Author: Marié Roux (Page 1 of 19)

One of the most thought-provoking discussions during the Reimagining the Archive in the Post-Truth Era conference, where I presented my paper Archives and Other Repositories in the Age of Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories, centred on the concept of archival silences. My discussion reinforced an important reminder for archivists and researchers alike: archives are defined not only by what they preserve, but also by what they do not contain.

In our work at Special Collections, we frequently encounter researchers who expect archives to provide a complete account of the past. Many assume that additional records exist somewhere beyond the collections we hold, waiting to be discovered. Others interpret gaps in the documentary record as evidence that information has been deliberately hidden or destroyed. In an era shaped by misinformation, conspiracy theories, and declining trust in institutions, these assumptions are becoming increasingly common.

Archival scholars have long cautioned against viewing archives as complete or neutral repositories of truth. Every archival collection reflects choices about what was created, preserved, described, and made accessible. Consequently, every archive contains silences. Archives are products of complex processes of creation, selection, appraisal, and preservation. Records do not simply survive by chance; they are shaped by institutional priorities, legal requirements, social values, available resources, and historical circumstances. As a result, archival collections inevitably contain gaps, omissions, and missing voices that reflect the contexts in which they were formed.

These silences should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of concealment or conspiracy. Records may never have been created, they may have been lost through neglect, disaster, or deterioration, or they may reflect historical collecting practices that overlooked or excluded particular communities and perspectives. While deliberate destruction of records has occurred throughout history, it is only one of many reasons why archival gaps exist.

Understanding archival silences encourages researchers to move beyond asking, “Where are the missing records?” Instead, they begin asking more meaningful questions: Why are these records absent? Who created the records that survive? Whose voices were documented, and whose were excluded? These questions promote critical engagement with evidence rather than assumptions based solely on absence.

For archivists, this highlights an important responsibility. Our role is not only to preserve and provide access to records but also to help researchers understand the nature of archival evidence. By explaining how archives are formed—and why silences are inevitable—we foster archival literacy and critical thinking. In the age of artificial intelligence and technological advances, this understanding is essential. Archives remain among our most reliable sources of evidence, but their value lies not in claiming completeness, but in helping us interpret both what is present and what is absent with care, context, and transparency.

These gaps we see in records such as the Wilgenhof collection for example. The public interest intensified during the debates surrounding the so-called artefact’s discovered in the residence, with differing interpretations of their significance raising questions about heritage, memory, and the role of archives in preserving contested histories. During periods of increased interest in the residence’s history, Special Collections received enquiries from students, academic staff, and researchers requesting access to materials related to Wilgenhof. These interactions revealed a recurring assumption that archives contain complete and exhaustive documentation of institutional history. While some users assumed that Special Collections held a complete documentary record of Wilgenhof’s history, the collection itself consists of specific donated materials, including reunion publications, newsletters, choir records, and clippings. Like many archival collections, it reflects what was donated and preserved rather than a comprehensive account of all events and activities associated with the residence. The assumption that archives contain complete records can lead to frustration when gaps are encountered. However, such gaps are a normal feature of archival collections and reflect the realities of record creation, survival, donation, and preservation.

Author: Busi Mofu

The Library is running a survey from 12 August to 18 September, the Library Life Pulse Survey. The discontinuation of LibQUAL+ , the survey tool used worldwide by academic libraries previously, limited the available options and reinforced this choice to use the Library Life Pulse Survey. This decision was informed by the tool’s focus on measuring impact and user experience, its flexibility in allowing non-core questions to be tailored to specific requirements, and its increasing adoption by academic libraries in South Africa and internationally, which enables benchmarking.

This will be an opportunity to tell us what YOU love about using Stellenbosch University’s Library and Information Service and let us know how we could improve. The survey, which is open to all students and staff, will help us to understand what is important to you and will inform the development of our services to support you as part of the University community. Alterline, an independent research agency, will administer the survey.

