Orientation Week 2025: The Ultimate Library Adventure!

This year, the Department of Library Services reimagined Orientation Week, transforming it into an engaging and interactive experience focused on fun and discovery, with a deliberate shift away from traditional, presentation-heavy formats.

First-year students were divided into teams and participated in an immersive, library-wide adventure led by our enthusiastic mascots embodying the spirit of library exploration. The event commenced with a brief introduction to the library, followed by the Pages and Puzzles Ultimate Library Race, a scavenger hunt-style challenge that guided students through key locations such as the faculty libraries, the information desk, and the vibrant MakerSpace. Along the way, students were introduced to the library’s services and resources in a hands-on, memorable manner.

For the first time, participants were encouraged to scan and register, allowing the team to track engagement. A total of 3,600 students registered, although technical issues prevented some groups from logging in. Encouragingly, feedback from 1,600 students who completed a post-event survey indicated that they found the session either “useful” or “very useful”.

To enhance the experience, students who completed the race were eligible to win a range of exciting prizes, adding an element of motivation and celebration to the event.

Conclusion: Library Orientation Week has proven to be a vital platform for engaging students in a dynamic and enjoyable way. By blending educational objectives with interactive experiences, the initiative successfully fostered awareness and excitement about the library’s offerings.

Beyond Orientation Week, the Learning Centre team continued its outreach efforts. A collaborative brainstorming session with the Student Representative Council (SRC) helped generate new ideas for student engagement. The library was also invited to seven student residences, where the use of interactive tools such as Kahoot! brought further excitement to the sessions. Additionally, the team presented to the newly appointed University of Pretoria Campus Tours (UPCT) student leaders, solidifying a valuable partnership to ensure library visits are incorporated into all campus tours.

AIM lecturers also received targeted training focused on academic writing, databases, and key library tools and resources, ensuring that both students and educators are well-equipped for academic success.