I joined the Academic Information Service in June 1994. During Staff Orientation we visited every branch library within the AIS. The moment I stepped into the Veterinary Library I knew I was home! In March 1997 I was transferred to this “farm haven” with its welcoming green gardens and friendly personnel.

The weekend before my starting date, disaster struck. Armed robbers broke into the Arnold Theiler building, took computers, video machines and worst of all, our servers. So the whole network and the reference databases (CDs) were lost. But this did not stop our service - that Monday we continued serving all students and staff, and that was a very important lesson for me since joining the staff at Onderstepoort. One must be creative, use initiative and innovation, no matter the circumstances. The show must go on.

Tertia in one of her many offices

During the last 10 years, I moved a few times to different locations within the Library, experienced 3 building projects, the resignation of a few colleagues and the appointment of others. At first I was the Information Specialist for Companion Animal Medicine, Pharmacology & Toxicology, Veterinary Tropical Diseases, and Veterinary Pathology. Later I passed Companion Animal Medicine to Erica and gained Paraclinical Sciences, Public Health and UPBRC.

In July 2000 Erica and I attended the 8th ICML (International Congress on Medical Librarianship) in London. I presented a paper at the session of the 3rd ICAHIS (International Conference of Animal Health Information Specialists) which was held at the same time. We also visited libraries and institutions in London and Edinburgh. Networking at the conference was important as I’ve met colleagues in veterinary libraries from all over the world. These colleagues proved to be a big asset in exchanging knowledge, information and friendship. I also attended and participated in the 5th ICAHIS hosted by ourselves in 2005, renewing our contact.

Throughout my years here at OP I gained friends, not only colleagues, and knowledge, not only information.