All responses will be reported anonymously, meaning that your feedback will not be linked to you in any way. You will receive an invitation to complete the survey, which should fit perfectly into a quick tea break and then you can choose to be entered into a prize draw by entering your email address at the end of the survey. Ten lucky respondents will win a R1 000 voucher. The draw takes place at the end of September and Alterline will choose winners at random.

Enquiries: Bronwyn Bruton

Planning where to publish and aligning publication choices with the university’s ‘read and publish’ agreements is essential for maximising Open Access (OA) publishing opportunities while minimising article processing charges (APCs) (Jarvis 2026). Stellenbosch University (SU) Library and Information Service leverages these agreements to support researchers by enabling them to publish their research articles OA in eligible hybrid journals without paying APCs, while also offering discounted APCs of between 10% and 55% for eligible fully OA journal titles. While these agreements have significantly reduced financial barriers to publishing, it is important to remember that not all agreements provide unlimited OA publishing (Hunter 2019).

The question that may arise for an SU-affiliated researcher is: “Why should I check the publishing allocations now?” To answer this question, please refer to the article titled: Update on Open Access publishing options for SU researchers for context. Some of these agreements include a capped number of articles that can be published OA at no direct cost to authors each year, while others offer unlimited OA publishing under the agreement. This article aims to highlight to SU authors those agreements that have thus far reached below 50% of their annual capped number of publications without paying APCs.

While some publishers, such as Sage Publishing, Elsevier, and The Company of Biologists, offer unlimited OA publishing under the ‘read and publish’ agreements, others operate on shared institutional allocations that may be exhausted before the end of the calendar year. To help SU researchers make informed publishing decisions, the Library and Information Service continuously monitors the utilisation of these allocations and has identified publishers that have reached approximately 50% of their annual quota. At the time of writing, Springer Nature has a remaining national allocation of 529 articles, while Taylor & Francis has 649 remaining for the year 2026. Researchers considering publication with these publishers are therefore encouraged to plan their submissions accordingly.

Wiley operates under a different funding model. While OA publishing in Wiley’s eligible hybrid journals is uncapped, publications in Wiley’s fully OA journals are supported through a shared national publication fund rather than an article allocation. Under this arrangement, authors from participating institutions may publish in eligible fully OA journals without paying APCs, provided sufficient funds remain available in the national publication fund at the time the manuscript is accepted for publication. For this reason, we encourage SU researchers intending to publish OA through SU’s ‘read and publish’ agreement to reach out to the SU library for OA publishing support.

For enquiries about SU ‘read and publish’ agreements or any other OA-related matters, please contact Sizwe Ngcobo,.

References

• Hunter, P.  2019.  The deal with DEAL for open access: the recent publish-and-read deals have increased momentum for open-access publishing but may not solve the challenge of open science. EMBO reports. 21(1). 1-3.
• Jarvis, C . 2026.  Invisible labor in open access: A case study of read & publish agreement administration at the University of Utah. The Journal of Academic Librarianship. 52(5). 1-4.

In a series of interviews with researchers and students to share their views on the impact the Library has on supporting their research, we had an interview with Dr Philani Zincume, a Senior Lecturer from the Department of Industrial Engineering.

Herewith more about Dr Zincume from his Researcher Profile at Stellenbosch University:

Dr. Philani Nduna Zincume, commonly referred to as Dr. Zee, is an Engineering Management researcher studying how organisations develop the capability to successfully implement socio-technical innovations. His research seeks to understand the leadership, governance and organisational capabilities required to translate engineering and digital innovations into sustainable organisational performance. His work draws on Engineering Management, Socio-Technical Systems and Systems Thinking, with applications in digital transformation, Industry 5.0, operational excellence and engineering organisations. He currently holds positions at Stellenbosch University, the University of Stellenbosch Business School, and SKEMA International Business School.

Which services of the Library do you use often?

I frequently use the Library’s online databases, electronic journals and research support services. I also value the assistance of faculty librarians, particularly when conducting literature reviews and locating specialised sources.

What is the most significant way the Library supports your research?

