Dick, Archie L.2017-06-052017-06-052016Dick, A.L. 2016, 'Librarians and crises in the ‘old’ and ‘new’ South Africa', International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, vol. 42, no. 2, pp. 102–108.1745-2651 (online)0340-0352 (print)10.1177/0340035216635669http://hdl.handle.net/2263/60791This article reviews the responses of librarians to crises in the ‘old’ and ‘new’ South Africa. It draws on primary and secondary sources to tell the stories of librarians during personal, political and professional crises. States of emergency, censorship legislation, political and xenophobic violence in South Africa since the 1960s are some of the sources for these crises. Librarians and the wider library-caring community have adapted their strategies to champion the freedom of access to information and freedom of expression.English© The Author(s) 2016CensorshipCrisesLibrary destructionSouth Africa (SA)XenophobiaEngineering, built environment and information technology articles SDG-04SDG-04: Quality educationEngineering, built environment and information technology articles SDG-10SDG-10: Reduced inequalitiesEngineering, built environment and information technology articles SDG-16SDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutionsPostprint Article