UP Library

Historical Background

In 1933 it was decided by the University to construct a separate building for the library which was then still located in the Old Arts building. With a contribution of £10 000 from mining geologist Dr Hans Merensky, construction started in 1937. General Jan Smuts laid the cornerstone on 11 October 1937 and on 15 April 1938 the building was officially opened.

“This country has given me so much that I am only too happy to be allowed to help it to develop and to be able to give back to it a fraction of what it has given to me…” – Hans Merensky, at the opening of the Merensky Library.

In designing the building, architect Gerhard Moerdyk was influenced by various styles, including Art Deco, Neo-Classicism, Arts and Crafts, as well as local styles such as Cape Dutch and Regency. Moerdyk himself described the building as a study in Persian style, with influences from Africa including the Zimbabwe and ancient Egyptian ruins. He used local materials and incorporated symbols of African origin. The prominent zigzag pattern, for example, is taken from the Zimbabwe ruins and represents water and fertility, the crocodile as a water figure and the bird as a symbol of space, symbolizing the freedom and creativity of the author. The curving of the walls symbolises an open book. The green bevelled glass windows were imported from Italy and helped to minimise heat from the sun and also protected paper against ultraviolet light. The design of the building is a source of controversy and speculation with some claiming that Moerdyk used it as a practice run for the design of the Voortrekker Monument, as there are many similarities between the two buildings. Today this national monument serves as the Edoardo Villa museum and also houses amongst others, a Mimi Coertse, Marita Napier and the largest South African sheet music collections.

Merensky II Library

Consisting of six levels, this building houses the UP Library Services Head Office; the Learning Centre; Technical Services and the faculty libraries for Humanities; Theology; Natural and Agricultural Sciences; Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology; and, Economics and Management Sciences. It forms a focal point of the University’s Hatfield Campus. The original library was initially housed in the Old Arts building before being relocated to the Old Merensky Library. Despite expansions to the Old Merensky Library in 1957, it soon became too small and the firm Lou, Marais, Marquard and Kuhn was appointed in 1969 to design a new library. Construction started in November 1971 and in August 1975 the building was completed. In the construction process the southern wing of the Old Chemistry building was demolished. Adjacent to the library there is a study centre that accommodates up to 1 230 students and is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Centenary Tapestry

An interesting feature of the library is the spacious feel of the ground floor due to the three-level high ceiling in the central area. The wall of the mezzanine level is now adorned by an eye-catching panelled tapestry which was commissioned by the University in commemoration of its centenary celebrations in 2008. The idea was to create a work of art that would portray the University and which could be left as a legacy for future generations.
This tapestry was designed and embroidered by rural community members of the Kaross™ embroidery initiative in the Limpopo province. This embroidery initiative was established in 1989 by Irma van Rooyen, a BA Fine Arts graduate of the University and a recipient of the TuksAlumni Laureate Award. The conceptualisation of the tapestry and the execution of the design was done by Irma van Rooyen in collaboration with designer Calvin Mahlaule. Once the design was finalised, 15 embroiderers were employed to create the 15 x 1.2 meter tapestry. The work was executed on separate pieces of material using approximately 10 kg of yarn. The individual pieces of material were later appliqued and combined in a continuous process of layering the embroidered images and reworking them until the full length artwork was created.
This work of art reflects the culture, creative spirit and ‘voice’ of its makers and is a joyous manifestation of colour and craftsmanship!

Vision & Mission of the Department of Library Services

Vision

To be a research library which is internationally recognised for redefining academic librarianship.

Mission

To realise its vision, the Department of Library services’ mission is to be an enabler for learning, teaching and research success at the University of Pretoria.

Library Hours

Department of Library Services – Code of Conduct

According to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act no. 200 of 1993, Chapter 3 (Fundamental Rights), Article 23, every person has the right to access information in order to apply it for his own needs.

The Department of Library Services (i.e. the UP library) supports the principle of man being an autonomous person who is dependent on information to make meaningful decisions. As such man uses and adapts information.

The following values apply:
The freedom to obtain information which implies the free flow of and free access to information. It also implies that the Department of Library Services undertakes to contribute to the accessibility of information by supporting value added processes such as the identification, organization and preservation of information, regardless of the form in which the information may appear. This gives the user the opportunity to make his choices from all the information at his disposal.