Access to high-quality academic databases and journals is probably the most significant support.

How does the Library’s expertise and support save you time?

Library staff have helped me identify appropriate databases, refine search strategies and access sources that may otherwise be difficult to locate (this particularly helped me a lot when I was completing my PhD).

How have consultation services assisted with research data and compliance?

Library guidance on data management plans, responsible data storage and institutional requirements helps clarify what is expected throughout the research process. This is particularly helpful for me when preparing research proposals and ethics applications.

What role does the Library play in open access publication and funding?

The Library helps researchers understand open access publishing options, identify reputable journals and navigate available funding arrangements for article-processing charges. This makes the publication process more accessible and helps researchers avoid potentially predatory journals.

Is the Library proactive in offering services aligned with your research needs?

Yes. The Library regularly communicates new resources, training opportunities and developments relating to research support, open access and data management. Workshops and individual consultations are particularly useful because they respond to changing research and publication requirements.

If you could change one service, what would it be?

I would introduce more discipline-specific, short training sessions tailored to researchers at different stages of a project. For example, focused sessions on advanced literature searching, systematic reviews, research data management and selecting suitable journals would be valuable.

Interview conducted with Dr Zincume via email 

The Library has subscribed to two new Digital Science databases, namely Dimensions and Altmetric Explorer. They are both now available via the Library’s A-Z database list. We are excited to share this news since both these tools will enhance information retrieval and research evaluation methods at Stellenbosch University.

Dimensions is a vast database that indexes more than 150 million publications, millions of grants from global funders, datasets, and patents. This means that it focuses on mapping the full research lifecycle across diverse datasets. It is also described as a highly exhaustive, linked-data platform, while Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) act as strictly curated, publication-focused citation databases.

Dimensions database includes the following approximate counts for individual content categories:

• Publications: ~164 million
• Patent records: ~170 million
• Datasets: ~42 million
• Grants: ~8.1 million
• Preprints: ~4.3 million
• Policy documents: ~2.5 million
• Clinical trials: ~938 thousand

Herewith a comparison with the journal coverage of Scopus and Web of Science:.

Dimensions’ analytical feature offers visual breakdowns of bibliometrics, citation trends (such as Field-Weighted Citation Ratios), co-authorship networks, and funding sources. Its integration with the network analysis tool, VOSViewer, is helpful to view built-in network visualisations related to co-occurrence keywords, co-authors, co-citations, etc.

Altmetric Explorer, on the other hand, is a tool that evaluates impact by means of non-traditional online attention (altmetrics) given to academic research and scholarly outputs. Altmetric monitors mainstream media, social networks, policy documents, Wikipedia, blogs, and patents for mentions of research items. It also aggregates data into visual dashboards showing demographics, attention over time, geographic reach, and specific sources.

A training session will take place in September, which will offer demonstrations on how to use these two tools effectively. The specific date and time will be communicated soon.

Enquiries: Marié Roux

In the traditional academic landscape, a researcher’s contribution is often measured by a single metric: the citation. Stellenbosch University’s open-access data repository, SUNScholarData, however, is revealing a massive layer of “invisible impact” that traditional metrics fail to capture. Since its launch in August 2019, the platform has amassed 215 848 views (of which 170 428 were from the USA, with South Africa being the second largest number of viewers with 8 597) and 47 628 downloads, yet it shows only 29 formal citations. This staggering discrepancy could suggest that datasets are being utilised as practical, real-world tools rather than just subjects for further academic papers. It is important to note that the possible applications of the case studies outlined below constitute conjecture and that there is no evidence that this may be the true cause for the high number of downloads, but low level of citations.

The Utility vs Research Gap

The analysis of SUNScholarData’s most popular records suggests that high engagement often signals “research utility”. Users may be downloading data to calibrate industry tools, train AI models, or inform government policy – activities that rarely result in a formal citation in a peer-reviewed journal.

