Member Spotlight
Andiswa Mfengu
What attracted you to information science as a profession and field of study?
My background is in science but after my first degree I realized I loved working with people more. I like to think of it as the profession choose me, as I went on to study postgraduate diploma in LIS that’s when I fell in love with libraries and now I’m doing my PhD.
In what area of information science do you practice, teach or do research? What about that area of practice/study made you choose it?
I am currently lecturing so I do both teaching and research. It’s the idea of us living in a knowledge economy and the role that information practitioners play in supporting socioeconomic development of citizens.
Why did you join ASIS&T?
For networking and staying up to date with new research and trends. Work towards the development of the African/South African chapter.
What advice would you give to young people contemplating information science as a potential profession or field of study?
It is an amazing field and its dynamic, it’s definitely not what it was many years ago, so if one wants to keep learning and exploring then it’s the perfect field because it multidisciplinary.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge for those working in information science in the next decade?
Change management as the changes brought by ICTs are necessitating information professionals to re-invent themselves to remain relevant