Librarian ‘wows’ world congress

ST ANDREW’S College librarian Vuyokazi Jamieson will be jetting off to Malaysia next year after winning a competition while attending last month’s World Library Congress in Poland.

The World Library Congress was hosted by the International Federations of Library Associations and Institutions (Ifla).

Throughout the duration of the conference, participants were requested to tag their “wow” moments with the #WLICWOW (World Library Institutions Congress wow).

Jamieson’s Facebook post, which she titled “a simple consideration” captured all aspects of the conference and earned her the most inspiring social media post for the hash tag moments, against 186 other participants.

“I did not expect to be named the winner, as a matter of fact by the time I had posted I was not even sure the competition was still on.

“Being there as a newcomer was enough for me,” she said.

“Even though I have been working in the field of libraries for some time, I felt that there was a lot to learn at the conference and I was really looking forward to the challenge. I appreciated the opportunity of being able to attend as the conference is quite exclusive.”

Jamieson walked away with a free registration to next year’s world library congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as the prize.

This was not the first time she was invited to attend the conference.

She was also invited in 2015 but was unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances.

Two years later, the opportunity to attend presented itself again and she seized it.

The award was the first of this nature at the conference, which Jamieson said added to the significance, and also put South African Libraries on the Ifla map.

“I got the shock of my life when the event organisers came to inform me that they would be announcing my name as the winner of the competition at the closing ceremony. I never expected it,” Jamieson said.

“I am very delighted that I won the prize.

“It means the school does not have to worry about registration for me next year, and I also get another opportunity to be part of this great conference of librarians,” she said.