Anriëtte Pretorius has been a librarian at the Library for Natural Sciences for nearly 40 years. “It is a privilege to see students further their studies from undergraduate to postgraduate. Some of these students later become colleagues.”
Siyabonga Zwana, a second-year BSC Physiology and Psychology student, is one of the many students who use the Library for Natural Sciences.
<
>
Library for Natural Sciences
The NWU’s Library for Natural Sciences is situated on the top floor of building G1 on the Potchefstroom Campus.
It is an information haven for staff and students from the schools of Chemical Sciences, Computer, Statistical and Mathematical Sciences and Pharmacy, as well as the Faculty of Engineering.
The library has a spacious study area and students have easy access to all relevant text books and magazines. Undergraduate and postgraduate students, lecturers and other staff can always rely on the friendly and efficient library staff.
The Music Library was equipped with modern furniture
in 2014.
Students have access to a huge collection of CDs and vinyl records that they can listen to in the library. Librarian Retha Badenhorst says the library is especially proud of the ISAM collection that features the works of South African composers.
<
>
Music library
The NWU’s music library is situated in the School of Music and the Conservatory. It caters for the needs of music students, staff and members of music centres in the area.
The library boasts a comprehensive collection of approximately 40 000 items. These include books, magazines, sheet music, CDs, DVDs and vinyl records.
Students and staff have access to computers, TVs and DVD, CD and record players. The library is especially proud of its Information Centre for South African Music (ISAM). This unique collection contains works by South African composers and the first works in the collection date back to the early 1950s. The collection also features recent works by young composers.
All registered students and staff of the NWU may use the library.
The Jan Lion-Cachet Library houses study material, text books, magazines and newspapers. It is a safe, study-friendly environment where students can do research and complete projects.
Sydney Vos is one of the friendly librarians who assist students and staff at the Jan Lion-Cachet Library on the corner of Molen and Borcherd streets in Potchefstroom.
<
>
Jan Lion-Cachet Library (theological library)
The Jan Lion-Cachet Library forms the biggest part of the southern wing of the School of Theology at the Reformed Church Potchefstroom North building. It is named after its first librarian, Prof Jan Lion-Cachet.
The library is well equipped and contains information and subject books that are relevant to all the subjects and fields within theology. Some of the library’s proud possessions include a big collection of theological and historical works.
There are workstations for students in the library, and they have access to various databases. The library serves the School of Theology and the Faculty of Theology, as well as ministers, students of the Faculty of Theology’s Open Distance Learning Centre and accredited training institutions.
Library for Education Sciences
The Education Sciences library is the branch library for the Faculty of Education Sciences on the Potchefstroom Campus. The library caters for undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as for the academic staff of the faculty.
It has approximately 30 workstations where students can immerse themselves in projects and research. For group work, the library has a special room known as the EduLab, managed by the faculty itself. This room is completely sound proof, so as not to disturb users in the other parts of the library. The room has two additional computers with special software. The book collection is divided into books that focus on education sciences and another collection that has material for all the subjects taught on the basic education level.
In addition the library has a vast collection of children's literature for all ages, from the very young to teenagers.
Kirchner van Deventer, assistant librarian, says the library for Education Sciences’ collection of children’s literature will soon be expanded by the addition of the youth literature collection that is currently housed at the Ferdinand Postma Library.
Nadine van Heerden, a fourth-year BEd Technical student, is one of the students who frequent the Library for Education Sciences.
<
>
Natural Sciences
Music
Theology
Education Sciences
The state-of-the-art main libraries on each of the NWU’s three campuses cater for all the education needs of staff and students. Apart from these wonderfully equipped libraries, the NWU also has four niche libraries in Potchefstroom that meet the specific information needs of education, music, natural sciences and theology staff and students. Eish! takes a look at these four special libraries.
BACK