Somer/Herfs

Summer/Autumn

2012

In this issue: / In hierdie uitgawe:

___________________________________________

If you have any feedback, regarding this newsletter, article ideas or suggestions,

please contact the editorial staff:

Indien jy enige terugvoer, artikels,

voorstelle het vir of oor hierdie nuusbrief,

kontak asseblief die redaksie:

Carin Bezuidenthout

Articles/

Artikels

carin.bezuidenhout@up.ac.za

or

Diana Gerritsen

Design and Layout /

Ontwerp en Uitleg

diana.gerritsen@up.ac.za

Birthdays

May this birthday be the beginning of the best years of your life.

Verjaarsdae

Mag hierdie verjaardag die begin wees van die beste jare in jou lewe.

Staff news Personeelnuus

Welcome to the following new staff members / Welkom aan die volgende nuwe personeel

Ms Gcobisa Xalabile (Faculty Library  Theology & Social Sciences)

Ms Shirley Shai (Faculty Library  Theology & Social Sciences)

Mnr Errol Keet (Research Commons)

Mnr J Swart (Research Commons)

Congratulations to ....... / Baie geluk aan .......

Elsabe Olivier, who was named 2nd Runner-up to the 2011 Librarian of the Year at the LIASA Annual Conference held in East London.

Anneline van der Gryp met die geboorte van haar kleindogter

Thea Kilian met die geboorte van haar kleinseun

Diana Gerritsen met die verlowing haar dogter Janie

Ivy Khangale with the birth of her baby girl named Zwivhuya Mpho.

Robert Moropa with the marriage of his son Lebo

Leonora Wydeman met die verlowing van haar dogter Hanelie

Susan Marsh met die geboorte van haar kleindogter

Soekie Swanepoel met die verlowing haar seun Gerhard

We bid farewell to the following staff members / Ons sê totsiens aan die volgende personeellede

Mrs Marie Swanepoel - Afgetree

Mnr Simon Grimbeek - Afgetree

Mnr Nic Maré - Afgetree

Mev Anneline Viljoen  - Afgetree

Mev Heila Maré - Bedank

Ms Ujala Satgoor - Resigned

Mr David Mhlangu - Resigned

Our condolences to ........ / Ons innige simpatie aan ........

Estelle Grobler (Medies) wie se vader oorlede is.

Elliot Matukane wie se vader oorlede is.

Maggie Moropane (Groenkloof) wie se vader oorlede is.

Anastasie Ntuli wie se broer oorlede is.

Thomas Mathonsi's father in law passed away.

Elsabé Olivier wie se skoonmoeder oorlede is.

Isaac Mashego's brother passed away.

Junior Baloyi's brother passed away.

January Mokgonoane's brother-in-law passed away.

Het jy geweet .......

Wanneer koffiesaad geplant word, neem dit vyf jaar voordat verbruikbare vrugte geoes kan word.

Did you know.......

The Boston University Bridge (on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts) is the only place in the world where a boat can sail under a train driving under a car driving under an airplane.

Voorspoed en sukses vir 2012 aan al ons lesers! Mag ons almal produktief en effektief wees hierdie jaar. 

Aan die begin van ‘n jaar ervaar mens gewoonlik gemengde gevoelens van opwinding en onsekerheid oor wat alles voorlê vir die komende 12 maande. Daar is ‘n bekende aanhaling deur ‘n onbekende persoon wat lui “Some people dream of success... while others wake up and work hard at it”. Laat dit ons almal se voorneme wees vir hierdie jaar.

Onthou asseblief om alle nuus oor projekte, besoekers, suksesse, besonderse gebeurtenisse ens in die Biblioteek vir ons te stuur, ons plaas dit graag in die Nuusbrief.

Groete van die Redaksie

Diana Gerritsen en Carin Bezuidenhout

Prosperity and success for 2012 to all our readers! May all of us be productive and effective this year.

At the start of a new year one usually has mixed feelings of excitement and uncertainty for the coming 12 months. There is a well known quotation by an unknown author that says “Some people dream of success... while others wake up and work hard at it”. Let’s all make this our intention for 2012.

Please remember to send us your news about projects, visitors, success stories, special events etc in the Library, we will gladly put it in the Newsletter.

Regards from the Editors

Diana Gerritsen and

Carin Bezuidenhout

University of Pretoria Library Services (UPLS) today and in the future

The new year provides us with the opportunity to review (i.e. look back) and to look ahead.  This is the time used by many people to reflect about their high and low lights and based on the outcome of this reflection exercise they look forward and make resolutions focussing mostly on improving themselves.

Review and Reflection

As far as the UPLS is concern 2011 was, on the whole, a good year.  This was the year during which:

·         We spent over R500 000.00 on staff training and development programmes/projects.

·         Four of our staff members attended the Carnegie Research Grant Academies.

·         Two staff members left for the USA for more than 6 weeks of internship programme.

·         We held two Leadership academies which were attended by forty librarians from across South Africa.  Eight of these came from the UPLS.

·         The Carnegie Corporation of New York facilities (i.e. the Research Commons and the Leadership Training Centre) were officially opened.

·         Etc., etc., etc.

Looking ahead

I have learned that leaders of companies that consistently perform well do not settle for or spend too much time on their organizations successes. 

Instead of dwelling on the UPLS successes I have decided to focus on the Vision of the UPLS which is:

“UPLS distinguishes itself as a global leader through redefining academic librarianship.”

This vision tells me the following:

·         The UPLS will not allow itself to be the prisoner of its past or history.

·         The UPLS will rather focus on identifying and understanding the needs of its users and gearing itself for providing for these needs.

·         The UPLS will focus on emerging trends in order to proactively make the necessary adjustments that will enable it to thrive in the changed or new environment.

