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The Rhodesia Herald

November 13 1961

Salisbury’s University College library, with 60 000 volumes and 1 200 periodicals, has provided a pleasant surprise for the new librarian, Mr DH Varley, who was formerly chief librarian of the South African Library, Cape Town.

Mr Varley said yesterday that the college library appeared to have done extremely well in its five years of existence.

Libraries, said Mr Varley tended to grow by geometrical progression and the accommodation in the impressive new building would be filled sooner than most people expected.

He was interested to note that while primarily serving staff and students, it was already the most considerable learned library in the federation.

It was being increasingly consulted by research workers outside the university. The library was also giving a wider service through its scientific Information Service. Eleven years ago, Mr Varley made a survey of library facilities in the Rhodesia’s for the Carnegie Corporation and Library Association. Some of the recommendations which he had made then had been implemented.

“But a great deal still remains to be done to provide the federation with first-class library services,” he continued.

“A good beginning has been made in Northern Rhodesia and in Nyasaland. The National Free Lending Service in Bulawayo is also doing valuable work which merits far greater financial support.

School libraries, he considered, needed building up. He was pleased to note that 60 teachers and members of the inspectorate had recently attended a course on school library work at the University College.

Lessons for Today

The initiative for most of the advances in library development came from librarians.

University Librarian is one of the top post in the University Executive that contributes to several key portfolios at an institution.

The Library controls all library and Information operations on the campus. Library and Information centres have always been key to scholars and researchers.