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The project has begun… On Tuesday we were warmly greeted by Prof. Theo Bothma, Head of the Department of Information Science at the University of Pretoria, School of Information Science. Over coffee he explained a bit more about the project we will be working on. Currently, IFLA’s Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) is working on the data collection for the 2007 World Report. This will be the fourth time that IFLA/FAIFE will be publishing a World Report on the state of intellectual freedom and libraries worldwide. Similar to the 2005 report, this year’s report will again address the following themes: Anti-terror legislation and libraries, Women and freedom to access to information, and HIV/AIDS awareness and libraries. The data collection process consists of questionnaires that are distributed to IFLA members, National Libraries, and Library Associations worldwide. Our job will be to assist in the data collection process by conducting Internet research and verifying data on the questionnaires. With the outstanding search strategies that all of the SOIS students have acquired thru education and experience, the project is going quite well.

Everyone we have met here at the University has been very kind and welcoming. The faculty and staff at the School of Information Science are amazing and have helped us to get settled in quite quickly.