May I take this opportunity to thank each one of you for your dedication and commitment.  Without your hard work we would not be regarded as a leading academic library.  Our challenge now is to rise above the standards that are continuously being raised by the changing environment.  The UPLS cannot afford to be complacent and to relax.  The UPLS exists in a dynamic, fast-placed and unforgiving environment.

Robert Moropa

Director

When the LIASA Conference for 2011 was announced in 2010, it seemed so far away, but the year flew by and finally the departure date came. The flights to East London were fully booked and many attendees missed their flights because of problems and bad communication at the airport.  Consequently many people were delayed and missed the Pre-conference sessions and the official opening of the conference. But when everyone was finally there it all became a matter of the past and we were back in business so to speak.

It was wonderful to meet colleagues from other places.  The entire week was all hard work during the day and a little bit of fun was added in the evening to spice up the event. There was the Cheese and Wine Cocktail, the President’s Networking Forum Welcome Function (traditional welcome), a Fun Run and the Gala Dinner. The conference was attended by 734 people, of which 57 were sponsored by the Department of Arts and Culture.

Ms Naomi Haasbroek, the LIASA President gave a warm welcome to all the professionals in the LIS sector from all the corners of South Africa at the opening ceremony on Tuesday 04^th October 2011.

Dr J Paahla, Deputy Minister of the Department of Arts and culture (DAC) was the keynote speaker. His view is that LIS professionals should keep their skills and knowledge updated. He also encouraged us to find ways to attract people to use library services especially in this technologically advanced era and to make ourselves relevant by using network tools like facebook, twitter etc.

There were presenters from different interest groups and all Branch Executive and Interest Group Committees attended a most rewarding Leadership Forum and Training session. Here they discussed branch challenges and the way forward. 

The Presidential Award for branches went to the Gauteng North branch, who received a trophy and a cheque to the amount of R5 000.00. The branch also received a R3 000.00 cheque for reaching the 20% target which was set for the Membership Campaign.

The competition for the 2011 LIASA Librarian of the Year Award was tough, with seven (7) well deserving candidates all hoping to walk away with the prize.  Elsabe Olivier, the Gauteng North candidate made the branch and UP proud by winning the 3^rd prize, receiving a trophy and a cheque to the value of R10 000.00.

The President-Elect, Ms Ujala Satgoor, the President Ms Naomi Haasbroek and all the speakers kept on encouraging members to become activists for their profession and to advocate for the LIS sector and the Association. Their message was that we should make our career visible to the stakeholders and our communities and put ourselves on the map.

Are you an activist for Librarianship?  The attendees from UP (Ujala Satgoor, Martha de Waal, Danie Malan, Sindy Hlabangwane, Ditebogo Mogakane, David Mahlangu, Mmakgoshi Reetseng, Elsabe Olivier, Sunette Steynberg and Marguerite Nel) are trying their best.

Proudlly UP with the Gauteng North Librarian of the Year, Ms Elsabe Olivier @ the Gala Dinner

For more information about the conference and papers presented at the conference click on: http://www.liasa.org.za/node/706

Submitted by: Mmakgoshi Reetseng, David Mahlangu, Sindy Hlabangwane, Tebogo Mogakane and Elsabe Olivier.

Book Donation by the Austrian Embassy

The Department of Modern European Languages enjoys an excellent long term relationship with the Austrian Embassy in Pretoria. The department receives support in the form of donations of materials, presentations on Austria and exhibitions in the foyer of the Humanities Building. Recently, the Embassy donated 80 books to the Library.

The subjects range from Austrian mission history in South Africa, Schrödinger on Quantum mechanics, various aspects of the history of Austria as far back as the Middle Ages, to recent social and political issues relating to  Austria, Europe,  architecture, music, psychology, political sciences and cultural diplomacy. About 50% of the books are in English, the rest in German.

This book donation was handed over by the Second Head of Mission, Mr. Martin Gärtner at a function held on 3 June 2011 in the library. The donation was received by the management team of the library namely the Director of Library Services, Mr. Robert Moropa, and the deputy directors, Hilda Kriel, Ujala Satgoor and Heila Pienaar. The Faculty Library Humanities was represented by the manager, Julene Vermeulen and the information specialist Elsa Coertze. Also present were Dr. Stephan Mühr, acting HOD of the Department of Modern European Languages, and Prof. Hennie Stander, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Humanities.

Dr. Mühr mentioned that in April 2011, the Egyptian writer Tarek Eltayeb, who has been living in Vienna since 1986, had given an author reading at UP, and donated the very first books in Arabian languages to the Library. Additionally, a lively collaboration of UP with the University of Vienna is mainly exploited by students of the Faculty of Theology.

In receiving this donation Mr. Moropa said that the Department of Library Services was grateful to have friends like the Austrian Embassy.

 Mr. Martin Gärtner expressed the Embassy’s willingness to continue donations on an annual basis, according to particular needs.

Contributed by Stephan Mühr and Elsa Coertze

At the beginning of June this year I had the opportunity and privilege to attend the e-Learning Seminar. The seminar was sponsored by SWETS and organised and presented by an organizing committee consisting of Ujala Satgoor, Soekie Swanepoel, Chrissie Boeyens and Martha de Waal.

The program which stretched over two days was packed with very interesting, informative and thought provoking presentations.  I would like to share some of my experiences of this seminar with you in a brief summary.

The keynote address was delivered by Pieter Geldenhuys. He introduced himself as a futurist and he outlined recent developments and future trends in information and communication technologies. He also spoke about social trends and our social interaction with technology and how the Internet started. Did you know that e-mail started in 1985? New developments to expect will be what is called ‘augmented reality’. An example of this is the future use of holograms when communicating with each other. He also predicted that by 2020 libraries as we know it will either have ceased to exist or have changed dramatically due to new information communication technologies.

