Orientation week 2024, climbing to success despite construction turmoil

The DLS welcomed all 2024 first years with open arms during the week of 12-16 February. Orientation 2024 was very different from our previous years. In the past, we had to go to lecture halls and present to large groups of students, but during 2024 we were requested to host most of the 43 groups, with the exception of Education, Law and Mamelodi. The large groups were divided into smaller groups in the Auditorium and training rooms. All Merensky 2 faculty libraries were involved and contributed to vibrant innovative sessions.

Construction and load shedding posed significant challenges to our orientation process. With power outages disrupting our plans and construction altering our usual spaces, adaptability has become our greatest asset. Despite these hurdles, our team has persevered, finding innovative ways to ensure a smooth transition for our newcomers. The interactive brochure with QR codes was aligned with our theme “Climb to success”. In a simple yet profound icebreaker activity, our first-year students were tasked with describing a library using just one word. The responses that emerged from this exercise served as a fascinating window into the values and aspirations of our incoming cohort. Words like peaceful, innovative, knowledge, and informative were used to describe the library of their dreams. 

Knowledge emerged as a cornerstone of our students' perception of libraries. It highlights the recognition that libraries are not merely repositories of books but are gateways to a world of information and learning. For our first-year students, libraries represent a treasure trove of knowledge waiting to be discovered and explored. Amidst the chaos, one tool has emerged as a beacon of engagement: Kahoot! These interactive quizzes have transformed our orientation sessions, turning learning into a thrilling game. Through Kahoot, we've been able to captivate our audience, fostering participation and knowledge retention like never before. It has enabled us to make learning enjoyable and memorable. Through its dynamic platform, we'll continue to empower newcomers, fostering a culture of curiosity and collaboration within the UP community. 

The orientation sessions will always remain the key to embracing our first-year students and confirming that the library will be there to support their climb to success during their academic journey.