Month: April 2018

As a Researcher, would you like to know more about the following?

• Research Data Management
• Enhancing the visibility of your research output through self-archiving
• Maximising your research impact
• Mendeley for reference management and academic networking
• Managing your unique author ID with ORCID
• Useful tools and applications for research
• The benefits of Open Access publishing for researchers

These workshops are offered by the library’s Research Commons and will enhance your work as a budding researcher. For the more accomplished researchers, there is the opportunity to gain insight into how to maximise the visibility of your published work.

The workshops are intended to assist you on your road to the successful completion of your research work.  Whatever you are needing in terms of adding value to your research output, learning about and mastering the “how to” matters which crop up along the way, the Library and Information Service’s Research Commons workshops are THE place to find what you need.

These are only an example of the workshops offered which will assist you to complete your tasks at hand.  Most workshops are run in both the first and second semester, so if you miss a workshop, you will have another opportunity to attend.  The Library and Information Service is also continually improving these services. This year three new workshops are offered.  Each workshop focuses on specific outcomes geared to the workshop theme. To see more about this and find out about this year-long set of workshops, click on this link.

Earlier this year, the library launched a new blog on research support services, called Library Research News. The aim of the blog is to keep researchers and postgraduate students up-to-date with research-related products, services offered by the library and the library’s research support endeavours. Subscribe to the blog to receive new posts in your inbox.

“Libraries: heart of the University Community” was the adapted theme used by the Library and Information Service to celebrate South African Library Week from the 16^th to the 23^rd March 2018.

The theme served to remind users that the library is “a communal space that caters to specific needs” of the University community, and that the library belongs to the University community and is central to it.

Three training sessions which took place in the Stellenbosch University Library (SU Library) were highlighted to users on the plasma screens. Plasma slides also presented the SALW theme and featured each of the branch libraries, including the newly refurbished Medicine and Health Sciences Library at Tygerberg campus. The Library Week poster was displayed at all libraries, and the Library Week and Library banners were displayed prominently at the SU Library.

A competition was run on the library facebook page where users were asked to “like” the page, take a photograph of their favourite area in any of the SU libraries, post their photograph, and most importantly tell us why it is their favourite area.

Congratulations to our winners Anjela Adamson, Ilke Meissner and Vincent Frenz. Here is what they said about their favourite areas:

• Anjela Adamson posted “I love this spot [Research Commons] in the library because it is the perfect overlap between working on my thesis and relaxing with coffee.

• Ilke Meissner wrote “The bookshelves of course. And the research commons. Both are vital to my work.”

• Vincent Frenz shared “This spot…This corner of the Carnegie Research Commons is an excellent spot to give your mind a break without having to leave the library. The ideal spot when it is cold and raining and you just have the need to read a good book!”

Anjela, Ilke and Vincent are each pictured below with their winning voucher. Congratulations and enjoy your meal!

What were the ‘predecessor institutions’ to SU? When did they begin? How did SU come into existence? And when was the SU Act promulgated? These were some of the questions which were answered in an exhibition, Pre-Stellenbosch University history, 1866 -1918, curated in the Stellenbosch University Library by the Library’s Centenary commemorations working group. The display was both physical and e- in nature.

Interesting facts highlighted in the exhibition included:

• On 1 March 1866 Het Stellenbosch Gymnasium or the First Class Undenominational School was officially opened.
• In 1874 the “Arts Department” was founded.
• On 4 July 1879 the Arts Department was renamed The Stellenbosch College and College School.
• The laying of the corner stone of the Old Main Building took place on 22 December 1880.Victoria College foundation stone laying, 20 November 1880 (Source: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/459, SUNDigital Collections)
• On 10 June 1881, Act No. 9 of 1881, The Stellenbosch Undenominational College and Public School Act, was passed. This officially raised Stellenbosch to college status.
• On 6 November 1886 the Old Main Building was officially opened.
• On 7 July 1887, the College was renamed The Victoria College of Stellenbosch.

Printed legislature which prepared for the ‘birth’ of SU was highlighted in the display:

• The University of Stellenbosch Act 12 of 1916 (9th May) set out the conditions in terms of which Victoria College would officially be incorporated as Stellenbosch University.
  
• Statutes and Joint Statutes which gave effect to the provisions of section 19 of the Stellenbosch University Act were published on 7 March 1918 as part of the Government Notice No 303.
• On the 25 March 1918 the Governor-General published a Government Notice (no. 409) to approve the Statutes and Joint Statutes published on 7 March 1918.

The 25 March 1918 can thus be regarded as the appointed day on which Stellenbosch University officially became incorporated.

 

Abuzz with curious, enquiring minds… This describes the Stellenbosch University Library on SU Open Day.

More than 1042 ‘enquiring minds’ visited the Stellenbosch University Library on SU Open Day, Saturday 24 February.  Visitors were warmly welcomed, and were keen to be taken on a short tour of the library.  Others were happy to explore at their own pace. Library staff who volunteered to be on duty were delighted to witness that in some instances a Matie (alumnus) had brought a younger family member or friend to show him or her around ‘his library’.

Prospective students were eager to ask questions including “does the library have novels?” and “what hours is the library open?”

Visitors enjoyed experiencing the Africana section and the Head of this section, Marieta Buys, was kept busy ‘quenching the thirst’ of curious minds, both young and mature. On display were the heaviest, as well as the oldest book owned by the library. The grandfather clock, donated by HB Thom, a former Rector of SU, attracted much attention. The clock was proclaimed an antique in 1963, and now has heritage object status according to Section 32 of the National Heritage Resources Act, 25 of 1999.  Another item which sparked the interest of visitors was the title deed of the land owned by Simon Van Der Stel in Stellenbosch.  Prospective students were left in awe of the wealth of material available in the Special Collections division of the Library and Information Service.

Overall, SU Open Day was a positive and worthwhile experience for the Library, and it seems from the response received, for our many visitors.

Left: Marieta Buys (third from right) explains to enthusiastic Open Day visitors about the Africana collection in the Africana Room. Pepler Head (far left), who was showing the group around the library, looks on.

 

Left:  A group of young ladies being shown through the Learning Commons on SU Open Day, by Paulette Talliard (far left).