Department of Library Services Newsletter - Issue 2 - 2018

Top row (from left to right): Suzy Nyakale, Gerda Ehlers, Isak van der Walt and Julene Vermeulen - Bottom row (from left to right): Ephenia Peu, Maguerite Nel, Sean Kruger and Johann van Wyk

Department of Library Services was evaluated by an external panel.

During April 2017, the Department of Library Services (DLS) was evaluated by a panel of national and international members. One of the most important recommendations made by the panel was for the DLS to identify a future search methodologies (or similar) facilitator to host library-wide workshops aimed at identifying an appropriate and relevant future model for the UP libraries.

This recommendation has already been implemented through the identification of nine high-level focus areas, established to achieve the goal of creating a 21st-century library.

These nine strategic projects, along with their project leaders and coaches, comprise the following:

• Create specialised services for research: Driver: Mrs Suzy Nyakale, Coach: Ms Lindiwe Soyizwapi
• Create specialised services for teaching and learning: Driver: Mrs Gerda Ehlers, Coach: Ms Lindiwe Soyizwapi
• Create a digital scholarship centre: Driver: Mr Isak van der Walt, Coach:  Dr Heila Pienaar
• Create research, learning, innovative and collaborative spaces: Driver: Ms Ephenia Peu, Coach: Ms Hilda Kriel
• To investigate the library collections: Driver: Julene Vermeulen, Coach: Hilda Kriel
• Create digital self-services: Driver: Mrs Marguerite Nel, Coach: Ms Lindiwe Soyizwapi
• Create entrepreneurship and fundraising abilities: Driver: Mr Sean Kruger, Coach: Mr Robert Moropa
• Enable  the management of research data at the University of Pretoria: Driver: Dr Johann van Wyk, Coach: Dr Heila Pienaar
• Transform analogue and other formats to digital objects for preservation and ease of use: Driver: Dr Johann van Wyk, Coach: Dr Heila Pienaar

To implement these improvement strategies, strategic project implementation plans were developed, facilitated by Dr Heila Pienaar. The first date for implementation is June 2018. Some examples of these plans are:

• Development and visualisation of a research roadmap
• Digital exhibits
• Training course in Research Data Management fundamentals (initially for Library staff)
• Digitisation on demand service
• Report on a self-service model for the Library
• Conceptual mega space plan
• Services developed for third stream income