South East Academic Libraries System

Last updated
South East Academic Library System
SEALS Library consortia logo.gif
Formation1999
Type Public Beneifit organization
Headquarters Nelson Mandela University
Location
Membership
4 tertiary institutions
SEALS Trust and Systems Manager
Allwright, Maretha
Key people
Dr Peter Clayton, SEALS Trust Chairperson
Website www.seals.ac.za

The South African South East Academic Libraries System, commonly known as SEALS, was conceptualized in 1998 as a regional library cooperative, and fully constituted in 1999 as a regional consortium, under the auspices of the Eastern Cape Higher Education Association (ECHEA) in South Africa. [1] [2]

South Africa Republic in the southernmost part of Africa

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres (1,739 mi) of coastline of Southern Africa stretching along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini (Swaziland); and it surrounds the enclaved country of Lesotho. South Africa is the largest country in Southern Africa and the 25th-largest country in the world by land area and, with over 57 million people, is the world's 24th-most populous nation. It is the southernmost country on the mainland of the Old World or the Eastern Hemisphere. About 80 percent of South Africans are of Sub-Saharan African ancestry, divided among a variety of ethnic groups speaking different African languages, nine of which have official status. The remaining population consists of Africa's largest communities of European (White), Asian (Indian), and multiracial (Coloured) ancestry.

Contents

Purpose

“The vision of SEALS is to create a virtual library for the Eastern Cape to promote and enhance information literacy, education, research, and economic development for all who need it.”. [3]

History

At various stages since 1992, higher educational consortia were formed to foster collaboration between the various previously disparate tertiary institutions. One of these consortia was the Eastern Cape Higher Education Association (ECHEA). These consortia aimed at consolidation efforts in increasing capacity and value within the regions. In this regard academic library consortia were established, with the South East Academic Libraries System (SEALS) cooperative of specific interest to the Eastern Cape region. [4]

The original consortium member institutions were the library services of the eight tertiary institutions in the Eastern Cape, [5] including: Fort Hare, Port Elizabeth Technikon, Border Technikon, Vista University, Eastern Cape Technikon, Rhodes University, University of Port Elizabeth, and the University of Transkei. Although established in 1998, the consortium was formally recognised as an academic library consortium in 1999, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation endowed funds to SEALS in 2000 to implement a single shared library management system for all member institutions within SEALS. [5]

This page is about the British-built fort of the 19th century. For the university, see University of Fort Hare

Vista University

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In 2004 the higher education environment in South Africa was restructured, realigning the previously advantaged and disadvantaged institutions. Some of the eight member institutions of the SEALS consortium merged to form the Walter Sisulu University, Rhodes University, the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and the University of Fort Hare. [6]

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References

  1. ↑ Clarke, Philip (2013), Summary of automation history of the academic libraries in the Eastern Cape: 2000 - 2005
  2. ↑ Allwright, Maretha (2003), Cost-benefit study of the SEALS Millennium Library System
  3. ↑ Clarke, Philip (2000), SEALS (South Eastern Academic Library System): proposal to the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for the funding of projects planned for implementation by SEALS
  4. ↑ Thomas, Gwenda (2004), South African academic library consortia: creating value together
  5. 1 2 Allwright, Maretha. "SEALS History". SEALS. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  6. ↑ Hall, M; Symes, A; Luescher, TM; Council on Higher Education (South Africa) (2004), The governance of merger in South African higher education: a research report, Pretoria: Council on Higher Education
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