UWC-Library Services appoints new Director – Dr S Neerputh
The University of the Western Cape’s Executive Management Team has appointed Dr Shirlene Neerputh as the new Director of Library services upon the resignation of former Library Director, Ms Phatheka Matshaya.
The new appointee has worked in the higher education sector for 30 years. She is a seasoned and highly experienced librarian, and will assume duty from 1 February 2017. Dr Neerputh’s possess Library Management and Leadership skills.
Dr Neerputh was the Library Manager: Academic Services at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), a position she held for approximately seven years. Prior to that she served as Cataloguer Librarian, Periodicals/Serials Librarian; and Merger Library Project Co-ordinator, as well as a Faculty subject librarian at the same institution.
She holds a PhD in Library and Information Studies from the Durban University of Technology and a Masters and Honours degree, both from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She also has a BA degree; National Higher Diploma in Library and Information Science from the then University of Durban-Westville; as well as Higher Education Diploma in Post-School Education.
During a telephonic interview, Dr Neerputh revealed that she is actively involved in promoting the Library and Information services at both UWC and externally. She believes that we are all driven by information and we live in a knowledge society. The South African knowledge society is developed by the provision of authentic and relevant information, academic literacies and reading skills are needed to develop critical thinkers and contribute to academic success.
She is willing to partner with students and academics in developing UWC as a vibrant place of learning.
She added: “I possess the experience and know-how to redesign and embed the library resources and services for enhancing teaching, learning and research at UWC, and I’m looking forward to taking the UWC Library to new heights nationally and internationally”.
Born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Neerputh has been awaiting this dream opportunity to lead a productive and inspired library team which impacts on academic success and the university strategic outcomes.