The second presentation was by Prof. Wendy Kilfoil. She is the director of the UP’s Dept. for Education Innovation which runs the click-up system. She outlined new trends in mobile learning for students.

Robert Jacobs from SWETS discussed trends in e-books. We learned that in 2006 the company Springer started to make e-books available.

Melvin Kaabwe from the book store Van Schaik spoke about the role that bookshops and publishers can play in delivering e-book solutions to students within an e-learning environment.

Pierre de Villiers from the company AOSIS presented on the very relevant subject of open access for scholarly publishing.

Dorette Snyman from UNISA’s topic was matching e-books and e-learning at the UNISA Library.

Joanne King described the e-learning environment at the WITS Library, and mentioned the advantages of having wireless hotspots in an academic library.

Samantha Bennett from the SAWIS Information Centre delivered a very interesting presentation on the establishment of a virtual library for the South African Wine Industry. The biggest challenges that were encountered in this venture were the availability of resources and adequate server space.

A most dynamic presentation was given by Barry Bramley. He pointed out that different generations learn differently. This is due to the fact that different generations (age groups) have different values and these differences can have a profound effect on our worldview.

Bettie de Kock of UPLS discussed the game which she developed as part of game-based learning, to help students utilise our library’s resources.

On day two Prof. Derek Keats of WITS talked about scholarship in a connected world. He stated that we have to adapt to a world of information abundance. This was discussed in light of the following four themes: Ubiquitous computing which is enabled by cloud computing and devices like smart phones and tablets; Social and academic research; Research data that has to be accessible; The free and open access to information versus secret science.

He further pointed out that resource sharing technologies make it easier for researchers to tap into information resources.

Ria Groenewald of UPLS discussed current trends in mobile technologies which are available for use in academic libraries.

Kosie Eloff, also from UP, discussed mobile devices in education, e.g. the use of the Amazon kindle e-book reader and the Apple iPad media tablet.

Prof. Theo Bothma outlined the Masters in Information Technology program which is currently offered at UP. He touched on the changing role of librarians, stating that librarians have to keep up with new information technologies and trends. Information literacy is becoming more important while the phenomenon of embedded librarians in projects/departments will become more necessary in the future.

These are some of my impressions, although it merely scratches the surface. I thoroughly enjoyed attending this seminar. I think it was very well organized and very informative. The organising committee of UPLS did an excellent job!! Thank you for this opportunity. 

Contributed by Gerna van Veelen

Library Technical Services

IGeLU Conference and ExLibris Systems Seminar, Haifa, Israel 11-16 September 2011

Anette Lessing attended the 2011 IGeLU conference and training seminar which was hosted by the University of Haifa, Israel from 11-16 September 2011. The conference was attended by 418 participants from 34 countries worldwide.

IGeLU is the International User Group for ExLibris products which include PRIMO/PRIMO Central, SFX Link Resolver, MetaLib and bX. These products were implemented at the University of Pretoria Library for the Research Portal as well as the quick linking options to scholarly e-resources via the portal, vendor databases and Google Scholar.

The bX™  Recommender is a new service that taps into the power of the networked scholarly community to generate recommendations based on article usage

The IGeLU Chair mentioned in his welcome address that we must not destroy what has become precious to us (the book) - due to technology.   The keynote address by Marshall Breeding titled “The New Frontier: Libraries seek new Technology Platforms for End-user Discovery, Collection Management, and Preservation” was very informative and touched on various relevant technologies for libraries.  He also mentioned that Next Generation systems must serve as platforms to connect external systems as well as to deliver internal functionality and that “Library Services Platform” might be a successor term to the Integrated Library System. Breeding’s Presentation is available at I:\AIS\Share\IGeLU\IGeLU-New-Generation-of-Library-Technology.pptx

Valuable information was gained by attending the Conference; especially for the PRIMO, MetaLib and SFX e-resources link resolver sessions. The new SFX versions will have enhanced support for e-book target linking and inclusion in the SFX A-Z Index.

The SFX training sessions also provided valuable information on the new database structure that affects the Knowledge Base and back end administration and management.  PRIMO sessions included system maintenance and experiences by other Institutions.

During the Rosetta digital preservation system presentations it became clear that adherence to the Open Archives Initiative interoperability standards and international standards for metadata is important.  More on Rosetta at I:\AIS\Share\IGeLU\Rosetta presentation e-steering.pptx

Haifa Library from the passage

Haifa Library left wing

Remember to set your mail to English!

Contributed by Anette Lessing

News from Special Collections: Recent exhibitions

Special Collections celebrated Mandela Day by mounting a display portraying the life and achievements of Nelson Mandela.  The exhibition, which was on display in the foyer of Africana, included posters with inspiring and motivational quotes by this icon of courage and statesmanship.

Posters from Karina Turok’s book: Life and Soul, portraits of women who move South Africa are used as theme for our exhibition in celebration of women’s day this year.  Also on display are a variety of books highlighting the contributions to society made by women of South Africa.

Card Catalogue Project:

Still going strong in Special Collections is the card catalogue conversion project, commonly known as the Heidi Project because of Heidi’s enthusiastic participation. The project was started in May 2008. In August 2011 we had cause for celebration because we had reached the 20 000 mark. There are 36 000 volumes in the old Africana collection, which means we are now more than halfway. The 20 000 volumes now visible to users via Google and UPExplore mean a lot more work for us at the information desk but hey, it’s for a good cause.

Contributed by Pieter & Katrien 

Knock-knock Gauteng South can we come in?

During May this year Dr. David Phylar, Project Coordinator of the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra visited the South African Music Collections during the recent season of performances of the opera Winnie in the State Theatre. He was accompanied by Tania Smith, the Orchestra Manager, and Alison Lowell, the Principal Oboist.

