Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Valentine's Day invitation 2012 #loveheritage

Valentine's Day 2012 in archives
The Ask Archivists initiative has come up another great initiative for Valentine's Day this year:
Valentine's Day 2012 in the Archives.

We would love to join them in this initiative, and for that we need input from our radio listeners for the SABC Radio Archives.

A quote from AskArchivists blog post:


"We believe, that YOUR archive has a lot of amazing stories about one of the most amazing human feelings in its collections. And we encourage you to share them on February 14th.
Put some of your documents of love on Flickr or Picasa, make a video for YouTube, create an album on Facebook… use any platform you like, just tweet about it, using the hashtag #loveheritage."

We know that we have wonderful stories of undying love, of sacrificing love, of romantic love, or any other kind of love; that has been told in radio interviews. Some we will be able to find, but some will have been forgotten...

Please remind us of that interview, story or report on radio about an amazing love story that has stood the test of time! We would love to share it here!

In two weeks time we will be celebrating the Day of Love!
We would also love any other archives, libraries and museums to join us.

Please share your stories of love, and give us a shout out, especially if you are from the African continent.


Blog post by Karen du Toit, Afrikaans Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives.

Friday, January 13, 2012

What do you do when you see a QR code?

QR Code for the SABC Media Library's blog on mobile
You scan it! That's what you do!

Why? Because you want to know what it is all about!

How? By using your smartphone and a QR Code Reader.


Steps on how to scan a QR code:


1. Download a QR Code Reader for your phone.
    Try QR Code Scanner Pro for Blackberry (free). I have it on my phone.
    It looks like this:
QR Code Scanner Pro
 Or Kaywa Reader:
 It looks like this:
Kaywa Reader
Or Neo Reader:

There are countless QR Code Readers that are available for free.
You are welcome to let us know what you are using?

2. Open the Code Reader application on your phone when you spot a QR Code.

3. Align the code with your scanning screen on your phone.
I see that I have to keep my phone very stable and ensure enough light.
QR Code Scanner Pro screen shot

But other applications such as the Neo Reader immediately recognises the code and tells you which link has been recognised:
Neo Reader being used by Obakeng Phiri, our intern


4. If it does not automatically opens up in the link on the Internet, you are asked to click on the link to go to the required information.

5. Well done! See the required information/link/info on your mobile phone! (No need to look it up elsewhere!)
SABC Media Libraries blog (mobile)


Related post:
QR code for the SABC Media Library's blog


Post by Karen du Toit, Afrikaans Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

QR code for the SABC Media Library's blog


qrcode
SABC Media Libraries - mobile blog



QR codes is such a fun, easy and practical way to link us to more information.
It is popping up everywhere, and even in South Africa people are beginning to look for that extra bit of information that can be scanned to immediately point us in the right direction.

The possibilities for libraries and archives are endless...

QR codes works with smart phones, and you need a QR code reader installed.
When doing a search on your phone or on the Internet it gives a variety of QR code readers.

I used Kaywa as a Code generator, and I see that it has a Code Reader as well.

I made use of Gwyneth Jones at The Daring Librarian's instructions on How to create a QR code in 3 easy steps. It is under a Creative Commons Licence, and therefore I can share it here as well.



The QR code at the top is a link to the mobile version of this blog.

Scan the code with your Code Reader on your smart phone, and it will take you here:
http://sabcmedialib.blogspot.com/?m=1

Please check it out and let us know what you think!


Blog post by Karen du Toit, Afrikaans Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Welcome to 2012

Copy from our Vizify Tweetsheet for our Twitter account: SABCMediaLib
Best wishes to all for a great year in libraries and archives!

Some of us are back at work already, and doing the last of 2011's stats and starting with plans for the New Year!

Before we can move on, it is always great to have a look at the previous year!


The SABC Media Libraries hosted and took part in some events in 2011:

- The British Library Audiovisual Archiving training workshop took place at the SABC from 28 March to 1 Paril 2011

- We participated in Ask Archivists Day on 9 June on Twitter #AskArchivists

- The SABC Media Libraries first Knowledge CafĂ© - LibCafe 30 August 2011
   The theme was "Diving into social media" - It was an introduction to social media, and how to get everybody involved in participating on our social networks.

- Moshito 2011 experience 31 August - 2 September 2011
 The yearly music conference and exhibition - The SABC Media Libraries and the SABC News Archives had an exhibition in Newtown as well.

- A lone tweep also participated in #Followalibrary Day 1 October 2011

- The SABC Media Libraries celebrated World day for Adiovisual Heritage 2011, in Auckland Park as well as in the regions Bloemfontein and Platfontein. 27 October 2011
The ILAM Travelling exhibition was set up in the foyer of the SABC in Aucland Park in preparation for World day for Audiovisual Heritage.


Some of the projects that took shape last year:

- We finally got Springbok Radio back as part of our collection thanks to keen collector Frans Erasmus.

- Pops Mohamed Music Project for the San at SABC Platfontein
Pops Mohamed is a local South African musician championing the African music culture through the use of indigenous African musical instruments. Pops Mohamed trained them to use a studio to record the indigenous music of the San culture.


Our 5 most popular blog posts of the previous year were:

It seems the interviews with our interns were a big hit. (351 hits)
1. Interview with an intern - Thakani Ramufhufhi

We had our first Knowledge Café last year, and this was one of the preliminary posts. (342 hits)
2. The Knowledge Café to address a PowerPoint aversion

Another interview with an intern. (196 hits)
3. Interview with the intern at the SABC Radio Archives - Obakeng Phiri

Interview with the Principal Librarian (156 hits)
4. Interview with the Principal Librarian at the SABC Information Library

Interview with the Afrikaans Archivist (148 hits)
5. The Weekly Archivist Interview: Afrikaans Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives: Karen du Toit



We have high hopes that this year is going to be a year of big changes, and that we finally will be able to get the ball rolling with regards a Digital Library!


Blog post by Karen du Toit, Afrikaans Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives