Library Newsletter – Oct 2017
October 2017
Library Director’s Note
Welcome to the second edition of our Library newsletter. The Library has made much progress in terms of the infrastructure developments, and we are proud to announce that work to expand the libraries on the Steve Biko and Riverside campuses started early in the second semester. We have completed the first installment of refurbishment of the City library and relaunched the library to the DUT community in August.
With the final exams in progress, there is a palpable sense of urgency amoungst students and our statistics indicate greater usage of library spaces and facilities like photocopying and printing. We wish all our student good luck for the coming examinations!
More flexible learning spaces at City Campus library
One of the strategic focus areas (SFA) of the DUT strategic plan is building sustainable student communities of living and learning. This became the focus of the library’s attempts to re-purpose the existing library building and make it a space to which students would gravitate.
With the financial assistance of the Faculty of Arts and Design, the library forged ahead and started the project which culminated in the launch of the new space on 16 August 2017. The project would not have been possible without the involvement of DUT staff such as Lucille Webster (Director: Library Services) Dr. René Smith (Executive Dean), Dr. Rapeane-Mathonsi (Research coordinator, Siza Radebe (Manager: Site Libraries), Nozipho Majola (Site coordinator) and Megan Parker (Interior Design Master’s student).
The launch was part of a larger project that is currently running across all DUT libraries. Giving an overview of the project, the Director of the Library Services said that the journey to repurpose all libraries started in 2013/2014 and aimed to be completed by January 2018.
Library management was inspired by the DUT strategic plan which articulated the purpose of the University to help students reach their full potential and to contribute to building a safe and learning society. Despite financial constraints, the library management is pleased that the space has been transformed into dynamic research and learning spaces with the help of FAD.
Students and staff are encouraged to come along to view and make use of the spaces which are open from 7.30 am to 6 pm, Monday to Fridays
Riverside Library Move
The lyrics of the Ladysmith Black Mambazo version of Shosholoza echoed in the hearts and minds of Riverside library and maintenance staff members as they banded together to relocate the Riverside library (3-7 July 2017) to its temporary home in the T Block on the Riverside Campus. It inspired this rhyme, entitled The Move.
THE MOVE
Shelves dismantled.. books packed .. pcs to be set up , desks STACKED
Time to get this move on, we must remain on TRACK
Heave Ho!, Heave Ho!, Come on, carry that LOAD,
Trucks and bakkies ready to hit the ROAD,
Everyone is working to get things DONE,
It seems like hard work, but SMILE …try to have some FUN.
Welcome Tholeka, our new library staff MEMBER
Carrying stuff & running around, this move you are sure to REMEMBER
Ayanda, IT guy, that’s too many books for one person to HAUL,
You might miss a step, trip and FALL.
All rally together to shelve the books in TIME,
Must keep going despite the dust, dirt and all that GRIME
We are really tired and feel like a SLEEP,
But stay awake, the move will be complete within a WEEK.
Days pass, things start to fall into PLACE,
This looks more like a library even though it’s a small SPACE.
A new term starts and we are ready to GO,
Some users like the library, others don’t really KNOW,
The new library is expected to be fancy and GRAND,
……But getting the stuff back, — we need another PLAN
English language teaching books donated
On 30 August 2017, the library received six reference books donated by Mr. Mark Krzanowski who is an international student from London. He spent three weeks in the library collecting information and using library material for his PhD. The donations were received by the after-hours staff Ms. Nomusa Maphumulo and Mr. Nhlakanipho Njilo on behalf of the library.
Mr Mark Krzanowski had this to say:
“Many thanks for the excellent and professional support, and your time, while I have been doing my linguistic research here in the last three weeks. I can see how much help the students get from yourselves and your colleagues in the library, plus being at the front-desk is challenging, including if not particularly / especially in the evenings. Please send my thanks to Qinisela as well”.
New library staff member
Tholeka Sidlayi joined the library in July 2017 as Library Assistant : After Hours at the Riverside library. When asked to tell us about herself and how she feels about her new appointment, this is what she had to say:
“My new job is awesome and informative. It teaches me a lot of things and as such I will gain a lot of experience with the help of my colleagues. I have found a new family in Riverside library. I am enjoying each and every moment I spend with my colleagues and the library users. My hobbies are reading, watching movies and listening to radio shows. Also cooking and helping in society.”
Copyright © 2017 DUT Library, All rights reserved