Librarian: Hedwich Meyer
Hedwich Meyer is the head librarian at the National Library of Namibia. This means that she is the highest-ranking librarian in the entire country.
Meyer has a diploma in library and information science as well as a bachelor’s degree in information science, which she obtained through the University of South Africa. These degrees help a person understand what it entails to be a librarian and equips them with the knowledge to do the job effectively. It is not necessary to have more than one of these qualifications, but it does help, which is why she is pursuing a further degree in lifelong learning and community education, she said.
In 2003, Meyer started working as a library assistant at the ministerial library services. She travelled across the country to work in different regions as a senior librarian in community libraries. Only in 2020 did she return to head the National Library of Namibia.
According to her, a librarian must be able to serve a large and diverse number of people. “You must be able to meet user needs and be a strong communicator,” she said.
It is also important to adapt to the changing technologies. The old version of libraries that most people think of cannot exist in the modern world. Meyer explained that a librarian must “be innovative with changing times and technologies”.
Due to this, she spends a large amount of time cataloging library materials to make sure that they are also available online and easily retrievable for anyone looking for them. On top of this, Meyer is responsible for delivering documents in and outside of Namibia to make sure that those in need of library materials have access to them.
“The most important thing about my job is spreading knowledge. A librarian is in charge of a lot of administrative duties, but spreading knowledge is the most important part,” she said.
Meyer has a diploma in library and information science as well as a bachelor’s degree in information science, which she obtained through the University of South Africa. These degrees help a person understand what it entails to be a librarian and equips them with the knowledge to do the job effectively. It is not necessary to have more than one of these qualifications, but it does help, which is why she is pursuing a further degree in lifelong learning and community education, she said.
In 2003, Meyer started working as a library assistant at the ministerial library services. She travelled across the country to work in different regions as a senior librarian in community libraries. Only in 2020 did she return to head the National Library of Namibia.
According to her, a librarian must be able to serve a large and diverse number of people. “You must be able to meet user needs and be a strong communicator,” she said.
It is also important to adapt to the changing technologies. The old version of libraries that most people think of cannot exist in the modern world. Meyer explained that a librarian must “be innovative with changing times and technologies”.
Due to this, she spends a large amount of time cataloging library materials to make sure that they are also available online and easily retrievable for anyone looking for them. On top of this, Meyer is responsible for delivering documents in and outside of Namibia to make sure that those in need of library materials have access to them.
“The most important thing about my job is spreading knowledge. A librarian is in charge of a lot of administrative duties, but spreading knowledge is the most important part,” she said.
