Congratulations to Ms Keitumetse Betsy Eister for walking away with the LIASA-Sabinet Influential Library Leader award on 06 October 2022 at the LIASA-SCECSAL 2022 Conference. The award aims to recognise the captains of the library and information services (LIS) profession, the powerhouses who are currently inspiring and building a legacy for themselves and all LIS practitioners.

“It gives me great and humbling pleasure to have been honoured by members of my profession and conferred the LIASA-Sabinet Influential Library Leader award. I was recognised as an individual who has notably made an extensive contribution to the profession in the LIS sector. My working life was described as having a proven track record of mentorship and strong evidence of leadership", said Ms Eister.

In her acceptance speech, she expressed her appreciation for her leadership positions over the years. “I have been afforded opportunities to lead purposefully, impacting the lives of fellow Librarians for the better. This award is based on the role I played during the 10 years at the University of the Free State (UFS) LIS. I was also recognised for serving as the founding member of the Cen-Free-Sol Book Fair, which generally contributes to nation-building, developing informed citizens, and specifically contributing to the academic success of our students. Cen-Free-Sol stands for the three central universities, namely, the CUT, UFS, and Sol Plaatje University (SPU), which have signed a Memorandum of Understanding resulting in shared services, resources, and events. The year 2022 marked the second year of the successful Book Fair,” she added.

In conclusion, she thanked all colleagues she led over the years for their support. “I had a vision and took colleagues along in ensuring that we were on the same page and ensured that they played their roles. It has been a challenging but pleasing journey to have worked with people who appreciated your hard work and efforts. I receive the award with a sigh and say, ‘hard work pays’.”