Learning Centre activities to reach out and raise awareness of the Department of Library Services (DLS)

The Learning Centre is committed to the continuous promotion and knowledge sharing of the DLS and the products and services they provide. The following events and initiatives are just some of the many activities that The Learning Centre has been involved with to increase awareness of the library’s products and services to students, to enhance their academic success.

Pop-up libraries:

Surveys indicate that students are not aware of all the products and services the DLS offers. Therefore, the Learning Centre embarked on weekly campus-wide pop-up library sessions and partnered with FLY@UP during their activation sessions throughout the semester. These sessions are a great way to reach out, interact, and raise awareness among students who might not use the library or only see it as a place to study.

We always aim to attract students to our booth with eye-catching tables with balloons, sweets, pens and lanyards. We also drive around on campus with our decorated DLS golf cart. Fun-filled interactive games are used to inform students about our services. The students have lots of fun answering our quizzes and interacting with our other games, such as Library Pong, Hoop a Loop and Jenga. Each student walks away with a gift and newfound knowledge about the library and its services.

These games and prizes create an exciting environment and feeling around the library, while also encouraging students to learn more of what the library is about. There are many positive outcomes of these engaging sessions. Students, DLS staff and DLS student workers are provided with an opportunity to connect on a more personal and fun level.

Through lively interactions, students gain awareness of the library resources and services and showcase their knowledge by answering questions related to the library. The bonus of getting sweets, pens, lanyards etc. for correct answers has added an element of fun and excitement, making the library sessions memorable and enjoyable. Additionally, the pop-up libraries have created a vibrant atmosphere, where students can enquire about the library, play games and get to know the DLS. The biggest highlight was the last activation session, where the DLS purchased our own popcorn machine! Students shared our excitement and participated eagerly in our quizzes to get free popcorn. These fun-filled events assist students in reviving their spirits and gaining motivation to improve their academic performance. The Learning Centre staff also benefited by learning that every student has unique issues and that it is essential to be flexible to accommodate each student’s needs. Each student walked away with a smile, knowing that the library is not only a place to study and realizing the important role the DLS can play in their academic work. The Learning Centre will continue to reach out to students with similar and more exciting activities during 2024.

The new DLS popcorn machine in action. 

The pop-up library stand and decorated golf cart. 

Special Information Specialist meeting with the Disability Unit

The Marketing and Quality Control unit surveyed ten disabled students. This paved the way for a special Information specialist meeting on 22 August 2023. During this session, Juan Erwee, Manager of the Disability Unit and three special needs students discussed their needs. Mr Erwee explained how information specialists can support students with different special needs during training sessions as well as individual interactions with special needs students, during research and information support. This was a valuable session which helped the information specialists to understand the support and training of students with special needs better.

Special Meetings and activities with SRC and House Committee members

The Learning Centre has also hosted some meeting sessions with old and newly elected House Committee members for residences as well as day and Faculty houses. We train them, make them aware of the DLS role and brainstorm to see how we can further our partnership and collaboration. We are planning to increase our collaboration with them during 2024 and partner to reach first-years and other students. This year, for the first time, the Learning Centre was invited to attend the student award ceremony that took place on 11 October 2023. We met with old and new SRC Academic committee members and are busy planning a collaborative and interactive Quiz night for the students on 20 October 2024. The SRC will partner with the DLS and will take responsibility for the organising and refreshments of the event.

Every initiative and event that the Learning Centre and DLS participate in with UP students will take the students’ knowledge and love for the library to the next level.