Spring starts in September, and in honour of the new season, a special exhibition of amazing art is adorning the walls of the Ferdinand Postma Library on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU).

Artworks of flowers are everywhere. Not of the common or garden variety of blossoms, but of some of South Africa’s most special and – in some cases – rare and endangered veld orchid species.

By Belinda Bantham and Dina Mashiyane

In a heartfelt tribute to Nelson Mandela’s legacy, the North-West University (NWU) Library and Information Service (LIS) staff across the Mahikeng, Potchefstroom and Vanderbijlpark campuses took action to inspire change by participating in a unique “Serve-a-Server” campaign.

By Belinda Bantham and Dina Mashiyane

“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” This is a quote that Dr Mathew Moyo, chief director for Library and Information Services (LIS) at the North-West University, lives by.

First uttered by American social reformer Frederick Douglass, the words capture the importance of book donations in enriching library collections, particularly in under-resourced communities.

The world of libraries will never be the same after the advent of artificial intelligence (AI). Libraries across the world have embraced AI as a tool that not only enhances their services, but also promotes a better library experience for its users.

Two representatives from Library Services at the North-West University (NWU) recently attended the fourth AI and Libraries Symposium in Chile.

Dr Mathew Moyo, chief director of the Library and Information Service at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU), and Dr Sabelo Chizwina, director of Information and Learning Services at the Vanderbijlpark Campus, are continuing to expand the NWU’s global footprint. 

By Belinda Bantham and Ms Dina Mashiyane

In a sincere effort to engage with the community and champion the preservation of libraries, dedicated staff from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus library recently visited the Mahikeng Radio station.

This visit was perfectly timed with the celebration of South African Library Week. The theme for this year was "Libraries fostering social cohesion", which aimed to highlight the essential role libraries play in bringing communities together and promoting harmony.

In celebration of Africa Day on 24 May 2024, the North-West University (NWU) hosted a webinar focusing on enhancing education across the continent. Themed "Educate an African fit for the 21st Century", the event brought together experts to engage in a comprehensive dialogue aimed at building resilient education systems that promote increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality and relevant learning.

A new generation of fact-fascinated consumers and fast-paced technological developments, especially in the artificial intelligence (AI) realm, has made it paramount for libraries to collaborate in order to ensure survival.

Collaboration between libraries locally and internationally, and also between various disciplines such as information technology (IT) and engineering, will equip libraries to tackle the challenges of a new world.