Visit to the Oxford Centre for Religion and Public Life (OCRPL)

Anna Siwela and Christine Nel visited the Oxford Centre for Religion and Public Life (OCRPL) in the United Kingdom from 23 to 25 November 2019.  The aim of our visit was to acquire professional research support in the study fields of the new Islamic Interfaith Relations MTh and PhD degrees which will be co-offered by the University of Pretoria and OCPRL.

During our visit, we met with Mark NcNaughton, the librarian at OCRPL. We discussed the procedures necessary to assist the prospective students in Islamic studies in accessing library resources and services from both institutions seamlessly – because students are from all over the African continent. We were taken on a hands-on tour of the extensive collection of Islamic sources housed at Pewsey and the classification system was explained to us.

We also had an opportunity to have fruitful discussions with the OCPRL executives involved with the course, namely Patrick Sookhdeo, Caroline Kerslake and Joshva John. The discussions resulted in access to the OCPRL library system and a huge donation of Islamic book sources to be kept at the UP library.

Finally, we had a great opportunity to visit the Middle East Centre, St Antony’s College in Oxford.  We were astonished at the mobile aisle shelving and how the library had been revamped with privately raised funds.  Part of our day was spent at the Bodleian Library for Middle Eastern Studies in Oxford.

As librarians, it was mind-blowing for us to walk on the historic Oxford Campus and to know that there were a total of 101 libraries around us! It was a fantastic experience, and we were privileged to attend  the morning devotions, where colleagues shared opportunities and challenges faced by the world in interfaith relations. We couldn’t leave the UK without getting a birds-eye view of London from the famous London Eye. Alll in all this visit was a hugely valuable learning experience.

Oxford Centre for Religion and Public Life Library

Ashmolean Museum in Oxford