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Archives collections
Mission
The Archives and Records Management Unit of the University of Namibia is responsible for managing the current records, as well as the archives of the University of Namibia. We concentrate on the provision of support services for research into Namibian history in the acquisition areas in which we specialise. Please browse through our online databases for information relating to your research topic or see COLLECTIONS below for further details:
Acquisition Policy
The UNAM Archival Unit in the Office of the Librarian was primarily created to collect, appraise, preserve and make available the records of the University of Namibia and its predecessor, the Academy for Tertiary Education. After Namibia's independence some of the records of the United Nations Institute for Namibia, which closed in September 1990, were transferred to UNAM to be preserved as a unique collection. The Archival Unit also seeks to acquire private documents reflecting Namibia's constitutional, political and labour history as well as items concerning the University's own history as seen in the papers of those connected in any way with the University. At all times we aim not to be in conflict with the collection policies of the National Archives of Namibia and the National Library.
Access Policy
The University of Namibia is a statutory body and as such falls under the Namibian Archives Act (Act 12 of 1992) and thus its records and those of the Academy for Tertiary Education are subject to a thirty year closure period. However in terms of a Library and Information Services Committee decision of 17 May 1995 requests by bona fide researchers to consult these documents will be considered. These requests should be submitted to the Senior Archivist who in turn will submit them to both the University Librarian and the Head of the National Archives for approval.
The records of the United Nations Institute for Namibia are considered as a donation and as such do not fall under the Archives Act. These records with certain exceptions are open to the public.
No access is permitted to unsorted and unarranged archives groups as well as to records which are in poor physical condition.
Archives may only be consulted in the designated Reading Area on the Lower Ground Floor of the Library. NO archival material may be taken to any other part of the building or outside without the express permission of the University Librarian.
Researchers are not allowed inside the strong rooms for any reason without the expressed permission of the University Librarian.
RECORDS MANAGEMENT
The Records Management Unit is responsible for implementing the University's records management policy and procedures, which comply with the requirements of Namibia’s Archives Act, 1992 (Act 12 of 1992). The programme covers all records of the University, regardless of their physical format, and regardless of whether they have temporary or long-term value for the University.
The unit offers the following services:
- training for the University's designated Unit Records Officers
- advice and assistance with systems of filing for paper and electronic documents
- creation of retention schedules
- record transfers
- long-term storage and destruction / expunging of records
- review of the University's records management policy and procedures.
COLLECTIONS
1. Archives of UNAM
Currently, the Archives Unit has received deposits from thirteen offices and departments of the University, totaling about 896 cubic feet. Since the University was opened in 1992, the records thus held by the archives from the UNAM offices and departments would thus be from 1992.
Conditions of access
The collection is closed for 30 years from the time they have been deposited at the Archives Unit in terms of the National Archives Act, No. 12,1992, during which it is conditionally open to UNAM staff by permission of the creating office and UNAM Library. After 30 years, the collection is open to the public.
2. Publications of UNAM
The collection contains publications by the University of Namibia; from the former Academy of Tertiary Education, and by staff of the University. It consists of monographs, serial publications, conference publications, inaugural lecture series, and annual reports.
CONDITIONS OF ACCESS
The collection is open to the public
3. Private Collections
Some of the private materials in the Archives are:United Nations Institute for Namibia (UNIN); Mose Tjitendero Peter Katjavivi and Andre du Pisani. These collectively, provide an important insight into the history of the liberation of Namibia.
CONDITIONS OF ACCESS
Most of the private archives are available for research and reference use unless where specific restrictions apply. Detailed or full catalogues are available for some of the collections, but for others these are not yet available. However, it is possible to use the collection level descriptions that have been done. See individual collections descriptions for details on this.
4. Photographic collections
Part of the photographic collection is from the UNIN collection produced and collected during Namibia’s pre and post independence era. Most the photographs are not identified. The other set of photographs is from the UNAM Department of Communication and Marketing which portray various events of the University and its community. The whole photographic collection has not yet been sorted or catalogued.
Conditions of access
The collection is open to the public subject to specific provisions of access within individual collections
5. Poster collections
The collection consists of various posters from the du Pisani collection mostly depicting activities of internal political parties during the independence process. There are also posters from the UNIN collection portraying various aspects of the liberation struggle. The other posters in the collection are from the University of Namibia and the Academy for Tertiary Education in the form of course charts and other training activities for students.
Conditions of access
The collection is open to the public.
6. Other
The #Akhoe Hai//om Project – Documenting language and culture in endangered social practices. The Archives holds a hard drive for this archive which is also available online at http://www.mpi.nl/dobes. [still to revise this entry]
Links to private collections
The UNIN collection
The United Nations Institute for Namibia (UNIN)
Covering the period 1976-1990, the UNIN collection is rich on Namibia history and especially the struggle for independence. It holds various publications (periodicals, books, newspapers, newspaper clippings, serials, government publications, and UNIN publications), theses, conference papers, photographs, lecturer materials, educational & religious instructional materials, posters and audiovisual materials. The collection also includes UN Council for Namibia records, UN Commissioner for Namibia records, Statutory Bodies including Commissions and Committees records, records of government agencies as well as SWAPO records.
Administrative history
The UNIN was an educational body set up by the United Nations Council for Namibia in Lusaka, Zambia on 26 August 1976. The main purpose of the creation of UNIN was to have a facility for the education of Namibians in preparation for taking up roles in an independent Namibia. The UNIN was closed in September 1990 (six months after Namibia’s independence) and its documents were transferred to the University of Namibia Library, Archives Unit.
Extent of material 1976-1990, 461 cubic feet
Conditions of access
The collection is open to the public.
