The CSIR’s Port Elizabeth-based textile library collection is available to be given as a donation to an industry related organisation in the region.

The textile collection is unique on the African continent. It comprises 2 800 books, 22 theses/dissertations and 100+ journal titles covering textile fibres, as well as chemistry and engineering subject areas. It also includes a complete set of reports from the South African Wool and Textile Research Institute, which covers mainly wool, mohair and cotton and, in some cases, their blends with synthetic fibres.

The collection is of national importance as there is currently a reversal in the textile industry from synthetic fibres to natural fibres. Furthermore, the Department of Trade and Industry and other organisations are presently developing and funding initiatives involving sustainable clusters and production pipelines around local natural fibres, beginning with cotton, and which should be extended to other natural fibres, such as wool and mohair. However, the library collection is no longer relevant to the CSIR as its research interest has moved to composites.

The collection will be utilised optimally if it remains in Port Elizabeth as the Eastern Cape is regarded as the natural fibre hub of South Africa, for a number of reasons. All mohair in South Africa is being produced within a 300 km radius of Port Elizabeth and the Eastern Cape is the leading producer of wool in South Africa. In addition, the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) is the only university in South Africa, and one of very few in Africa, that offers postgraduate courses in textile science. Unfortunately, the NMU is not in a position to house the collection.

The donation will be subject to an access arrangement being in place that will ensure that the collection remains accessible to staff from the CSIR, higher education institutes and industry related organisations.

Organisations that are interested in taking over the ownership and management of the textile library collection are encouraged to contact Madelein van Heerden, Portfolio Manager: CSIR Information Services at mvanheerden@csir.co.za or on 012 841 3480 before 3 April 2019. Expressions of interest should be accompanied by a detailed company profile.