My sincere apologies for not updating the post the last two weeks, but it was due to circumstances beyond my control:
- Electronic Notice Board
- Policy Review Discussions
- UJ's fifth campus.......
- Feedback from the Campus Librarian Meeting
- Feedback from the LIC IT Meeting
- 100 Amazing Women
- Film shooting in the library
- Espresso Book machine
- Library Hours
Electronic notice board
I am sure by now you have all noticed that the electronic notice board is not working: the device connected to the notice board is out of order and has been send to AMX for repairs. As soon as it is returned we will continue with our displays on the notice board.
Policy Review Discussions
Since the last blog update, three sessions were held during which UJLIC policies were discussed and several suggestions for changes have been made in line with our strategic objectives. These changes will (or have been) discussed with relevant stakeholders. During the final meeting, the changes will be re-looked that the policies will then be formally approved.
During these meetings issues related to policies are also discussed and I would like to share the following with you:
UJLIC Management Structure: Please note that structures as you knew them last year, have been changed or renamed as follows:
- Library Directors Meeting: a meeting of all library directors with the Executive Director (ED)
- Library Management Meeting: a meeting with all library directors, the Executive Director, Campus Librarians, HR and Finance.
- Strategic Planning, Implementation and Consultation Meeting (Strat PIC): the old Mancom meeting, consisting of all members of the Management Meeting together with Team Leaders and staff with a function accross all UJ Libraries.
UJLIC Annual Report 2012: Dr Bawa suggested that we change the way in which we present our annual report to outside stakeholders. For this purpose, a meeting has been scheduled for Monday (18 May). Although we expect major changes in the format and layout of the report, please continue with compiling monthly statistics as you did previously.
The next policy revision meeting will be held this week, during which attention will be given to the Cataloguing, Acquisitions and Physical processing policies.
Circulation Forum Meeting
This meeting took place on 29 May. The membership of this meeting have been extended to not only include Team Leaders of each campus, but also an additional member staff member. Currently the meeting consists off:
Janina - Service Manager accross campuses
Mdu - Team Leader from APB and also the chairperson
Musa - Circ staff member from FADA
Lucas - Team Leader from SWC
Pacsal - Circ staff member from SWC
Adri - Team Leader representative from APK
Daniel - Circ staff member from APK
Moipone - Team Leader from DFC
Rudi - Circ staff member from DFC
The major issues that were discussed were suggested changes to the Circulation and Circulation Financial Policies. Once the final approval of these policies have been done, the updated version will be discussed by Team Leaders with circulation staff.
It was also decided to have a special meeting with Carina Malan during which system issues will be addressed.
UJ's fifth campus......
The government would like to establish new universities in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape. UJ will be assisting with the establishment of the university in Mpumalanga. A faculty of Education (for foundation phase) will be established at the Ndebele College. This faculty will be run by UJ for the next five years. In five years' time, this faculty will go independent as part of the new university. Form more info see:
http://www.skillsportal.co.za/page/education/universities/1158142-New-university-on-the-cards-for-Mpumalanga
Feedback from Campus Librarian meeting
The meeting was held on 14 June and chaired by the Director: Client Services (Dr van Vuren) and all campus librarians were present.
iPad Project: Just reminder that this is the project where iPads are donated to the library for a period of time for student use. Update: The contract with the provider is ready for signage and we will most probably receive the iPad later this year. These will be put on level one for student use.
From SWC Library: Charlotte reported that their first ever shelving assistant has been appointed: Remember Ndluvu. They too experience high usage of computers in the library and the research commons is also well used. She also extended a big thank you to the Faculty Librarians who came to visit their library the May.
From the APB Library: Santha said the the interviews for the vacancy of Information Librarian has been scheduled. They have opened their overnight study area on Sundays.
From the DFC Library: This library currently have a vacancy at circulation. They are also busy with weeding of books.
From the Shelving Forum: Charlotte Kunene is the Service Manager of this forum. She reported that a meeting is scheduled for next week. One of the topics that they will discuss is accross campus assistance with specific projects.
