Month: November 2024

The Library and Information Service extends its gratitude to everyone who participated in the recent Space Use Patterns and Diversity survey, which closed on 4 October 2024. With 886 responses—71% from undergraduate students—the survey provided valuable insights into library use patterns, preferred spaces and times and perceptions of diversity and inclusivity within the library. This feedback will play a crucial role in guiding future improvements to library spaces, hours and services.

Approximately 27% of respondents reported visiting the library daily, primarily to study. Over 69% of participants expressed satisfaction with the current physical library spaces and more than 79% felt that the library is inclusive and accommodating of individuals from diverse backgrounds. The Library team is now analysing nearly 3 000 valuable comments provided by survey participants.

To thank participants, the Library offered the chance to win one of three vouchers worth R1,500 each for use at a computer technology store. Congratulations to the lucky draw winners: Miss Zenande Siqwana, Ms Owam Nqamra, and Miss Anele Taumbe! At a prize-giving  on 30 October at Stellenbosch University Library, Misses Siqwana and Taumbe received their vouchers, while Ms Nqamra was presented with hers at the Medicine and Health Sciences Library.

Meet the Winners

Miss Zenande Siqwana, a second-year BA Humanities student from the Free State, shared her appreciation for the SU Library, where she studies daily with a clear focus on her dream of becoming a clinical psychologist. A passionate reader, she values the library’s supportive environment for both her academic and personal growth.

Miss Anele Taumbe, a first-year AgriSciences student from Umlazi, Durban, is aiming for a career in oenology and viticulture. For her, the SU Library is not only a quiet study spot but also a place to foster new friendships. Her recent library read inspired her by deepening her knowledge of food pairing with wines—an essential skill for her future career. In her spare time, she enjoys creative writing as a way to unwind.

Ms Owam Nqamra, a first-year Nursing student, received her voucher at the Medicine and Health Sciences Library on 8 November.

The Library appreciates all who participated in the survey and contributed to making the library a better place for everyone. For those who missed out this time, stay tuned for more opportunities to share feedback as we continue our commitment to fostering an inclusive, welcoming environment for all.

 

On 24 October 2024, Stellenbosch University (SU) Library celebrated International Open Access Week with a hybrid event focusing on the theme “Community Over Commercialisation.” Held in the SU Library Auditorium and streamed online, the event featured a panel discussion facilitated by the SU Library’s Director of Research Services, Dr. Siviwe Bangani. The panel included insights from influential voices in Open Science, both locally and internationally.

On SU’s Open Access Commitment

Opening the Discussion, Ms Ellen R. Tise, Senior Director: Library and Information Services, highlighted the university’s longstanding commitment to Open Access, from signing the Berlin Declaration in 2010, hosting Africa’s first Berlin Open Access Conference in 2012, and the Open Repositories conference in 2023. She spoke about the financial challenges, such as high subscription fees and fluctuations in local currency, that limit access for South African institutions. Tise also underscored the inequalities caused by “double dipping,” where publicly funded research becomes costly for the researchers themselves. She stressed that Open Access is essential for ensuring that African scholarship reaches a global audience.

Connecting Scholarship with Society
Prof. Marena Manley from SU’s Food Science department discussed how Open Access extends research impact beyond academia to benefit society. “It’s not just for other researchers; Open Access reaches the public,” she noted. Prof. Manley also emphasised quality control in Open Access publications, advocating for “open reviews” that involve public engagement to ensure research remains relevant and accessible. She highlighted the value of peer review and community feedback in maintaining high standards, comparable to those of traditional journals.

Reclaiming Scholarship: Challenging the Commercialisation of Knowledge
Dr. Reggie Raju,  Director: Research & Learning, University of Cape Town (UCT), spoke on the dominance of commercial publishers, arguing that scholarship should be a public good rather than a profit-driven commodity. He referenced initiatives like Diamond Open Access (DOA) as viable paths for reclaiming academic publishing from commercial interests. DOA is an open access publishing model where research is made freely available to readers and authors pay no Article Processing Charges (APCs) to publish. This model is often supported by institutions (including through Institutional repositories) or sponsors. DOA promotes equitable access to knowledge by removing financial barriers for both authors and readers. Dr. Raju also mentioned a class-action lawsuit in the U.S. against major publishers for allegedly blocking Open Access alternatives, which he sees as a critical step in restoring accessibility.

Furthermore, Raju was asked about the challenges unique to Global South researchers, who often feel pressured to align with Global North priorities. He described how “research pilgrimage” affects local relevance and noted the prohibitive costs of APCs for many South African researchers. He encouraged collaborations that would enable Global South academics to publish without high costs.

Policy and Inclusivity
In response to a question on policy’s role in mitigating commercial influence, Jeroen Sondervan, Programme Leader Open Scholarly Communication, Open Science NL at the Dutch Research Council (NWO) highlighted transformative agreements and policy reforms as essential. He advocated for Diamond Open Access to promote inclusive publishing, suggesting that funding for Open Access infrastructure could reduce reliance on traditional  metrics such as citations and h-index. To this, Dr. Raju added that policy change should include revisiting institutional reward systems to recognise Open Access contributions.

From Local to Global Impact: Open Access and the SDGs
Reflecting on Open Access’s broader role, Ms Tise linked it to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting its importance in education, health, poverty alleviation, and climate change. She noted how Open Access enabled rapid dissemination of COVID-19 research, emphasising that unrestricted access to information empowers communities to address societal challenges. However, she cautioned against the trend of rising publisher fees, which threaten accessibility.

Tise pointed out the need for ongoing education about Open Access models, which are constantly evolving. While libraries provide updates, she acknowledged that many researchers still struggle to navigate the options. She urged for simpler, more standardised Open Access agreements and encouraged researchers to look beyond traditional, high-prestige journals, noting initiatives like Diamond Open Access that promote free-to-publish and free-to-read models.

A Call to Action
The panel concluded with a shared commitment to foster Open Access policies that prioritise equity and community impact. As SU continues its advocacy, the event highlighted the transformative potential of Open Access to make research more inclusive, accessible, and beneficial for society.

 

Theresa Schoeman