Astronomers' contribution to library and information services in their quest to understand the Universe

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dc.contributor.authorde Young, Theresa
dc.contributor.authorRaju, Jaya
dc.date.accessioned2025-07-17T10:01:39Z
dc.date.available2025-07-17T10:01:39Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.description.abstractAstronomers rely heavily on access to scientific publications to conduct astronomical research leading to discoveries that push the frontiers of our understanding of the Universe. This article argues that astronomers contributed to the development of the astronomical library at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), over a two-hundred-year period of the historical development of astronomy in South Africa. It draws from a qualitative empirical study where data were collected at the SAAO through interviews with experts in the fields of astronomy and library and information services (LIS); the analysis of relevant documents from the SAAO archive; autoethnography; and a review of relevant global literature. The research findings provide the basis for this article’s argument, with three overarching LIS themes presented, giving evidence and contributing a South African and African angle as to how astronomers started and developed astronomical LIS, whilst introducing conversations around what this means for current astronomical LIS.
dc.identifier.apacitationde Young, T., & Raju, J. (2024). Astronomers' contribution to library and information services in their quest to understand the Universe. <i>Library and Information History</i>, 41(1), 21-34. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41540en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationde Young, Theresa, and Jaya Raju "Astronomers' contribution to library and information services in their quest to understand the Universe." <i>Library and Information History</i> 41, 1. (2024): 21-34. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41540en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationde Young, T. & Raju, J. 2024. Astronomers' contribution to library and information services in their quest to understand the Universe. <i>Library and Information History.</i> 41(1):21-34. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41540en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - de Young, Theresa AU - Raju, Jaya AB - Astronomers rely heavily on access to scientific publications to conduct astronomical research leading to discoveries that push the frontiers of our understanding of the Universe. This article argues that astronomers contributed to the development of the astronomical library at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), over a two-hundred-year period of the historical development of astronomy in South Africa. It draws from a qualitative empirical study where data were collected at the SAAO through interviews with experts in the fields of astronomy and library and information services (LIS); the analysis of relevant documents from the SAAO archive; autoethnography; and a review of relevant global literature. The research findings provide the basis for this article’s argument, with three overarching LIS themes presented, giving evidence and contributing a South African and African angle as to how astronomers started and developed astronomical LIS, whilst introducing conversations around what this means for current astronomical LIS. DA - 2024 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 1 J1 - Library and Information History KW - astronomy libraries; library history; astronomy heritage; South African Astronomical Observatory; South Africa KW - ; library history; library history; astronomy heritage; South African Astronomical Observatory; South Africa KW - library history KW - astronomy heritage KW - South African Astronomical Observatory LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2024 T1 - Astronomers' contribution to library and information services in their quest to understand the Universe TI - Astronomers' contribution to library and information services in their quest to understand the Universe UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41540 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/41540
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationde Young T, Raju J. Astronomers' contribution to library and information services in their quest to understand the Universe. Library and Information History. 2024;41(1):21-34. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41540.en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Knowledge and Information Stewardship
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanities
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.sourceLibrary and Information History
dc.source.journalissue1
dc.source.journalvolume41
dc.source.pagination21-34
dc.subjectastronomy libraries
dc.subjectSouth Africa
dc.subjectlibrary history
dc.subjectastronomy heritage
dc.subjectSouth African Astronomical Observatory
dc.titleAstronomers' contribution to library and information services in their quest to understand the Universe
dc.typeJournal Article
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