PurposeTo describe some first‐hand experiences of the tsunami and earthquakes which hit the region of Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand at the end of 2004.Design/methodology/approachA personal reflection shared by a librarian gives special meaning to first‐hand experiences and how libraries as well as people are faring.FindingsCommunication around the globe was frantic as it became clear that this was a huge catastrophe with great human loss.Originality/valueThis report is of interest to all those interested in how the environment can affect humanity.

Thirty six strains of yeasts isolated from some fruits and fruit products were identified using their biochemical and morphological characteristics. These yeasts belonged to six genera viz: Candida (Sixteen strains), Kloeckera (nine strains), Hanseniaspora (three strains), Pichia (four strains), Saccharomyces (three strains) and Tomlopsis (one strain). The most predominant species was Candida krusei (Ten strains).