The Department of Library Services acknowledges:
–  The academic and intellectual freedom of the individual which means that there is no censorship
–  That the privacy of the individual will be respected
–  That the confidentiality with regard to personal information will be maintained
–  That the clients will be bona fide students or researchers of the University of Pretoria
–  That other clients can include formal partner institutions of the University of Pretoria

The Department of Library Services and clients also acknowledge our social responsibility towards the community which implies that we will, to the best of our ability and with the resources available to us, make information accessible and preserve documents. This is vested in the value of communicability which accentuates mutual respect and caring for each other. This implies that each one of us is involved in the welfare of another and will not be the cause, by either damaging or alienating information, that information is not available.

The other role player, the client, is expected to undertake the following when making use of the services and facilities of the Department of Library Services:
–  Services and facilities will not be abused
–  Good relations and understanding will be maintained with fellow users
–  Refrain from making noise
–  Honesty and transparency in communication with personnel and fellow users will be maintained
–  When transgressing the prescribed code of conduct, the transgressor will be subjected to the monitoring channels created for transgressors

Your UPLibraries App

Download the new UP Libraries mobile app for Android or iPhone!

Our free mobile app lets you locate and search your library catalogue wherever you are!

To download our mobile app, simply search for UP Libraries on the Apple app store or for the android app go to Google play or click on the relevant link:

Features of the mobile app:

You are welcome to forward any feedback or queries to: libqual@up.ac.za.

General Contact Details for all UP Libraries

Education Library

Jotello F Soga Library

Physical Address
Jotello F Soga Library (Veterinary Science – Onderstepoort Campus)
Sir Arnold Theiler Building
University of Pretoria
Faculty of Veterinary Science
Pretoria

Postal Address
Department of Library Services
Jotello F Soga Library
University of Pretoria
Private Bag X04
Onderstepoort
0110

Tel.: +27 12 529 8007 / 8 / 9
Fax: +27 12 529 8302
E-mail: susan.marsh@up.ac.za

Klinikala Library

Physical Address
Klinikala Library
Klinikala Building
University of Pretoria
Klipspringer Road
Atteridgeville

Postal Address
Klinikala Library
University of Pretoria
PO Box 12411
Hatfield
0028

Tel.: +27 12 373 1031
Fax: +27 12 373 1039
E-mail: asia.matlala@up.ac.za

Mamelodi Library

Physical Address
Mamelodi Library
University of Pretoria
Mamelodi Campus
cnr Hinterland Street and Solomon Mahlangu Drive
Mamelodi

Postal Address
Department of Library Services
Mamelodi Library
Mamelodi Campus
University of Pretoria
Private Bag X1311
Silverton
0127

Tel.: +27 12 842 3566
Fax: +27 12 842 3665
E-mail: jacob.mothutsi@up.ac.za

Medical Library

Physical Address
Medical Library
Faculty of Health Sciences
HW Snyman North Building
University of Pretoria
Bophelo Road 31
Gezina
0001

Postal Address
Medical Library
Department of Library Services
University of Pretoria
Private Bag X323
Arcadia, Pretoria
0007

Tel.: +27 12 356 3193 / 4 / 5
Fax: +27 12 356 3197
E-mail: magriet.lee@up.ac.za

Merensky 2 Library (Main)

Physical Address
Department of Library Services
Merensky 2 Library
Hatfield Campus
C/o Lynnwood Road & Roper Street
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa

Postal Address
Department of Library Services
Merensky 2 Library
University of Pretoria
PO Box 12411
Hatfield, Pretoria
0028

Tel.: +27 12 420 2235 / 2236 / 3150

Music Library

Physical Address
Music Library
Musaion
Hatfield Campus
C/o Lynnwood Road & Roper Street
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa

Postal Address
Music Library
Department of Library Services
University of Pretoria
PO Box 12411
Hatfield, Pretoria
0028

Tel.: +27 12 420 2317
Fax: +27 12 362 5175
E-mail: isobel.rycroft@up.ac.za

Oliver R Tambo Law Library

Physical Address
Oliver R Tambo Law Library
Hatfield Campus
C/o Lynnwood Road & Roper Street
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa

Postal Address
Oliver R Tambo Law Library
Department of Library Services
University of Pretoria
PO Box 12411
Hatfield, Pretoria
0028

Tel.: +27 12 420 2268
Fax: +27 12 362 3873
E-mail: shirley.gilmore@up.ac.za

Witbank Library

Physical Address
Witbank Library
Witbank Hospital
c/o President & Coert Steynberg Avenue
eMalahleni

Postal Address
Witbank Library
Witbank Hospital
Private Bag X7206
eMalahleni
1035

Tel.: +27 12 653 2342
Fax: +27 12 653 2342
E-mail: riki.duplessis@up.ac.za

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