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08 June 2021 | Story Legopheng Maphile | Photo Charl Devenish
Nthabiseng Kotsokoane in front of the Sasol Library on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State. She is wearing a pink blouse with floral patterns and leaning with her left elbow against a ledge whilst looking into the camera.
Nthabiseng Kotsokoane is a renowned library professional whose passionate efforts to advance library and information services in Africa and beyond are widely acknowledged Photo: Charl Devenish

The University of the Free State is proud to announce the appointment of Nthabiseng Kotsokoane as chairperson of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) new Regional Council and member of the IFLA Governing Board 2021 – 2023.

IFLA is the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users. It is the global voice of the library and information profession.

Nthabiseng Kotsokoane is currently the Assistant Director at the University of the Free State Library Information Services. She previously worked at Monash University for 10 years as a director of the library services. Ms Kotsokoane is a renowned library professional whose passionate efforts to advance library and information services in Africa and beyond are widely acknowledged. She has vast experience in serving at various committees regionally and internationally. She served as a member of the IFLA women information Libraries Special Interest Group. She was later elected by LIASA into the IFLA IT committee. She is the current IFLA Africa section Chair 2017-2021.

 

Serving the international library community

Nthabiseng is not only active in IFLA but on the African continent as well, she is the past chair for the African Library & Information Associations & Institutions (AfLIA) academic library section Chair and a member of the AfLIA Governing Board.

As IFLA’s Regional Chair her key role will be to in increase the presence of world regions in IFLA and IFLA’s presence around the world focusing on advocacy and building capacity. She will lead efforts to provide input on IFLA advocacy work and review success in developing the regional dimension of the IFLA Strategy, as well as work to promote IFLA membership and fundraising in the regions.

This will include coordination and development of Regional Division action plans, review Regional Division activities in the following regions Regional Council and Regional Divisions for Asia and Oceania, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, North America and Sub-Saharan Africa. With her passion of developing and mentoring new library professionals we are certain that this new role will be of benefit to the international library community.

News Archive

A PhD in full colour!
2014-10-28

In October 2014, Cindé Greyling presented a PhD paper at the second biennial conference of the Southern Africa Society for Disaster Reduction (SASDiR) in Windhoek, Namibia. Titled “A narrative communication approach towards drought resilience for foundation phase children”, she explored innovative ways to encourage drought resilience. “It was a fascinating journey that is nearing its end,” Greyling says about her disaster management studies at DiMTEC.

The study comprised adapting a communication model to address the specific preferences of foundation-phase children. This was used as a guide to code essential drought risk-reduction information into a comprehensible format for the chosen target audience. “Whereas I’m proficient in writing, drawing was altogether new – which you can clearly tell!” During the course of her research, Greyling roamed through drought data, curriculums, bestselling entertainment products, global children’s culture and an array of language and communication avenues. “What a pleasure it was to revisit familiar bodies of knowledge, and navigate unfamiliar territory!” Under guidance of study leader, Dr Lydie Terblanche, and co-study leader, Dr Andries Jordaan, Greyling believes that an important contribution to resilience is probable, as well as creating opportunities for further research.

“Not many people can say they created a picture book for their PhD... How lucky I am!” Greyling concludes.

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