Mary Nassimbeni

Mary has a PhD in library and information studies from the University of Cape Town. Her research interests include a study of public libraries in South Africa – their role and impact, and information literacy.

She is in her second term of office on the National Council for Library and Information Services (NCLIS), a statutory body responsible for advising the Ministers of Education (Basic and Higher) and of Arts and Culture on matters relating to library and information services. She is a Board member of Biblionef, an NGO in Cape Town which donates books in mother tongue help children and adolescents who have no access to library materials.

Selected publications from the last few years

• Skarzynski, Janusz. & Nassimbeni, Mary. 2016. Evaluating the impact of the public library book collection: a case study of two public libraries in Cape Town. South African journal of libraries and information science, 82 (1): 26-35.
• Hart, Genevieve and Nassimbeni, Mary. 2016. Libraries and a "Better Life for All": The Politics, Processes, and Promises of the South African LIS Transformation Charter. Library trends, 65 (2): 198-216.
• De Jager, K., Nassimbeni, M. & Underwood, P. 2015. Library Studies at the University of Cape Town: an Historical Overview. In Bitso, C. and Raju, R. (Eds.). LIS education and research in a dynamic information landscape. pp. 1-10. Cape Town: University of Cape Town Libraries. ISBN: 978-0-7992-2526-6.
• Nassimbeni, M. & De Jager, K. 2014. Even we can read: Evaluating the impact of a project to expand library services to visually impaired users in rural South Africa. Libri. 64(3):247-253.
• De Jager, K., Nassimbeni, M. & Crowster, N. 2014. Developing a new librarian: library research support in South Africa. Information Development 1-8.
• Nassimbeni, Mary & Shabangu, Joy. 2015. Aspirations and contradictions: The role of public libraries in the fight against HIV/AIDS in developing countries, with special reference to Swaziland. Information Development. 31(1): 83-88.
• Nassimbeni, Mary & De Jager, Karin. 2014. Even we can read: Evaluating the impact of a project to expand library services to visually impaired users in rural South Africa. Libri. 64(3):247-253. DOI 10.1515/libri-2014-0018
• De Jager, Karin, Nassimbeni, Mary & Crowster, Nikki. 2014. Developing a new librarian: library research support in South Africa. Information Development 1-8.
• Crowster, Nikki, De Jager, Karin & Nassimbeni, Mary. 2013. Doing it together: effective collaboration in technical and scientific university libraries. Proceedings of the 2013 IATUL Conference. Cape Town.
• Hart, Genevieve and Nassimbeni, Mary. 2013. From boundaries to landscapes in the ecosystem: reconfiguring library services for South African youth. South African journal for libraries and information science, 79 (1): 13-21
• De Jager, Karin and Nassimbeni, Mary. 2012. Giving them what they want and assessing impact: Case studies of public library services in the Western Cape that exemplify the Library and Information Services Transformation Charter. African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science. 2012: 22(1) p.19-30.
• Nassimbeni, M and Desmond, S. 2011. Availability of books as a factor in reading, teaching and learning behaviour in twenty disadvantaged primary schools in South Africa.South African journal of libraries and information science, 77(2): 95-103
• Nassimbeni, M and May, B. 2009. Place, space and time: adult education experiences of learners and librarians in South African public libraries. Libri, vol. 59(1): 23-30
• Mnkeni, N and Nassimbeni, M. 2008. The effectiveness of teacher librarians in primary schools: the experience of the Melani school libraries in the Eastern Cape. Mousaion, 26(2): 1-21
• Nassimbeni, M and Tandwa, N. 2008. Adult education in two public libraries: a case study.South African journal of library and information science, 74(1): 82-91
• De Jager, K, and Nassimbeni, M. 2007. Information literacy in practice: engaging public library workers in rural South Africa. IFLA journal, 33(4): 313-322
• Nassimbeni, Mary and May, Bev. 2006. Adult education in South African public libraries: a profile of activities. South African journal of library and information science, 72(1): 12-19
• Nassimbeni, Mary and May, Bev. 2006. Adult education in South African public libraries: enabling conditions and inhibiting factors. Innovation. 32: 29-40.