Blog

For the year 2020, the Sokoine National Agricultural Library (SNAL) experienced changes and encouraging developments in various aspects. These include changes in management; space creation and re-arrangement of shelves; SNAL face-lifting by painting the building and enrolling new graduates.

SNAL has a new Director

The library has a new Director with effect from July 2020 - Prof. Camilius A. Sanga was appointed by the University Council to replace Prof. M.J.F. Lwehabura who completed his tenure of duty as the acting Director. Camilius A. Sanga is a Professor of Informatics since 2017. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. He served as Head of the Department of Informatics (2011-2017). Prof. Sanga is a member of various Management and Professional Boards and Committees within and outside the university.

Following this appointment, SNAL staff members had a welcome meeting where Prof. M. J. F. Lwehabura, the former Ag. Director introduced Prof Sanga to the staff. SNAL staff happily welcomed Prof. Sanga and promised full cooperation in discharging his new duties.

Face-lifting SNAL

Some renovations and re-painting work to the entire library building, both inside and outside as well as thinning and pruning of the surrounding trees have changed the appearance of the place. . Aside from painting, some new furniture for staff and users have been acquired, The library looks more attractive to users and offers its staff a better working environment.

Space creation

SNAL has managed to create space of a total of 400 seats for users. Space was created by reducing as well as moving the shelves from one side to the other for the following collections: the Old journal collection area (Ground floor left side); General book Collection (The first floor – left side) and Special collection on the first floor – right side). Having created this sitting space, users including staff, researchers and students are already experiencing the comfort of a spacious room for academic undertakings

Academic achievement

In 2019/2020 the following SNAL staff have successfully finished their studies:

Doctorate (PhD)

1. Nicholaus Mwalukasa- Former Department of Information Studies

 Bachelor Degree

1. Ester Chisaki – Former Department of Knowledge Management
2. Shabani Chika - Former Department of Reference and Community Information Services

SNAL Director, Prof Camilius Sanga (third from the right) explaining about the services provided at Special Collection section 

Chairman of the Council of the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), retired judge Othmani Chande visited the Sokoine National Agricultural Library on December 16, 2020, where he had an opportunity to witness library renovation activities towards the improvement of information services delivery to academic and farmers community at large. 

SNAL Director, Prof. Camilius Sanga had a privilege to take Chairman to different library sections including Mkulima library that serves farmers community through its printed collection held at SNAL premises and electronic collection that can be accessed at Mkulima repository. 

Prof Sanga (standing) speaking on a welcome meeting at SNAL

The Sokoine National Agricultural Library (SNAL) would like to sincerely congratulate Prof. Camilius A. Sanga for being appointed by the University Council at the Sokoine University of Agriculture as a Director of the Sokoine National Agricultural Library. Camilius A. Sanga is a Professor of Informatics since 2017. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. He served as Head of the Department of Informatics (2011-2017). Prof. Sanga is a member of various Management and Professional Boards and Committees within and outside the University.

Prof Lwehabura (standing) speaking on a welcome meeting

Following his appointment, SNAL staff held a welcome meeting where Prof. M. J. F. Lwehabura, the former Ag. Director of SNAL introduced Prof Sanga to the staff. SNAL staff happily welcomed Prof. Sanga and promised full cooperation in discharging his new duties.

SNAL staff on a welcome meeting

Once again, Congratulations Prof Sanga and welcome to SNAL

Staff learning on how to use ICT e-learning tools

In preparation for the new semester, the Department of Information and Records studies (DIRS) at the Sokoine National Agricultural Library (SNAL) organised and conducted the ICT e-learning tools training on 27th and 28th May 2020.

Staff learning how to set objective questions

The training was prepared mainly for academic and technical staff aiming at exposing them to various ICT tools which supports e-learning and equipping them with necessary skills on how to use them. Also, the training involved knowledge on how to set objective questions.

Staff learning on how to set objective questions

The Sokoine National Agricultural Library would like to inform you that there will be a Virtual Open Repository Meetings (OR2020) that will be held on June 1-4, 2020. The OR2020 meetings were organised to substitute the OR Conference. The OR2020 conference was primarily supposed to be held at Stellenbosch University in South Africa on the same dates but due to COVID-19 pandemic, it has been arranged to be done virtually.

One of SNAL staff, Mr Gilbert Mushi will be presenting at this conference on the title: Overcoming Language Barrier in Open Repositories: A case of Sokoine University of Agriculture. Mr Mushi is scheduled to present on Tuesday 2nd June 2020 and he is a second presenter. The presentations will start at 11:00am - 12:30pm UTC (14:00pm - 15:30pm Tanzania Time).

List of presentations on 2nd June 2020 are as follows:

• The National Academic Digital Repository of Ethiopia – Technical, Policy and Governance Aspects – Roberto Barbera, Department of Physics and Astronomy “E. Majorana” of the University of Catania
• Overcoming Language Barrier in Open Repositories: A case of Sokoine University of Agriculture – Gilbert Mushi, Sokoine University of Agriculture Library
• Documenting the Ephemeral: Performance Archive and the Showcase Repository – Sanjin Muftic and Jayne Batzofin, The Reimagining Tragedy in Africa and the Global South (RETAGS) project at the University of Cape Town
• Skills needs assessment for South African open access repository practitioners – Ansie van der Westhuizen, UNISA
• Evaluation of institutional digital repository contents by postgraduate students of some selected tertiary institutions in Nigeria – Dr Michael Esew, Kashim Ibrahim Library, Ahmadu Bello University
• Institutional repository adoption among Nigerian private universities: Institutional factors and willingness to use – Adetomiwa Basiru, Tekena Tamuno Library, Redeemer's University

You are kindly invited to register and attend this meeting. Registration is free! And also there will be a series of conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #OpenRepos2020. Participants are asked to register for each day and for each workshop they wish to attend.

Please register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QwQNn5NOSz6qfcjhwFaUdw

Best wishes