Dr Collence Takaingenhamo Chisita, a researcher, lecturer, author and editor currently based at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) in the Department of Information Systems; talks about and explores the topical issue of unhygienic practices.
Currently he is a secretary for the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA -Indigenous Matters) section. Dr Chisita has also presented papers at local and international conferences in Africa and abroad. He has and continues to work with many universities inside and outside on matters relating to research, teaching and learning relating to Information Sciences.
Dr Chisita has written and edited books, journal articles, book chapters and produced conference papers and participated and presented on webinars relating to topical issues on libraries and related institutions and the emerging technologies.
Dr Chisita, speaks on being one of the authors of the book called: Library and Media Roles in Information Hygiene and Managing Information.
He explains that the book explores the concept of information hygiene when citizens worldwide are deluged with an avalanche of information.
“The book also identifies challenges and opportunities for information science practitioners and media institutions in the fight against information disorder and explores the unhygienic practices in the information value chain. It is a premium reference source for libraries and related institutions. It covers information regulation, digital literacy, and records management. This reference work is ideal for librarians, computer scientists, researchers, academicians, scholars, practitioners, instructors, and students,” he said.
He indicated that the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and infodemic has resulted in the post-truth era, where information disorder clouds the infosphere, resulting in an ambience of uncertainty compounded by the Coroinfodeluge.
“The book is a collaborative work with co-authors from leading universities in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Swaziland. The book explores topical issues in information management during the COVID-19 pandemic and infodemic. It demonstrates a unique writing style as it incorporates discipline-specific jargon that stimulates the mind,” he added.
He relayed that the book is essential because it proffers praxis-oriented solutions to information management practitioners and educators to avoid the pitfalls of clutter.
“Premier reference sources are essential resources for libraries, academicians, researchers, professionals, practitioners, instructors, and undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students,” he divulged.
Besides this book, Dr Chisita, notes being one of the authors on: Exploring the Relationship Between Media, Libraries, and Archives. He is the author of Cooperation and Collaboration Initiatives for Libraries and Related Institutions. He is also one of the authors of the book, Handbook of Research on Records and Information Management Strategies for Enhanced Knowledge Coordination.
He commented that his academic work resonates with DUT’s ENVISION2030 strategy concerning leveraging new knowledge and solutions for societal impact and sustainability in terms of practical knowledge generation that crisscross disciplines.
“My work contributes to the DUT ENVISION2030 strategy through collaborative knowledge production to realise the development goals of the country, region and the world region,” he stressed.
In terms of his research work done, Dr Chisita said that his research focus more on libraries and related memory and knowledge institutions, Open Access, libraries and hypermedia seduction, Knowledge Management, Digital libraries and pandemics, infodemics and tridemic, spatial configurations and libraries and resource sharing, among others.
His advice to first time authors at DUT is to have an open mind and be willing to learn from others.
“One should be imbued with an acute sense of intellectual humility, the ability to work with others, the mental willingness to work with others, and the need to share,” he expressed.
Going forward, his future goals is to see his students and co-workers becoming more engaged in research that will catapult the LIS discipline to a higher pedestal.
“Traditional perspectives of librarianship have viewed it as an auxiliary discipline and profession that takes a back seat to other occupations or plays a subordinate role to them. However, the 21st century is a highly informative and knowledge-driven dispensation, and this provides opportunities to change the narrative and reposition LIS as a critical driver of sustainable development goals in the future,” he said.
Pictured: Dr Collence Takaingenhamo Chisita
