (YouTube)

It was a gruelling road totalling a distance of 1 038 km, but the UFS #NSHstride team completed the challenge of walking all the way to Cape Town.

On Thursday 1 May 2014, Adéle van Aswegen and Ntokozo Nkabinde, both from the UFS, took on the road to Cape Town on foot in order to highlight the problem of food insecurity among students at the UFS.

Two kind-hearted Bloemfontein residents, Nico Piedt and Ronél Warner, tackled the journey together with them, not only to draw the country’s attention to food insecurity, but also to raise money to address the problem.

The hike, known as the No Student Hungry 1000/33 stride (or #NSHstride), came to an end at the St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town on Tuesday 3 June 2014.

About R500 000 were raised before, during and after the foursome’s hike.

The NSH bursary, established in 2011 by Prof Jonathan Jansen, the Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS, and Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs, aims to put food insecurity among students at the UFS under the spotlight.

Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs, says: “We are completely inspired by the victory of a 1 000 km with one step at a time – as it reminds us of the courage of our students who beat hunger one day at a time.”

“The stride team challenges us to change our world for the better every day. We hope to continue their victory for students by challenging all universities to join the struggle for food security and will call a colloquium in this regard in October.”

These boots are made for walking ... to Cape Town (Article of 02 May 2014)
“Aren’t auntie and them hungry yet?” Country folk worried about NSH hikers (15 May 2014)
UFS hikers to Cape Town reflect on their journey (Article of 26 May 2014)

Daily updates:
(You can also follow us on @UFSweb for daily tweets)

Day 33: 2 June 2014
13:40
20 km
Sunset Beach, Cape Town

Day 32: 1 June 2014
16:05
26 km
Mervyn and Sanet Wessels, Belville

Day 31: 31 May 2014
16:31
39.6 km
Rhonell and Gavin Julain, Paarl

Day 30: 30 May 2014
14:00
16 km
Monte Rosa, Rawsonville

Day 29: 29 May 2014
13:16
31 km
The Habit, Worcester

Day 28: 28 May 2014
11:00
22.4 km
Monte Roza, De doorns

Day 27: 27 May 2014
17:00
21.1 km
Karoo Hotel

Day 26: 26 May 2014
18:27
43.3 km
Tows river

Day 25: 25 May 2014
12:18
Lord Milner Hotel, Matjiesfontein

Day 24: 24 May 2014
16:30
42 km
Laingsburg Country Lodge

Day 23: 23 May 2014
17:32
41.8 km
Vergenoeg

Day 22: 22 May 2014
16:42
43 km
Assendelft Lodge and Bush Camp, Prins Albert

Day 21: 21 May 2014
15:09
42 km
Leeu Gamka Hotel

Day 20: 20 May 2014
13:39
20 km
Alida, Springfontein

Day 19: 19 May 2014
12:31
27.6 km
Teri Moja Game Lodge

Day 18: 18 May 2014
First rest day
Nagenoeg Guesthouse, Beaufort West

Day 17: 17 May 2014
19:30
62.3 km
Nagenoeg Guesthouse, Beaufort West

Day 16: 16 May 2014
13:00
14 km
Taaibochfontein

Day 15: 15 May 2014
16:03
32 km
Travalia, Three Sisters

Day 14: 14 May 2014
18:33
43 km
Joalani Guest Farm

Day 13: 13 May 2014
17:30
33 km
Die Rondawels

Day 12: 12 May 2014
16:49
40 km
Aandrus B&B in Richmond

Day 11: 11 May 2014
39 km
Wortelfontein (Magdel and Christiaan)

Day 10: 10 May 2014
15:44
34 km
Hanover Lodge

Day 9: 09 May 2014
40.8 km
Camping between Colesberg and Hanover

Day 8: 08 May 2014
15:25
33.7 km
Colesberg, The Lighthouse Guesthouse

Day 7: 07 May 2014
15:08
23 km
Orange River Lodge

Day 6: 06 May 2014
15:57
51.06 km
Gariep Forever Resort

Day 5: 05 May 2014
12:18
28 km
Rondefontein

Day 4: 04 May 2014
15:27
35 km
Trompsburg: Fox Den

Day 3: 03 May 2014
17:30
46.74 km
Edenburg Country Lodge (Hotel)

Day 2: 02 May 2014
11:44 am
15.3 km
Tom's Place

Day 1: 01 May 2014
32 km
Leeuwberg

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