Condolences

Passing away of Prof Eggie Gerryts - former Library Director 2005-2014

It was with great sadness that the Department of Library Services learned of the passing of Prof Egbert (Eggie) Gerryts, a former Director, on 5 July 2017.

Eggie Gerryts was born at Humansdorp on 14 February 1939. In 1957 he came as a student to the University of Pretoria, where he was to spend the greater part of his professional life. He started his career in 1961 as Librarian of the Department of Foreign Affairs. In 1963 he became a lecturer at Unisa where he estlabished Information Science as a subject, a first for South Africa. A milestone year was 1971 when he obtained his doctorate from Unisa with a thesis entitled Die ontwerp van ‘n sisteem vir nasionale veiligheidsinligting and was appointed Professor and Head of the Department of Library Science at the University of Pretoria.

In 1975 he was appointed Director of Library Services, in which capacity he implemented far reaching renewal projects to ensure the continued status of the library as a national and international leader in the field of information service. After an extensive overseas visit to modern university libraries in 1981, he implemented the first computerised library system at UP as well as access to networking technology. He transformed the Library Service into a real faculty orientated networking organization.

Prof Gerryts served on several national and international bodies. He served on the Board of the SA Institute of Library and Information Science (SAILIS) and was a member of its Committee for National Information Policy as well as its Committee for Education and Research. In the 1980’s he helped determine standards for the training of library and information workers and acted as leader of a team investigating and evaluating the training programmes in library and information science at South African universities. In recognition of his contributions to the profession, SAIBI awarded him Socius membership. He was a member of the Advisory Council of the Transvaal Provincial Library and Museum Service, was involved with the CSIR’s Institute of Informatics and served on committees investigating libraries at the University of the Free State and the University of the North. Over the years he played an important part in the South African Bibliographic and Information Network (SABINET) and Sabinet Online and served as Chairman of the Board. He figured prominently on the Inter University Library Committee until 1994 and was commissioned by the Department of National Eduation and the Committee of Heads of Universities to establish a formal cooperation agreement between South African university libraries.

Internationally he played a leading role in establishing the DOBIS/LIBIS Users Group and served on the Board from 1982 to 1988.  He had a seat on the Council of the International Association of Technological University Libraies (IATUL) and presented papers on several national and international platforms.

After 33 years dedication to the library and the university, he retired in February 2004.

His retirement did not mark the end of personal challenges for him because in 2007 he was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer (Myeloma). He still persisted with his personal philosophy, namely that the blows dealt by life can be seen either as problems or as challenges. He described his journey with cancer in his book Uit my rugsak (From my backpack) that appeared in 2014.

His erstwhile colleagues remember him for his positive attitude, his sense of duty and dedication, the fearless way in which he lived out his personal values, his leadership and his faith – all the things in his “backpack” that helped him achieve success in life. A scorecard of Eggie Gerryts’ life will show that he was a balanced, well rounded person who lived life meaningfully and to the full, who sowed generously and therefore reaped generously and who professionally as well as personally affected and changed people’s lives for the better.

We honour his memory and our hearts go out to Susan, his 4 children and their spouses and his grandchildren.

On Thursday, 27 July 2017 the Department of Library Services hosted a Memorial Service for Prof Gerryts. The sermon was held in the Merensky 2 Library Auditorium and conducted by Prof André Bartlett and the following former colleagues delivered tributes:

Robert Moropa on behalf of the Department of Library Services; Prof Flip Smit, former Rector on behalf of UP and Mr John Tsebe, former National Librarian on behalf of the library profession. The event was attended by Susan Gerryts and all Prof Gerryts' children and grandchildren as well as family friends and former colleagues.

Mrs Susan Gerryts and Mr Robert Moropa	Mrs Susan Gerryts, Mr Eben Gerryts and      Mr Robert Moropa	Susan and Robert with the 4 Gerryts children From left to right: Anna (daughter in law), Sumarie, Susan, Robert, Ronel, Riette and Eben

 Author - Ms Hilda Kriel

We are extending our deepest sympathy to the following staff members for the loss of their loved ones:-

Leonard and Cindy Daniëls with the passing away of Cindy's father.