Mimi Coertse, the South African soprano who performed in Europe for twenty years, donated all her sound recordings to the South African Music Collections in 2006. This donation consisted of all Miss Coertse’s performances throughout her career. It took the staff of the South African Music Collections in collaboration with the Department of Education Innovation at the University of Pretoria five years to transfer all the recordings from tape to CD format. This mammoth task was completed last month (July). The CD’s are now housed in the Mimi Coertse room and are in the process of being catalogued on the UP Portal.

On Thursday the 11^th of August, SABC 3 and Mimi Coertse visited the South African Music Collections to shoot scenes in the Mimi Coertse room for a documentary film about her. Eridine Roux, the curator of the Collections, interviewed Miss Coertse and provided information about the Collections while the cameras were rolling. This was the third time that the Collections were featured in a television programme.  SABC TV previously made documentaries about the Collections for the programmes Geraas (SABC2) and Kunskafee (Kyknet). The Collections have also been featured in radio programmes on RSG and Radio Pretoria.

Contributed by Eridine Roux

These were the words of LIASA Gauteng North members as they requested permission to take part in the LIASA Gauteng South Branch’s year-end celebrations.   Five UPLS staff members and the national LIASA Secretary, Ms Martha de Waal, accompanied the LIASA President-Elect, Ms Ujala Satgoor, who was invited to speak at the year-end function about The activist librarian.

 Gauteng South Branch Executive Committee with Ujala Satgoor

Ms Satgoor once again reminded us that librarians have a crucial role to play in developing the minds of our children. We should take information to communities, stop complaining about the statistics of learners failing and make a difference. We need to understand our communities and the socio-economic factors impacting on them. We need to direct the future of LIASA by active participation and strategic input.  We must engage in strategic leadership, get involved, network and improve our service standards. We have to keep our fellow colleagues motivated, be vocal, be enthusiastic, curious and take ownership of the library profession.

The highlight of the day was the handover of the winning trophy to the 2011 LIASA Librarian of the Year, Ms Julia Paris (Photo left: Julia Paris (2011), Denise Nicholson (2010) and Busi Dlamini (2009)). This award has now been won by the Gauteng South Branch, for 3 consecutive years and they are determined to win it again in 2012. That is a serious challenge to all other branches. Are we going to let it happen?

It has been a fun networking day during which attendees also participated in an unusual 'chuckle exercise', led by Ms Paris.  The meeting ended with a well organised braai and a toast to seal the celebration.

Contributed by by Martha de Waal

and Mmakgoshi Reetseng

The Stellenbosch University held their annual Library Symposium on 17 and 18 November 2011. The Symposium was titled Transformers: Research Libraries in the 21st Century.

The following is a summary of the most notable presentations.

Prof Arnold van Zyl, Vice-Rector (Research) of the Stellenbosch University and the holder of 69 patents opened the Symposium. His key note address focussed on the globalization, individualization and localization of Higher Education.

Dr. Andrew Kaniki, Executive of Knowledge Fields Development (KFD) at the NRF gave an overview on the research landscape of South Africa. He described the PhD as a driver and emphasized the importance of the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI). Currently SA has 96 awarded and 83 operating research chairs.

Ms. Baerbel Eckelmann, Research Manager of the QS Intelligence Unit explained the QS World University Ranking process. Some of the challenges in the rankings are having a clear purpose and recognizing diversity.

The QS Ranking system recognizes the following indicators:

Academic reputation (40%)
Employer reputation (10%)
Faculty student (20%)
International Faculty (5%)
International students (5%)
Citations per faculty (20%)

Ms Eckelmann views ranking as a bridge providing connections between students, parents, stakeholders, employers, policy makers and research funders.  For more information go to: http://iu.qs.com/

Mr. James G. Neal, Vice-President for Information Services and University Librarian of the Columbia University, USA, had a virtual presentation on the changing role of the library. Neal has very strong views on information literacy. He regards 1 hour sessions as “foolish” and questions the value of these sessions. He asks whether it really makes a difference. He said that we should market our products and services more effective and we must go to the clients and visit them in their labs and their own faculties.

Said Taha, Regional Director MEA & CIS at Elsevier Science described new trends in the research landscape with the Elsevier SciVal and Strata products. His presentation emphasized the importance of collaboration between institutions.

Prof. Johann Groenewald, Graduate School project leader, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Stellenbosch University gave a very interesting and lively presentation on postgraduate school models.
He focused on the Humbold Graduate School and the US Graduate School. Prof. Groenewald said that PhDs must be accredited in the graduate schools and that graduate schools serve as a coordinate umbrella for postgraduate support. The African Doctoral Academy (ADA) at US provides generic research methodology and soft skills workshops.

Dr. Buhle Mbambo-Thata, Executive Director of Library Services at UNISA demonstrated what UNISA library has achieved in the virtual research environment and their success with mobile services.

Dr. Alma Swan, Consultant in Scholarly Communication and a Director of Key Perspectives Ltd, UK focused on the value of open access. Her virtual presentation was followed by another virtual presentation by Mr. Scott Brandt, Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Library Science, Purdue University Libraries. He spoke about their library’s data management support services. His team has specific specialist skills in data curation.

Prof. Ezra Ondari-Okemwa, Senior Lecturer and Head, Department of Library and Information Science, University of Fort Hare strongly advocates library education especially the training of cataloguers.

Mr. Robin Green, Deputy Librarian, University of Warwick UK’s presentation on their library’s research commons was very interesting.

The Wolfson Research Exchange developed in a researcher-to-researcher area and over 700 events were presented in the Research Exchange during 2010.

We believe we should follow-up the principles applied in the Wolfson Research Exchange for our own Research Commons.

RLUK Research Libraries UK is an umbrella organisation for UK research libraries. RLUK's vision is that the UK should have the best research library support in the world. Their mission is to work with their members and with their partners, nationally and internationally, to shape and achieve the vision of the modern research library. Their website is worth visiting.

