The Board of the National Library of South Africa announced that Prof Rocky Ralebipi-Simela has been appointed as the National Librarian with effect from 1 May 2014.
She has been the Regional Director of the Limpopo region of the University of South Africa (Unisa) for the past two years. Prof Ralebipi-Simela holds a Masmter’s Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh (USA) and a PhD in Library and Information Science from the University of Minnesota (USA). She has more than ten years of experience in senior management positions in related fields.
Prof Ralebipi-Simela was a member of the first Board of the National Library of South Africa (2000-2003) and was appointed as Chairperson of the second Board of the NLSA (2003-2006). She was the Chairperson of the National Council of Library and Information services (NCLIS) from 2007-2011. She has served in the business (production and publications of online databases in the USA) and higher education sectors (as a Library and Information professional and academic leader) for 35 years.
Prof Ralebipi-Simela has also served on the Board of Sabinet since 2005. We want to wish her all the very best in her new role and we are looking forward to her contribution to the LIS sector.