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The Herald, 8 March 1978
THE University of Rhodesia’s library is the largest scientific and research reference library in the country, and is the largest employer of professional librarians.
It provides library services to the staff, students and research workers of the University as well as to the professions, commerce, industry and research throughout the country.
Within the University complex itself, the library controls all library and information operations on the campus.
This control is effected by means of an administrative structure in which there are five divisions; reader services, branch libraries, bibliographic controls, acquisitions, technical and maintenance.
The four branch libraries are physically separate from the main library and each one is the largest in its subject-area in the country.
Audio-visual services throughout the university are related to the activities of the library.
The technical services division, which is responsible for the maintenance of audio-visual equipment, also include a photographic and printing department.
The main library building was completed in 1960. Its public services are divided into two sections with reference bureaux in the two main reading rooms. There are several special collections and reading rooms.
The University library system, which includes the four branch libraries, contains more than 270 000 volumes and receives 4 100 current periodicals.
It offers current awareness, selective dissemination of information, reference and information retrieval services in addition to lending facilities.
Plans have been drafted for major expansions to the library system. These are intended to accommodate requirements, in terms of space and operations, foreseen for the next 20 years.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
Library and information centres have always been key to scholars and researchers.
The Zimpapers Knowledge Centre (formerly Herald Editorial Library) is today one of the richest sources of information in the country with newspaper stories and photographs dating back to 1891.
Today’s libraries and information centres need to take their facilities into cyberspace so as to reach a wider audience due to the ease availability of technologies.
Digitised information not only enhances access, but it can also be a revenue generation source for information centres.
The incorporation of ICTs into this discipline has changed the terrain of information management and has enhanced the way business is done.
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