InCites, a Thomson Reuters citation analysis tool was applied by Mr. Philip Purnell, Strategic Business Manager, Thomson Reuters to explain the different research output reports. These reports can assist university faculties in identifying crucial issues in their research performance and performers. We are subscribed to this product and find it most helpful.

Since the US Library officially opened its Research Commons on Friday 19th November it was appropriate to also focus on Carnegie projects running in libraries.

Ms Fiona Still-Drewett, Principal Faculty Librarian, Rhodes University presented an interesting paper on the value of participating in the Carnegie African Libraries project. It was also appropriate that Dr. Rookaya Bawa, Program Officer for Higher Education and Libraries in Africa, and Manager of the African Libraries Project, International Program, Carnegie Corporation of New York, USA followed with a Centennial Film on the legacy of Andrew Carnegie.

We’ve identified the following key points during the symposium: 

o    Raising awareness of our services and products is our responsibility (marketing).  This will lead to better consumers and better research.

o    Recognizing diversity of differences in fields, subjects, faculties, levels needs, etc is important.

o    Collaboration is not an option, but a necessity. Both inter-disciplinary and internationally.

o    Benchmarking & rankings is necessary for comparison and excellence, not competition.

o    A lot was said about data management, metrics and open access and our role in this regard.

o    Surprisingly, it was announced that the prestigious Johns Hopkins University in the USA has completely done away with printed matter.  UNISA has done the same at their Business School.

This symposium focused on postgraduate research and research.

Open Access Event @ the University of Pretoria!

The Department of Library Services proudly hosted an exciting programme with the theme “Ask me about Open Access“ for the 5th global Open Access Week celebrations. This year’s event was presented on Thursday 27 October in the new Library Auditorium, level 3, in the Merensky Library, Hatfield campus.

The programme included:

·         The symbolic signing of the Berlin Declaration on Open Access in the Sciences and Humanities by Prof Sarah Burton, the Vice-Principal of Research and Postgraduate Education.

·         A presentation by Susan Veldsman, director of the Academy of Science of South Africa’s (ASSAf) Scholarly publishing unit in Pretoria, on Scholarly journals: what are we going to do and how?

·         A presentation by Prof Pierre de Villiers CEO of Open Journals Publishing (http://www.openjournals.net/), the leading Open Access journal publisher in South Africa on Authorship in Scholarly Publishing, titled Authorship in scholarly publishing : not so straightforward after all!

·         Three Open Access journals edited by University of Pretoria editors were also launched, namely Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie edited by Prof Kobus Eloff, South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences edited by Prof Steve Koch and Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering edited by Prof Gerhard Heymann.

·         The University of Pretoria Sparky Award video winner for Best Live Action, Breaking News, Open Access wave sweeps world, Josua Goodman from the Department of Information Science was introduced by his lecturer Ms Tina van Heerden. The Sparky Awards are organized and sponsored by SPARC (Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition), an alliance of academic libraries and research institutions working to build on the opportunities created by the networked digital environment to advance the conduct of scholarship.

·         The Open Access award winners were also announced during this event. The winners were:

o    Student winner Quraysha Ismail Sooliman, Postgraduate Student, Department of Political Science who wrote “Open access is vital to educational development and educational development is a core foundation for human development and economic empowerment. Together these factors contribute to vibrant civil society, mutual respect and tolerance. Information, knowledge and wisdom are part of the legacy of inherited knowledge and should most certainly be a part of the commons. By sharing valuable knowledge without restrictions that give access only to the elite, we serve a greater purpose – the prosperity of all.”

o    Researcher winner Prof. Innocent Pikirayi, from the Department Anthropology and Archaeology who said “Open Access is the only avenue of ensuring that information gets to everyone across the spectrum of society. Information dissemination through such means is the most assuring way of empowering and achieving a knowledge society”.

o    Department of Library Services winner Lita Ferguson: “An academic library of a large University can seldom afford to provide access to all the necessary journal articles. Open access is one way to counteract the rising cost of subscriptions and high fees of licences. The concept of "Open access" is just unbelievable!”

The last event on the programme was the Department of Library Services’ announcement that they have become members of the Open Access publisher BioMed Central. The Department of Library Services will cover the whole cost of publishing in BioMed Central journals for a period of one year.

BioMed Central is a STM (Science, Technology and Medicine) publisher which makes all research  articles freely and permanently accessible online immediately upon publication. The Department of Library Services hope that this will encourage authors to publish in Open Access journals.

Photographs of the event can be viewed at http://www.openaccessweek.org/photo/albums/university-of-pretoria-s-open-access-day-27-october-2011

Contributed by Elsabé Olivier

After years of requesting and planning it finally happened. We received an engineering project which would expand the Music Library. For months we couldn’t see what was going on behind the partition, en then finally one day the building was finished and we could enter the newly built section. It was exciting, challenging and surprising indeed.

But this was surely not the end of the project – the existing library also had to be renovated in the form of new carpets and a new coat of paint.

During the June/July holiday me, Mphumzi and 5 more assistants began putting the books in boxes and taking down the shelves. It took us five days to get everything packed and out of the library, and there are no lifts only stairs! With everything out of the library we had to disappear for a few days in order for the contractors to do their thing.

Eventually the day came when we could start moving everything back into the library again. But what a shock it was. The contractors were still busy working on carpets, lights and other small tasks here and there. We were trying to clean the library and build the shelves but time and again we had to clean up after the contractors where they were still drilling holes or fixing something.

By the time we were supposed to re-open the library, we were very far from ready. So we asked for a week’s extension and worked non-stop from Monday till Saturday. Finally we could carry the boxes back into the library and the books, CDs and sheet music could be put on the shelves. Then all the computers, photocopy machines etc. had to be put back on their places. IT’S HARD WORK!!!

