NWU Library and Information Service News

NWU Community Engagement Showcase highlights the LIS's strides in Engaged Scholarship in Information Literacy for everyday life contexts.

On 30 September, North-West University (NWU) proudly hosted a lively CE-Community Engagement showcase at the Great Hall on the Mahikeng campus. This event brought together various stakeholders, including representatives from the Science Project, and NWU Library and Information Services (LIS) took a prominent role in promoting its community engagement initiative.

The LIS stall attracted considerable attention, showcasing its involvement in enhancing information literacy within the North-West Province, Khuma, and Kokosi townships. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with a digital story depicting the LIS efforts to improve information literacy skills in everyday life contexts. Notably, two research papers related to these initiatives are in progress for publication in accredited journals. 

During the showcase, NWU Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof. Bismarck Tyobeka, underscored the university's dedication to securing funding for community engagement initiatives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4, emphasising quality education. He also announced that all community engagement activities would now receive automatic ethical clearance for research purposes.

Corporate Relations and Marketing interviewed Ms. Jo-Ann Manotwane from the LIS Science Project, highlighting the library's substantial involvement in the initiative. 

Ms. Jo-Ann Manotwane addressed several key points regarding the LIS outreach and community engagement projects in her interview. She mentioned that the Science Shop, the LIS flagship engaged scholarship project, included needs analysis, Information Literacy training intervention, and evaluations to ascertain impact.

When asked about the skills fostered during the Science Shop project, she emphasised the importance of training individuals in information literacy skills applicable to their daily lives. This included teaching participants how to conduct advanced Google searches and use Google Scholar and AI tools (such as Ask Meta AI).

Furthermore, Ms. Manotwane highlighted the practical application of these skills in everyday life. The NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) youth were also sensitised to the ethical use of information and information evaluation to identify misinformation, empowering them to navigate the digital landscape more effectively.

The event also featured a panel discussion focused on integrating teaching, learning, research, and community participation in line with NWU's strategic vision for 2024.

The showcase underscored the vital role of NWU LIS in fostering community engagement and promoting information literacy. This commitment paves the way for continued collaboration and a lasting impact in the region.

JoAnn Manotwane, Potchesftroom Campus 
Maropene Ramabina, Vanderbijlpark Campus 

NWU LIS and Refentse-Katlego Youth Development lead the way in celebrating reading and heritage

The NWU LIS had the privilege of visiting the Letsosa Location in Ottosdal on the 20th of September 2024 to celebrate International Literacy Month and Heritage Month in partnership with the Refentse-Katlego Youth Development Centre as part of community engagement. This event was a powerful gathering, with the ward councillor, several NGOs, parents, teachers, church leaders and other key stakeholders joining forces to emphasize the vital role of literacy in shaping the future.

At the heart of the event was the mission to promote the importance of reading and literacy, particularly in indigenous languages, in line with the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL 2022-2032) the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed. The LIS donated books to the community centre, contributing valuable resources to empower learners and future leaders with essential literacy skills. This gesture is a meaningful step towards contributing to SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals).

In celebration of International Literacy Month, the event featured Readathon sessions where selected learners from local schools showcased their talents. They read in both Setswana, their home language, and English. This bilingual approach highlighted their progress and underscored the efforts of the Refentse-Katlego Youth Development Centre in fostering and inculcating a culture of reading literacy from a young age. The ward councillor also participated in the Readathon, reading aloud to the attendees, including one of the community elders, to encourage youth to read and demonstrate the importance of literacy.

As part of Heritage Month celebrations, the event also embraced the richness of South Africa's cultural diversity. A spirited gumboot dance performance brought energy to the gathering, reminding us of our shared heritage and the vibrant traditions that bind us.

Through this event, NWU LIS reaffirmed its commitment to advancing literacy and celebrating culture in our communities, demonstrating that we can make a lasting impact together.

Thanks to the NWU LIS staff who contributed to the event and empowered our community members.

By: Mr Kurtis Setai & Ms Dina Mashiyane

NWU Library Highlights Role in Social Cohesion and Agricultural Advancement

The Taung Agricultural College recently celebrated Library Week under the theme "Library Fostering Social Cohesion," an event highlighting the library's critical role in uniting communities through knowledge sharing. As part of the celebrations, the North-West University Library was invited to engage with students and staff, highlighting the importance of agriculture and research in driving sustainable development. The collaboration underscored the importance of agricultural research in addressing global food security challenges, fostering innovation, and advancing rural economies by promoting access to valuable academic resources. Libraries were placed as essential facilitators of social cohesion, education, and agricultural advancement.

The event saw an enthusiastic gathering of secondary school students, agricultural college students, and employees, all united by a common appreciation for the transformative power of libraries. Among the distinguished presenters was the North-West University's Learning and Research Manager (Mahikeng Campus), Ms N Madikane, who contributed her insights and experiences to the day's proceedings. She mostly touched on the issue we are currently facing with primary school children who cannot read properly and on ways we can deal with this problem.

Mr Dire, an Irrigation Specialist, emphasised the crucial link between food security and water, highlighting that water is fundamental for food production, processing, and preparation. Effective management of water resources is essential to ensure long-term food security, particularly as climate change and population growth increase the pressure on these resources. To address this, the speaker highlighted the need for sustainable practices, policy interventions, and technological innovations to help balance the growing demands for water and food.

"In some areas of South Africa, food insecurity is not due to a lack of resources; rather, it comes from the construction of houses on land that should be used for agricultural production". This statement points to the issue of land use, where urban expansion and housing development encroach on fertile land that could otherwise be used to grow food, thus exacerbating food insecurity despite the availability of natural resources. This highlights the challenge of emphasising how land use decisions impact food security.

Contributors: Mr Emilio Stuurman and Ms Nomzingisi Madikane