Moving of the journals to the Technika Building

The DLS invested in several journal archives (backfiles), over the last few years. This enabled a partial solution for the space challenges, but, also aligns with the information behaviour of 21st century students and researchers, who prefer digital information. Archives are, however, not available for all journal titles. Therefore, to support the creation of much-needed high-functioning spaces in the libraries, and to address the challenges associated with storage and preservation of legacy print collections, the library received a facility in the Technika building on the Groenkloof campus, to be repurposed as a storage facility.

After months of planning, working through calculations, and compiling and sorting lists, we were ready to start moving journals to the off-site storage facility, just after the second semester started. To assist with the workflow and logistics, we first did a pilot project, after we were able to officially start the first phase of the moving process on 29 August. During this phase, journals from the EBIT and NAS disciplines were moved from level 5 and less-used collections, in the Merensky library, as well as the Letlotlo storage facility (on the Groenkloof campus) to the newly refurbished Technika building.

New journal archive packages have already been identified, which focus on health sciences, dentistry, law, humanities, and social sciences. As part of the second phase which is planned for next year, journals from these subject areas will then be moved to the Letlotlo storage facility.

The DLS hope that these efforts will enable the repurposing of its spaces, which were occupied by less-used journals, into modern, functional, and innovative spaces, that align with the more sophisticated needs of the current and future library users.