With a lot of patience and gnashing of teeth me, Gertrud and Mphumzi put the last reference works on their new places the Saturday before the opening Monday. After they have left, I used my last bit of strength to vacuum the carpet for Monday’s big opening.

Monday the 24^th came and the eager students approached the library hesitantly, not sure if everything was done yet. “May we come in?” they asked. “Yes sure, the most important services can be delivered although no listening stations or DVD players are operational yet, but we’ll make a plan.”

After weeks of begging and pleading our listening stations and plasma screens are installed and I can declare that we are 99% done. We are now working on the aesthetics. Our old plants which can still be used are brought back into the library and new ones are bought. The walls are still very empty but we are working on that too.

On Tuesday 30 August the Music Library will be officially re-opened by the rector, Prof. de la Rey. We are looking forward to it!

Na jare se versoeke en beplanning, gebeur dit toe.  Saam met die Ingenieursprojek kry ons toe ‘n bonus met ‘n nuwe deel wat vanuit die agterste hoek van die biblioteek bereik kan word.  Vir baie maande het ons nie ‘n idee gehad wat agter die afskorting aangaan nie, en toe breek die dag aan dat hulle dit afbreek en ons kan deurstap na die nuwe deel.  Dit was voorwaar opwindend, uitdagend, verrassend en besonders.

Maar dit was beslis nie die einde van die uitgerekte beplanning en bouery nie.  Die bestaande biblioteek moes nou ook ‘n nuwe baadjie kry in die vorm van nuwe matte en mure wat skoon en nuutgeverf sou word. Hef aan het voorgelê. 

Gedurende die Junie/Julie vakansie het ek, Mphumzi en so 5 helpers begin om in te pak en rakke af te breek.  Dis dan wanneer mens besef dat hierdie biblioteek glad nie so klein is nie.  Dit het ons ‘n hele 5 dae geneem om alles ingepak en uitgedra te kry.  Mensig, het ons spiere bygekry!!!  Geen hysbakke nie – nee, net trappe!!!  Toe moes ons vir so paar dae verdwyn om plek te maak vir kontrakteurs.

Uiteindelik breek die dag aan wat ons kan begin terugtrek.  Maar wat ‘n ontnugtering.  Ons probeer skoonmaak en rakke bou en tussenin is daar nog aanmekaar kontrakteurs.  Dan verf hulle bietjie hier dan timmer hulle daar.  Elke keer moet ons weer skoonmaak.  Asof dit nie genoeg is nie, is daar nog ander kontrakteurs tussenin – ligte wat nie werk nie, matte wat nog moet klaarkom, al die klein irritasies wat met ‘n bouery gepaardgaan en helaas die aanwysings wat aangebring moet word.  Ons maak maar geduldig weer skoon waar hulle geboor het. 

Teen die tyd wat ons die biblioteek moet open, is daar nog nie ‘n rak in sig nie – wat nog van boeke. Ons vra uitstel vir ‘n week en ek hou duime vas dat ons dit wel gaan regkry.  Ons werk onverpoos Maandag tot Saterdag.  Eindelik kan ons begin om die bokse terug te dra sodat die boeke, CD’s en bladmusiek teruggepak kan word. Dan nog al die rekenaars,  die fotostaatmajiene ens.   DIS HARDE WERK!!!!

Met baie geduld en ‘n gekners van tande pak ek, Gertrud en Mphumzi die Saterdag voor ons moet oopmaak, die laaste naslaanboeke op hulle nuwe plekke.  Teen die tyd dat hulle huis toe is, lyk die matte of daar partytjie met konfetti gehou is.  Met die laaste bietjie krag wat ek nog oorhet, stofsuig ek die matte sodat dit net skoon lyk vir Maandag se terugkeer.

Maandag, die 24e Julie  breek aan en studente kom onseker nader, want dit lyk dan nog nie heeltemal klaar nie.  “Mag ons maar inkom?”  word gevra.  “Ja sekerlik die nodigste kan darem gedoen word.  Ons het nog nie ‘n enkele luisterstasie of DVD-speler in werking nie, maar ons maak ‘n plan. “

Na weke se gesoebat en pleit word ons luisterstasies en plasmaskerms geïnstalleer en kan ek sê ons is nou 99% ingerig.  Nou werk ons nog aan die estetiese.  Ons bruikbare, ou plante word teruggedra en ‘n paar nuwe kleiner plante word bygekoop.  Die mure lyk nog erg kaal, maar mettertyd sal ons ook daaraan aandag gee. 

Op Dinsdag die 30e Augustus word hierdie biblioteek amptelik her-ingebruik geneem deur die rektor,  Prof de la Rey.  Ons sien met verlange uit daarna!!!

Contributed by Isobel Raycroft

Puerto Rico, a name that fires up the imagination and conjures up images of balmy tropical evenings, palm trees, sundowners, music and samba! But it is also an island known as the oldest colony in the world with a chequered history of slavery, colonial rule and territorial wars!

The island of Puerto Rico is a very popular tourist destination because of its location, rich history and warm atmosphere. It is located in the Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic (about 1,600 km) southeast of Miami, Florida).

Its history goes back to the 15^th century when it was populated by over 50 000 Taino or Arawak Indians. Christopher Columbus landed on this island on November 19 1493 during his second voyage to the New World. It subsequently became an important military outpost for Spain. Gold, sugar cane, ginger, tobacco and coffee became the most important products of trade for the Spanish. In December 1898, Puerto Rico was ceded to the United States after the Spanish-American War.

Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States of America with commonwealth status, which means that Puerto Ricans have common citizenship, currency and defense. Although Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, residents of Puerto Rico pay no federal income tax, nor can they vote in presidential elections. As citizens, Puerto Ricans do not require a work visa (also known as green cards) to live and/or work in the United States. Over 2 million Puerto Ricans live in the United States, primarily in the northeast.

