By Waaqiah Jaffer
Maria Magdalena Hough ‘Manda Hough (48) from Kimberley is ecstatic over her career path which has seen her win the coveted “Librarian of The Year “ prize for the past year.
The annual competition was hosted by Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) last year on 6 October 2022 at the Radisson Hotel and Conference at OR Tambo airport in Kempton Park, Gauteng.
“My inspiration behind becoming a librarian was influenced by my grandmother; Hester Potgieter, a librarian who I visited in Jeffrey’s Bay as a child.” Hough said.
Before pursuing her tertiary studies Hough and her family resided in Kenilworth until she was 12 years old and then moved to Klisserville in Kimberley. She attended Laerskool Staats President and then proceeded to Hoёrskool Diamantveld.
“Growing up I visited the Africana Library with my family because I have always loved reading”. The Africana Library is one of only two research libraries in South Africa. The oldest book at the library is from the year 1475. Today her favourite book is titled ‘Immer Wes’ by her favourite author Irma Joubert.
“In 1994 I started my four year degree in Library Information Science at Stellenbosch University and completed my studies in 1997. “As a student I completed my practicals and worked at the Kimberley public library as a holiday job every December.
I started my first job in 1998 in Worcester with the Western Cape Provincial Library Services as a regional librarian. There I managed twelve libraries in that region”, Hough explained.
In the year 2000 Hough moved to Kakamas and worked there for thirteen years. She started off as a public librarian and later became the head librarian of nine libraries in the Kai! Garib municipality.
“I met my husband Gert Hough there and we got married in 2005. Towards the end of 2012 we moved to Kimberley. I am currently based at the Africana Library where I am the acting city librarian. I manage all the libraries that fall under the Sol Plaatje municipality”, Hough said.
Despite being a successful librarian for the past 25 years, Hough shared that she had been struggling in her personal life. “A lot of women don’t share this but I do not have any children. I have had four miscarriages and tried IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) with my husband and it didn’t work. Sometimes it’s a strain on your marriage. However, my husband and I have been strong and have the Lord in our lives to give us strength to go forward”.
Hough encourages others to never give up and remain optimistic. She also advises young, upcoming librarians to “be passionate about your job. Being a librarian is a ‘calling”.
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