National Library going up in smoke

Noseweek Issue #108, 1st October 2008   


National Library going up in smoke The management and finances of our National Library of South Africa are in such utter shambles. 

Employees tell a disturbing story of neglect and abuse at one of the prime symbols of South Africa's intellectual heritage. They tell of a chief executive who spends every possible moment travelling the world on freebies and proclaims that he is 'not an operational man'. They tell of a marketing manager who does almost no marketing, and simply disappears on an important day for his institution; of a chief financial officer who does very little financial management.

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Reader's comments

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Submitted by : Martin Nicol of VLAEBERG on 2008-10-12 17:45:25
There is a fine new National Library in Pretoria but in Cape Town all the books on the upper floor of the reference reading room have been removed because of water damage. The roof is leaking. At the same time, as a user of the library I must salute the staff who are helpful, pleasant and efficient, even as they are denied the resources they need to preserve what we have.
 
Submitted by : Les Wittenberg of EZE VILLAGE on 2008-10-05 20:56:45
What is next ?? Burning the books to make heat or cook when the electricty fails ???
Not a clue ...any of them - rot starting at the top (see fish above..)
M.Lez
 
Submitted by : Toni Goncalves of Johannesburg on 2008-10-04 22:26:11
Youdont needt okno whow torea dor write tokis sAN C ass.
 
Submitted by : Anthony Krijger of Westville on 2008-09-26 07:52:24
And we wonder why the new generation of pupils can't read or write...
 
Submitted by : Kevin Kevany of Auckland on 2008-09-25 12:29:24
Cheers "Shallow" -- the Jordan that was alwys too easily crossed. An under-achiever, only by the pretentious airs he credited himself with.
May he be the last pseudo-intellectual to be suffered by SA.
The Chief Clot who appointed him was more than enough anyway.
A toast in beetroot juice and Scotch. Now take up your mortar board and piss off.
Enough now.

Kevin K

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