Case Study 1: AI for the People

The most downloaded dataset on the platform is the Curated dataset and shortlist of AI use cases for the South African government (2025), which has reached 6,511 downloads despite having zero citations. Linked to the Policy Innovation Lab briefing note, A Catalogue of Artificial Intelligence Tools for Use by South African Policymakers (2024), this dataset serves as a practical guide for the public sector. Its high download rate may suggest that government officials and digital entrepreneurs are using it as a blueprint for deploying AI in public services, such as monitoring physical processes or automating administrative tasks. As this was a report rather than an academic publication, there are no impactful metrics to compare the publication with the dataset.

Case Study 2: Saving Lives through Fire Science

The 20 Dwelling informal settlement experiment (2020) provides a critical dataset for understanding fire spread in dense urban environments. With 2,965 downloads and 0 citations, this data—which includes sensor logs and high-resolution images—is possibly being used by disaster management authorities and urban planners. Associated with the research paper 20 Dwelling Large-Scale Experiment of Fire Spread in Informal Settlements (2020), it offers the raw evidence needed to design safer settlement layouts and “fire lines,” providing impact that is measured in lives saved rather than papers published. The article has received 1,452 views, an Altmetric score of 42, and has received 41 citations, which points to a high impact and may explain why the associated dataset has received such attention, but it still begs the question why the data has not received any citations.

Other high-performing datasets show strong ties to industry and education. Here is one example:

Pine Stand Nitrogen Mineralisation (2020): With 3,832 views and 622 downloads, this data provides a decision-support system to prevent wasteful fertiliser applications in the Eastern and Western Cape. Its impact may be related to its contribution as an operational utility for foresters and plantation managers. The associated publication, Modelling soil nitrogen mineralisation in semi-mature pine stands of South Africa to identify nutritional limitations and to predict potential responses to fertilisation (2020), has received 1,918 views, 3 citations, and an Altmetric score of 5. The relatively low impact of the article, compared with the attention the dataset has received, seems to point to a lack of appropriate recognition of the researchers who contributed to this work in further research, but does seem to indicate a high level of practical application.

High-Intent Discovery: The Traffic Monitoring Case

One of the most intriguing records is the Summary of South African Traffic monitoring data (1994-2006) (2023). It holds the highest visibility on the platform with 4,660 views, but 0 downloads. This is because the underlying files are hosted externally and have restricted access, seemingly indicating that SUNScholarData can be a critical discovery layer.

The data was collected by Mikros Traffic Monitoring (Pty) Ltd. All traffic data collected for these clients is kept in an Oracle database for easy access and distribution, with some records dating back to 1994. The objective of this specific record on SUNScholarData is to describe the quantity and characteristics of the available data for potential use in Centre for Invasion Biology (CIB) research projects. The high view count indicates significant latent interest from professional parties who likely contacted the researchers directly to request access for regional infrastructure planning or environmental analysis.

Conclusion: Deciphering the Impact Gap

The statistics from SUNScholarData provide a compelling look at how research outputs are being consumed, but the staggering difference between 47 628 downloads and a mere 29 citations presents a complex puzzle. While the case studies explored in this article suggest that datasets are being utilised as practical, real-world tools, it must be emphasised that these practical applications remain a form of conjecture.

A deeper, more granular analysis is required to accurately pinpoint the reasons behind this low level of formal citations. Engagement metrics may be inflated by users who download the data but never actually use it, or perhaps they lack the specific technical expertise required to apply the findings to their own projects. Other potential reasons for this “citation gap” could include the use of data in internal commercial environments, private industry testing, or policy documents that are not indexed by traditional academic databases.

Nonetheless, the massive volume of views and downloads for high-utility assets – such as AI policy catalogues and fire spread models – continues to point toward a significant potential for real-world application and utility. Whether these datasets are being used to inform a new municipal safety strategy or simply to calibrate an industry tool, the engagement suggests that SUNScholarData is performing a vital role as a national asset. Bridging the gap between a download and a proven application will be the next step in understanding the true reach of Stellenbosch University’s research data.

