HE Libraries in South Africa

You are invited to a talk presented by senior librarians from South Africa on:

The higher education landscape in South Africa, Wits University and the Wits Library

on Monday 18th November, 14:00 – 16:00 in Room 106, DMS Watson building (Science Library).

You do not need to regisiter but, please could you let Simon Bralee know, if you would like to attend.

Presenters

Salome Potgieter, Kedibone Ivory Moagi and Devind Donald Peter are visiting UCL from the University of the Witwatersrand Libraries to learn how Library Services are being transformed at UCL.

Following the visit of a delegation led by the Provost in November 2018, the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa has been building links with UCL. The Wits Library are coming to UCL

Information about University of the Witwatersrand Libraries

1. Wits has 11 libraries on three campuses: East, West and Parktown

2. These libraries serve five faculties

3. The curriculum is increasingly getting interdisciplinary; books that in the past would have been accessed from one library are increasingly being requested from other faculties/libraries.

4. One of the strategic priorities of the University is growing the postgraduate population and increased research quality and productivity

5. There is increased use of e-journals, databases, ebooks and other digital content and services

6. There is a shortage of student working, learning and research spaces on the three campuses

7. The Task Team (2016-2017) on Reimagining Wits Libraries for the 21st Century gave thought to the idea of reducing the number of libraries. After detailed consideration it recommended instead that the Library should be more integrated into the academic project. Book shelf space should be reduced to open up spaces for digital research, teaching, learning, group and individual work spaces, and socialising.