The approx. 4 million people that inhabit the island make it one of the most densely populated islands in the world. Puerto Rico is a multicultural society with strong Hispanic influences. A famous Puerto Rican is one of my favourite actors, Raul Julia (The Adamms Family & Romero).

Today, education is a matter of high priority for Puerto Rico; it is evident in the island's overall literacy rate of 90%.

Puerto Rico has more than 50 institutions of higher education. Puerto Rico has achieved one of the highest college education rates in the world (6th) with 56% of its college-age students attending institutions of higher learning, according to World Bank data.

The World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) and 77^th IFLA General Conference and Assembly were held from 13-18 August 2011 at the Puerto Rico Convention Centre, San Juan. This marked the 2^nd occasion when IFLA was hosted in the Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) region with the 1^st being held in Cuba in 1989. A total of 1928 delegates representing 116 countries attended the 2011 WLIC on the theme “Libraries beyond libraries: Integration, Innovation and information for all” which also supported the presidential theme of Ellen Tise, namely “Libraries Driving Access to Knowledge.”

As the Project Director of the Carnegie Leadership Grant which makes provision for conference attendance I was able to attend the 2011 IFLA conference.

In response to the call for posters and papers, I represented the UPLS through the following:

A poster entitled “Developing Library Leaders for the Future” which is an overview of the Carnegie Library Leadership grant was submitted.  It generated huge interest and was named 2^nd runner-up out of 165 posters.

A paper entitled “Staff Development for Institutional Success: A Reality?” was presented at the session hosted by the Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning (CPDWL) Section on 18 August 2011. Both the presentation and full paper are available at http://hdl.handle.net/2263/17342 on UPSpace.

This presentation was very well received as we are one of a very few libraries that has a concerted and strategic focus on staff development which is aimed at being aligned with the organisation’s vision and strategies.

What did I find interesting?

The use of social media is widely encouraged during conference. Delegates may register as bloggers so that conference happenings may be shared with a wider audience around the world. Delegates are also encouraged to use Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and Slideshare.

It is impossible to attend every session at an IFLA/WLIC and as a delegate it is important to study the programme in advance to identify what is of interest or meaningful. Of the many sessions and presentations, the following is worth a mention:

Opening address by Ms Ellen Tise (President: IFLA) wherein she touched on the projects for raising awareness of libraries and building stronger library associations in the LAC region; the importance of providing unhindered access to the burgeoning amounts of information in different formats; the importance to redefine the role of the physical library and its space within the context of the 21^st century “four-walled electronic library”; the changing role of librarians and librarianship within this context which includes publishing on open access platforms, authoring on Wikipedia and preservation of social networking content; despite these critical challenges, it is most opportune for librarians in developing countries to bridge the gap between themselves and the developed world.

Library Boulevard – an exhibition of 38 Latin American and Caribbean Libraries which was an excellent idea to showcase their institutions, activities and special projects.

IFLA's five Key Initiatives for 2011-2012. The aim through these initiatives is to use IFLA’s influence and apply its expertise to position libraries as a force for change and secure equitable access to knowledge, cultural heritage and information for the library user community in the rapidly changing and competitive environment of information resources.

These initiatives are:

* Digital Content Programme: Driving access to content and digital resources, for library users. This would include engagement with WIPO; adoption and promotion of open access policies; policies and standards for Legal Deposit and Digital Libraries; etc.

* IFLA International Librarianship Leadership Development Programme: Capacity building to raise the voice of the professional nationally, regionally and internationally. Activities include the Building Strong Library Associations Programme (BSLA); the IFLA International Leaders Programme; capacity building resources; etc.

* Outreach Programme for Advocacy and Advancement of the Profession: Connecting, collaborating, representing strategically.

* Cultural Heritage Disaster Reconstruction Programme: Culture is a basic need, a culture thrives through its cultural heritage, it dies without it.

* Multilingualism Programme: a multilingual IFLA website opens windows to the world

The Librarian for the Future

With the title “As for the future, your task is not to foresee it, but to enable it”, words taken from the famous literate Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Professor Derek Law began his presentation showing that in the future the librarian’s task is not predictable.  To explain this, he uses results from IBM research, models based on famous persons and key characteristics for the future librarian.  He initiated his speech by talking about the enterprise of the future, based on an IBM research. He says that future librarians must be hungry for change, innovative beyond customer imagination, globally integrated and disruptive by nature.

He used two models to emphasize the future librarian.  He must be a smoothie, sophisticated and supportive like James Bond; and, like a detective, he must collect evidence, analyze it, be curious, selective with what they collect, and it is strongly recommended the use of born digital resources.  Other characteristics mentioned by Prof. Law were to be in the forefront of the revolution, to fly the flag for change, to be in the leadership role, to become the provocateur agent, to be an intelligent analyst, to work in partnership, to support new research models, and to become freedom fighters.

He concluded his presentation with another Saint-Exupery quotation: "Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction."

On Tuesday, August 16 we had a vibrant, colourful and energised taste of Puerto Rican life and culture. This was an event sponsored by the Tourism Company of Puerto Rico and Institute of Puerto Rican Culture entitled A Puerto Rican Embrace, Taste and Dance / Un Abrazo Puertorriqueño, Saboreo y Bailable.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation presented its 2011 Access to Learning Award of $1million to the Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN), which provides knowledge and information through a variety of innovative channels in remote communities throughout Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Members of these communities use the technology and other tools at ALIN’s Knowledge Centers to gain information to improve their health, increase their incomes, and better their lives.