Author: Kirchner van Deventer

The Manuscript collections in Special Collections are searchable on the library catalogue and on SUNDigital Collections. In the catalogue you can search for a topic and limit your publication type to “Manuscript “. See the example below:

Search the catalogue for “Maggie Laubser”

This will give you a description of what is in the manuscript collection.

To find more detailed information you can use the “Finding Aids”. The link will take you to a searchable PDF on SUNDigital Collections  – Finding Aids

Click on Collection Index

Enquiries: Marieta Buys

A valuable collection of documents on the history of The Non-European Unity Movement (NEUM), The New Unity Movement (NUM), The Anti-C.A.D. Movement and All Africa Convention, (collectively named the Unity Movement Collection) was launched on 22 May 2026. The launch included an exhibition of Unity Movement documentary heritage.

Following discussions between Ms Ellen Tise, Senior Director of the SU Library and Information Services, and Dr Basil Brown, President of the New Unity Movement (NUM), the comprehensive collection of documentary material was donated to the Manuscripts Section, Special Collections, SU Library and Information Service in June 2023. The project to sort and catalogue this extensive collection commenced in March 2024.

The NUM was launched in 1985 and can be seen as the successor to the NEUM, dedicated and committed to its founding principles and policies. One of the most important principles of the NUM was that of non-racialism and the importance of human rights.

“The significance of this collection lies not only in documenting the history of the New Unity Movement, but also in contributing to a broader understanding of South Africa’s political, social, economic, and educational history,” explains Ellen Tise. “As a body of primary sources, it enables more nuanced and balanced research within the Special Collections of Stellenbosch University Library and Information Service.”

From left are Basil Brown, Leslie van Rooi, Ellen Tise, Pakama Ncume, Shaun Viljoen, Allan Zinn, Mickey Titus, Felicity Titus, Nico Koopman, Lungisile Ntsebeza, Mimi Seyffert-Wirth, Lincoln Jacobs and Denise Zinn.

The collection includes correspondence, constitutions, policies, financial statements, minutes of meetings, conference proceedings, memoranda, newsletters, notebooks, photographs and various publications, including journals.

Noteworthy are “A Call to Unity” – a manifesto adopted by the Executive of the AAC on 26 August 1943, calling for unity among oppressed groups and contributing to the formation of the Non-European Unity Movement (NEUM); Minutes of the 1st Unity Conference (17 December 1943), where the Draft Declaration of Unity was accepted and the Ten Point Programme was adopted as the basis of unity; A document outlining what the NEUM stands for; and a letter to Nelson Mandela on the question of organisational unity in South Africa by I.B. Tabata (June 1948).

The collection has been organised into categories to enhance accessibility for researchers and a detailed inventory of the collection will be available soon to help researchers navigate the rich research material.

An exhibition of the collection may be viewed in the SU Library in front of the Learning Commons and a recording of the launch event, which included an informative panel discussion is available here.

The collection will be housed alongside other manuscript collections focusing on apartheid-era legislation and policy which provide important contextual support. These related collections include the Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Collection, Institute for Democratic Alternatives in South Africa (IDASA) Collection, the South African Debt Crisis (1985–1986) Collection and the Willie Adams Collection.

Read another article about the launch of this collection here.

Author: Mimi Seyffert-Wirth

Recently three new staff members were appointed in different research-related divisions of the Library. We would like to welcome the following staff members warmly and wish them all the best:

Dr Lynn Kleinveldt has been appointed as Manager: Carnegie Research Commons at Stellenbosch University Library, with effect from 01 June 2026. Her responsibilities include strategic planning and management of the Research Commons and postgraduate support services; managing, coordinating and presenting research support workshops. She has 19 years of experience working in academic libraries and seven years of experience in academia.

Before joining Stellenbosch University, Dr. Kleinveldt was the Co-head of Department and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Information Studies at the University of the Fraser Valley in Canada. In this position, she played a vital role in building internal and external partnerships and took the lead in incorporating cutting-edge technology into the Library and Information Technology curriculum. She strives towards bridging theory and practice in library and information science, with a focus on “literacies of the digital”, ethical information use, and the strategic development of user experience, teaching and learning and research support services in higher education.

