Collaborate and uncomplicate: best practices for managing and maintaining African languages collections

Abstract

In the past decades, South Africa's democratic advancements have significantly transformed the needs of academic library users. Driven by the User Experience (UX) movement, along with other factors, these have fostered a push for more inclusive and user-oriented collections. Concurrently, the field of African languages literature has expanded, with a notable increase in both publishers and publications. Managing and maintaining African languages collections in libraries involves unique challenges, largely stemming from historical imbalances. These collections have often been underdeveloped, underrepresented, and neglected in academic libraries. The diversity of languages and genres and the non-standard formats of many books, require dedicated attention and problem-solving from a multidisciplinary team. This presentation will explore the complexities of cataloguing and shelving African languages literature and highlight the collaborative efforts that have led to a more efficient system. We will discuss specific obstacles, such as the need for accurate cataloguing in multiple languages and the practical challenges of organising books from various genres in a continually growing collection, and keeping them tidy, to ensure a pleasant user experience. By detailing the successful partnership between information specialists, cataloguers, and shelving staff, we will demonstrate how a coordinated approach has significantly improved the management of the African languages literature collections. The implementation of these best practices has streamlined library operations, improved communication between units, and enhanced the user experience. This has made it easier for patrons to access and enjoy this rich and diverse collection while creating space for future additions. This presentation aims to provide insights and practical strategies for libraries facing similar challenges, fostering greater appreciation and accessibility of African language literature.