From the ILL & ICL Forum: For this forum, Santha is the Service Manager. During the last meeting held, the main topic that was discussed is the national ILL survey: What is the current state of ILL? and How to move forward with ILL? They are planning to present their results in a formal presentation later this year. The issue of library books ending up in the wrong library (when returned) needs to be discussed as a matter of urgency with relevant stakeholders.
From the Information Services Forum: As Service Manager for this forum, Julia reported that Dr Bawa join the last meeting held. The updating of the letter of introduction was discussed. Dr Bawa mentioned that attention should be given to first year embedding too and that timing to get into the curriculum is very important.
From the Circulation Forum: as reported earlier in this post.
UJ Reads....(formerly know as One Book One Library): The following title has been selected for this year: Confessions of a gambler by Rayda Jacobs. The author has been invited and discussions on the book will take place in September this year. A film about this books has also been made. For more on the book, click on the link below:
http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/religion/documents/ARISA/2003_E4.pdf
For more info on the movie:
http://www.moviesite.co.za/2008/0404/confessions_of_a_gambler.html
Rayda Jacobs' blog: http://raydajacobs.blogspot.com/2011/07/confessions-of-gambler-joonie-buy-your.html
New catalogue format: The new format of the library catalogue should be available within the next few months. As mentioned previously, the new catalogue with have a similar search look and feel as that of Google and will be called: UJoogle. For a sneak preview, you will receive a link to this via email. All staff will be requested to assist with the marketing of UJoogle.
Feedback from the LICIT meeting
The meeting took place on 15 June and the objective is to discuss all library IT matters. The meeting is chaired by Pieter Hattingh. Four meetings per year will be organised and it is of utmost importance that all campuses and departments are represented.
During the past few years, the operating system used in the library has been referred to as Innopac, Millennium, etc. In order to stick to one single name, Millennium will as from now on be referred to as the Integrated Library Management System (ILMS).
Electronic Resource Management (ERM): All licences with vendors will be loaded on the ERM system immediately. A smaller meeting will be arranged between Faith, Pieter and Carina to discuss the process in detail. Faith and Sharon is in process of designing a webpage which can be used by clients and staff to report databases problems.
Springerlink: This database makes use of larger cookies and this impacts on keyword searches as WAM battles to accommodate the larger cookies. However, this issue should be resolved when we migrate to the new Millennium release.
BibIT Helpdesk: This is now available on all campuses, not only APK.
WiFi: Client Service staff will receive training to deal with student queries regarding connection to WiFi in the library. Several sessions will be scheduled in order to ensure that all staff can attend the training. Library IT staff will only be able to assist students with complicated connection issues (once an indemnity form has been signed). They will assist with these cases on Fridays upon appointment.
Thin Clients: This product was bought to replace the current student computers. By using thin client student computers can be maintained and updated simultaneously instead of one computer at a time. These will be used in the learning commons (undergraduates) only.
Inventory: This has been done on all campuses and the register has been updated. Staff were reminded to inform IT if any computer equipment is being moved from one office to another.
Time management software: Different software are currently being tested. There is currently no definite date of implementation. In the meantime time management will be done manually with temporary staff.
Electronic Course Reserves: The usage of this function has declined do to more academics making of of Edulink. The Circulation forum have to discuss make a suggestion whether this module can be used for something else or if it should be cancelled.
New Server: We will be migrating to a new server on 18 July. Please note that all transactions on Millennium must stop at 5pm on 18 July. Arrangements to accommodate this, will be discussed with each department individually.
100 Amazing Women
Together with other stakeholders (like the Mandela Foundation) the library will be hosting an event in August to celebrate 100 amazing women. The event will take place at the Johannesburg Country Club more info will follow in due course.
Filming in the library
Please note that Catapult Commercials received permission to film a commercial in the library. This will take place during the winter holiday on 26 June from 9am to 2pm.
We are currently in negotiations for a print books on demand machine. For more info on what these machines are about, click on the link below:
http://ondemandbooks.com/ebm_hardware.php
Just a reminder that the university winter holidays start on 23 June and ends on 14 July. Library hours during this time will be:
Weekdays - 7am to 6pm
Saturdays - 8:30 to 1pm