Dr. Kleinveldt’s research explores the evolving role of academic libraries in supporting teaching and learning, scholarly communication and research. Her doctoral study investigated how libraries serve the research needs of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering scholars at two universities, the gaps between researcher expectations and library services, and the professional identity of faculty librarians in research support. She is committed to advancing inclusive, user-centred library services and fostering collaborative relationships between academics, researchers, information professionals and LIS students.

Her recent research project focused on exploring the transformation of ‘search’ as we know it and what it means for the future of Libraries and Information Science in the AI Era. Dr. Kleinveldt has actively contributed to international scholarly discourse through recent presentations at leading conferences, including:

• IFLA AI Symposia (2023–2025), where she presented on integrating generative AI into LIS and business curricula and critically evaluating online search results.
• BCLA Conference (2025), co-presenting on user experience in libraries and enhancing student success through AI-integrated LibGuides.
• LIASA-SCECSAL Conference (2022), where she delivered a lightning talk on embedding research data management into academic programs.

Dr. Kleinveldt served as Standing Committee Member of the IFLA IT Section for the term 2017-2023, and chaired LIASA’s Higher Education Libraries Interest Group, 2021-2023. She continues to actively participate in these library professional bodies.

Snenhlanhla Hlongwana has been appointed as Research Data Services Librarian at Stellenbosch University Library, with effect from 1 June 2026. This appointment reflects the strong alignment between her professional experience in metadata management, digital resource administration, and scholarly support services, and her growing focus on research data services and digital scholarship.

Before this appointment, she served as a Junior Librarian in the Acquisitions Division within the Stellenbosch University Library and Information Service, where she worked extensively with the library management system and vendor tools to ensure the quality of records, access standards, and usage statistics. Through this role, she developed strong expertise in metadata quality, digital resource discoverability, and ensuring reliable access to electronic information resources.

She also brings prior experience in repository and digital records management through her role as Metadata Librarian for the HSRC Zondo Commission Project. In this capacity, she was responsible for the organisation, indexing, preservation, and management of digital records generated by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, including affidavits, evidence transcripts, and exhibits. This work supported long-term access, discoverability, and future research use of the collection, and strengthened her expertise in digital preservation, structured metadata practices, and the curation of complex research data environments.

She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in information science, with research focusing on the role of institutional repositories in scholarly communication within a private dual-mode higher education context in South Africa. Her professional interests include research data management, Open Access, institutional repositories, metadata standards, and the advancement of digital scholarship. She is also passionate about responsible research practices and the ethical use of artificial intelligence in academia.

Cwayita Notshokovu has been appointed as a Junior Librarian: Scholarly Communication and started her work at the Library on 2 May 2026.

Her responsibilities include content and metadata management for digital repositories, support for the administration of the e-journal management platform and advancing scholarly communication initiatives. She is committed to strengthening research visibility, discoverability, accessibility, and Open Access advocacy.

Before joining Stellenbosch University, Cwayita served as an Information Specialist at Emeris, where she was later promoted to Postgraduate Information Specialist. In this role, she provided advanced research support to postgraduate students and researchers, including training on reference management tools, database navigation, literature review support, and guidance on identifying suitable Open Access journals for publication and uploaded student research reports into the institutional repository. She also promoted researcher visibility through training on author profile registration and researcher identifiers such as ORCID.

Cwayita holds a Master of Library and Information Studies degree obtained from the University of Cape Town. Her master’s dissertation investigated the readiness of public libraries to deliver information literacy instruction to school learners. She presented at the LIASA Annual Conference 2025 and at the City of Cape Town Public Library Seminar 2025. Cwayita is passionate about ethical scholarly practices, responsible AI use, information literacy, Open Access initiatives that enhance equitable access to knowledge.

Author: Theresa Schoeman