ALIN’s 12 Knowledge Centers—known as Maarifa Centers—focus on providing practical information, particularly in the area of agricultural development. The vast majority of people in these regions are small-scale farmers who need information about issues such as drought, pests, and finding markets for their crops. The centers offer information geared toward the communities’ specific needs.

ALIN will use its award to expand its network of Knowledge Centers, upgrade its hardware and software, increase the number of computers available to its users, and expand on the training and education provided to its community knowledge facilitators. ALIN also hopes to create an innovation center to advance ideas in information and communication technology. Microsoft, a partner of the foundation in its efforts to help public libraries connect people with relevant technology and skills, will provide ALIN with a donation of over US$270,000 worth of software and technology training curriculum to help the organization serve the local community.

The foundation's annual Access to Learning Award recognizes the innovative efforts of libraries and similar organizations outside the United States in providing free access to computers and the Internet. It is awarded by the foundation’s Global Libraries initiative, which works to open the world of knowledge, information, and opportunity to help improve the lives of millions of people.

An IFLA conference always leaves one with something to think about! I would like to acknowledge the Carnegie Leadership grant that enable my attendance. Based on the responses I received to both the poster and presentation, I believe we are on the right track and have a lot to share with the sector out there.

Contributed by Ujala Satgoor

News from the buzz-iest  level in the library

Herewith some interesting 2011 statistics from the Merensky Circulation desk :

Registration:

We experienced a lot of challenges with the new People Soft system during the registration of the users. Only SOME information was downloaded via the system, but still every record had to be changed and verified manually. By the end of August, 74 782 patrons were registered of which 26 654 were done by the end of February!

The busiest month was March with 207 886 students visiting Merensky, not including GV and the Xerox centre. In the second semester August was the busiest month, with 199 024 students visiting the library.

Where were you on August 15^th?  This was our busiest day of the year with 11 638 students visiting Merensky!

Users taking out books at the main desk:

During August 2 224 users borrowed books, while 5 843 users borrowed books in September.

Fines:

During August 2 131 individual fines were paid at Merensky, with Groenkloof library in second place with 208 individual fines.

Friendly service you can rely on:

Between the security gate alarm, the telephone, the wheelchair gate and difficult customers it is sometimes a challenge to keep your cool. But one of the reasons why we help the students with a smile is because we can see their e-mail addresses on their records….like the following:

You get students with dreams in their eyes: Bugatti@.....

The focused ones: Predikant@.....     medstudent_positiveattitude@...

Those with an excellent self image: no1_perfect10@...

The one who did not take everything into account: annemarie.koegelenberg-vandermerwe@.......

The typical student: deurmekaarkoppie@...      purplecowflyingintheskysohigh@....

prettyinpunk@....    ghost_of_sanity@...     purple-spunky-smile@...    chubbycheese@....

…and the one with the dad who had enough?: vatjougoedentrekferreira@.....

Did you know?

The Circulation personnel are always here - first in the mornings and the last to leave the library… You can rely on us – we will be here!

Contributed by the Circulation Team

Cut out for our jobs...

If you want to get something done, ask a librarian. If you want to get something done quickly and precisely, ask a cataloguer. 

Christelle Steyn discovered this little known fact in October when she was preparing the paraphernalia for Open Access week. Poor Christelle was printing billions and trillions of tags and advertising material and covering them with plastic when she realised something: all of these odd-shaped cards have to be cut out! And not only cut out, but cut out on the printed lines!! Oh lamentations, what to do?

Luckily, this grave news came to the ears of a well-meaning cataloguer. Before Christelle could say “scissors”, some cataloguers showed up at her office, fully equipped with their scissors and their relentless precision. What followed was an exercise in efficiency and grace. To the untrained eye this might have looked like a few ladies cutting some shapes out of paper.

But no dear reader, do not be mislead. This was indeed a tour de force. With their skill and great sense of precision the cataloguers cut everything out neatly and in no time. And just to bring this to the perfect end, they even cleaned up after wards, because they can.

Santa Clause could bring his elves for a lesson on how to get things done.....

Submitted by an amazed bystander.

The South African User Group for the Millennium Library System was held at the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus) from 14-16 November 2011.  Seven library staff members attended the Conference to learn, share, build relationships and promote communication on the use of Innovative Interfaces Inc (III) products.

University of Pretoria Library Services presented the following papers:

Lessing, Anette & Swanepoel, Soekie.  The Integrated Library System – Value on Investment (VOI): The University of Pretoria scenario.

Mogakane, Tebogo.  Managing your E-Course Reserves and E-Exam papers.

Lessing, Anette.  Nifty tips and tricks with Millennium, Management Information.

These presentations are available on share at I:\AIS\Share\IUG-SA

Contribution by Anette Lessing

Dear Colleagues

It is with a heavy heart that I write this message as I leave the UP Library Services which has been my professional home since 2006. The UPLS has contributed to broadening my professional horizons; given me the opportunity to realise a dream through the Library Leadership grant; enabled me to interact with professionals and specialists of the highest calibre; shown me the merit of being bold and taking innovative risks; deepened my appreciation of diversity and active contribution to organisational transformation; and given me great satisfaction and pride at being a member of a leading and dynamic organisation.

As I relocate to Grahamstown and take up my position at Rhodes, I do believe that I do not go alone but take along all of you - as my interactions and conversations with you, the professional exchanges and sharing, the deep friendships and all that has come to pass between you and I - have left an indelible mark on me.

I would like to acknowledge all of you for enhancing the professional that I am and making my time here an enjoyable and rewarding experience. A special word of appreciation to Robert for his respect, friendship, support and belief in me; to Una for taking such good care of me; and to those of you who will always be special to me. Your wishes and words of optimism have strengthened me as I embrace this new chapter in my life.  If ever you are passing through Grahamstown you are most welcome to visit.

I wish Robert and the team all the best and know that the UPLS will continue to achieve new heights.

Best regards

Ujala