The Mose Tjitendero Collection
The collection was built up mainly from Dr Mose Tjitendero’s personal collections during this period of the struggle.
Biography
Born in Okahandja, Namibia in 1943, Dr Mose Penaani Tjitendero went on voluntary exile to Tanzania in 1964 from where he pursued education and also became active in politics while in the SWAPO Party. He later went overseas for his University education, and came back to Africa, Zambia in 1976 where he joined the UNIN, and at Namibia’s independence, he joined the Government. He died in 2006.
Extent of material
Because of Tjitendero’s intensive work with UNIN, most of this collection is UNIN related, and covers the period 1976-1990 the period which UNIN operated. 40 cubic feet
Conditions of access
The collection is open to the public.
The Katjavivi Collection
The collection covers SWAPO reports, speeches, press releases, journals and pamphlets, correspondence and internal documents, as well as specific SWAPO issues. This collection is thought to be the largest collection of public information on SWAPO available.
Biography
Professor Peter Katjavivi was born on 12 May 1941 in Okahandja, Namibia. From exile in Tanzania in 1966, he became active in liberation politics through the SWAPO Party, while also pursuing his academic career overseas. At independence he joined the government, and in 1992 became the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Namibia until diplomatic posting in 2003. He is currently the Chairperson of the National Planning Committee of Namibia.
Extent of material 1965-1988 26 cubic feet
Conditions of access
The collection is open to the public. For full descriptive catalogue see Katjavivi catalogue.[Microsoft word document]
The Du Pisani Collection
It comprises of many official publications of the South African Government, newspaper cuttings, conference papers, periodicals and journal articles referring to aspects of Namibia in pre-independence period. The collection pays a special focus on Namibia’s unique international legal status, and the activities of the internal political parties in the independence process, particularly the Multi-Party Conference, the Transitional Government and the lead-up campaign to the independence elections of 1989.
Biography
Andre du Pisani was born on 15 January 1949 in Windhoek, Namibia. Prof. du Pisani has undertaken extensive research, and published prolifically, on Namibia’s political history. He has a renowned interest in Namibia’s political history, particularly Namibia’s political transition. It is these interests which are reflected in this collection. He is currently Professor in Politics at the Department of Political and Administrative Studies at the University of Namibia.
Extent of material
The collection consists of 43 boxes, presently occupying 6 meters of shelving space.
Conditions of access
The collection is open to the public. For full descriptive catalogue see du Pisani catalogue.[Microsoft word document]
Where to find us:
The Archival Unit Reading Area is located on the Lower Ground Floor of the Library on the Main Campus of the University of Namibia.
Opening Hours: Mondays - Fridays 08:00 - 16:30 Evenings Weekends and Public Holidays: CLOSED
For inquiries, please contact: Violet Matangira Head of Department Tel: (264-61) 206 3692 email: vmatangira@unam.na
Special Collections Section
Mission Statement
The Special Collection Section of the University Library aims to be a support base for current and future research and teaching activities of the University.
Aims and Objectives
- to acquire and document information on Namibia and Namibians which will aid Faculty and students in executing their respective activities
- to make this information freely available and accessible to the university community, outside researchers and the general public
- to establish and maintain an effective liaison between relevant academic departments to assist in the planning and development of services in accordance with the changing needs of the University
- to collaborate with other Africana Libraries and Librarians thus encouraging information exchange and networking
- to collaborate with strategic information generating organizations within the University as a form of current-awareness
Materials
The Special Collections Section aims at having a comprehensive current collection of Namibiana (any material dealing with Namibia, of national and international imprint, and which subject matter falls within the realms of the University's mission statement) and related material in humanities and social sciences, and natural and environmental resources management. Materials in the collection include: published books, theses and dissertations, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, NIED syllabi of Namibian school subjects, and unpublished material.
Materials in English are given priority but linguistic materials and vernacular texts are acquired where necessary.
Access to the Collection
The Special Collections Section operates as a Closed Collection, i.e. users are not able to browse the collection freely. However, material can be requested from the enquiry desk located at the entrance to the Section. The Section is open from 08:00 to 16:00
Lending Procedures
The Special Collection operates on the same premises as the Reserve Collection except for the fact that overnight loans are not allowed. A valid student card or membership card must be shown at all times.
Material may be used in the library for a limited period of two hours. The numbers of items which can be borrowed are limited to two per user including items from the Reserve Collection. Items on loan can be reserved. Items in process can be requested by completing special application forms. Items issued after 16:30 are returned to the main Circulation Desk.
Electronic Information Sources
Special Collection offers access to specialized databases of materials kept in the Section and to other information services in Namibia and the world:
- Pamphlet Collection: Holds information material of pamphlets, booklets, International Monetary Fund documents, NIED syllabi of various school subjects, HIV/AIDS material. The database can be searched at:
http://196.44.141.214/wwwisis/PAMPH.01/form.htm or the
Greenstone digital library server of UNAM Library.
- Newspaper Clippings: Local newspapers are scanned for articles about UNAM, adverts by UNAM, and also of general interest about the following topics: economic issues, information about government ministries and their activities. Articles are entered into a searchable on-line database --> click here
- NAMLIT: The most comprehensive database of information about Namibia published in and outside Namibia, publications with a Namibian imprint, containing well over 60 000 titles in Namibian and foreign libraries.
Access to remote databases such as the :
Where to find us:
Special Collections Section is located on the Lower Ground Floor of the Library on the Main Campus of the University of Namibia.
Opening Hours: Mondays - Fridays 08:00 - 18:00 Evenings Weekends and Public Holidays: CLOSED
For inquiries, please contact: Edward Kafita Assistant Librarian Special Collections Section Tel: (264-61) 206 3883 email: ekafita@unam.na
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