This document discusses an experiment by the University of Cape Town (UCT) to bridge the gap between theory and practice in library and information studies education.
UCT established its Library and Information Studies Centre (LISC) in 2012, locating it organizationally within UCT Libraries to facilitate close collaboration between academic and practical training. This was done to help graduates enter the workforce with understanding of contemporary issues like scholarly communication in the digital environment.
The partnership faced challenges to improve graduate quality and increase research, but worked to define new missions for academic libraries in facilitating knowledge creation and improving society through librarians as connectors of knowledge. This aligned the LISC with UCT's strategic goals and national needs to transform South
The Library Then and Now: Its Importance and Relevance to the Present Genera...Fe Angela Verzosa
presented at PAARL’s seminar outreach program on “The Essence of the Library as the Heart of an Educational Institution,” held at St. Augustine School, Iba, Zambales, Philippines on 2006 Sep 28
The Role of Libraries and Librarians in Information LiteracyPLAI STRLC
*Paper presented during the PLAI-STRLC Regional Conference on Promoting Information Literacy for Lifelong Learning, September 25, 2006 at Capuchin Retreat Center, Lipa City, Batangas
lecture presented by Elvira B. Lapuz at PAARL’s Seminar /Parallel Session-workshop on Library and Web 2011 (Holy Angel University, Angeles City, Pampanga, 19-20 August 2010)
The Library Then and Now: Its Importance and Relevance to the Present Genera...Fe Angela Verzosa
presented at PAARL’s seminar outreach program on “The Essence of the Library as the Heart of an Educational Institution,” held at St. Augustine School, Iba, Zambales, Philippines on 2006 Sep 28
The Role of Libraries and Librarians in Information LiteracyPLAI STRLC
*Paper presented during the PLAI-STRLC Regional Conference on Promoting Information Literacy for Lifelong Learning, September 25, 2006 at Capuchin Retreat Center, Lipa City, Batangas
lecture presented by Elvira B. Lapuz at PAARL’s Seminar /Parallel Session-workshop on Library and Web 2011 (Holy Angel University, Angeles City, Pampanga, 19-20 August 2010)
Keynote delivered at #asl2015 'The inside out library: collaboration, inspiration, transformation' by Helen Shenton Librarian & Archivist Trinity College Dublin.
February 27 2015
Supporting world-class research with ebooks at the University of OttawaLibrary_Connect
Katrine Mallan, Head of Acquisitions from the University of Ottawa explores the role of the library in growing a world-class research university with a collection that ranks among the top 5 research libraries in Canada.
The presentation uncovers challenges and opportunities and looks at the impact on daily workflow for librarians. Through sharing in the overarching goals of the university, librarians can ultimately spend more time on teaching, researching and developing innovative library services.
Presented on June 26, 2014 at the Elsevier APAC eBooks Forum held in Brisbane, Australia.
CCCOER: Regional Models for OER ImplementationUna Daly
Join us to hear from a statewide and a regional consortium who are establishing open education policy and collaboration models to accelerate the creation and adoption of OER across disciplines and crossing the segments from K-20.
Affordable Learning Pennsylvania, a grant-funded project lead by the Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium, Inc. (PALCI), is now entering its second year of supporting the creation of a robust OER community among higher education campuses throughout Pennsylvania and the region for the active development and use of open textbooks and related educational resources.
The Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) OER Policy and Implementation Summit in the fall of 2018 launched a regional effort to help Midwestern states to scale and expand their OER projects. Leadership teams from the 12 states are working with MHEC to develop and coordinate on action plans.
When: Wednesday, June 5, 12pm PT/ 3pm ET
Featured Speakers:
Bill Hemmig, Dean, Learning Resources and Online Learning, Bucks County Community College, Affordable Learning PA Steering Committee
Jenny Park, Director of Academic Leadership Initiatives, Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC)
Tanya Spilovoy, Director of Open Policy, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET)
We offer “free” usage to qualified teachers and schools. The IB Library is built by certified IB professionals. We are NOT an IB school or endorsed by IB. We love the IB educational foundation and concepts and we believe that this type of learning should be available to children everywhere.
CALMing the High Cost of Educational Resources: How CSUSM is Creating Alterna...Carmen Mitchell
Presented at the Digital Initiatives Symposium at the University of San Diego in April 2014.
Co-presenter, Barbara Taylor, Instructional Developer, Cal State San Marcos
The cost of a college education continues to rise, outpacing inflation and median income growth in the last decade. As a result, students are piling on debt and recent graduates are struggling under the weight of loans they wouldn't have needed 10 to 20 years ago.
The Cougars Affordable Learning Materials Project (CALM) is part of the CSU Affordable Learning Solutions initiative started in 2010. CALM aims to aid faculty in replacing costly textbooks with lower cost alternatives by using high-quality open educational resources (OER), library resources, digital or customized textbooks, and/or faculty-authored materials.
Keynote delivered at #asl2015 'The inside out library: collaboration, inspiration, transformation' by Helen Shenton Librarian & Archivist Trinity College Dublin.
February 27 2015
Supporting world-class research with ebooks at the University of OttawaLibrary_Connect
Katrine Mallan, Head of Acquisitions from the University of Ottawa explores the role of the library in growing a world-class research university with a collection that ranks among the top 5 research libraries in Canada.
The presentation uncovers challenges and opportunities and looks at the impact on daily workflow for librarians. Through sharing in the overarching goals of the university, librarians can ultimately spend more time on teaching, researching and developing innovative library services.
Presented on June 26, 2014 at the Elsevier APAC eBooks Forum held in Brisbane, Australia.
CCCOER: Regional Models for OER ImplementationUna Daly
Join us to hear from a statewide and a regional consortium who are establishing open education policy and collaboration models to accelerate the creation and adoption of OER across disciplines and crossing the segments from K-20.
Affordable Learning Pennsylvania, a grant-funded project lead by the Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium, Inc. (PALCI), is now entering its second year of supporting the creation of a robust OER community among higher education campuses throughout Pennsylvania and the region for the active development and use of open textbooks and related educational resources.
The Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) OER Policy and Implementation Summit in the fall of 2018 launched a regional effort to help Midwestern states to scale and expand their OER projects. Leadership teams from the 12 states are working with MHEC to develop and coordinate on action plans.
When: Wednesday, June 5, 12pm PT/ 3pm ET
Featured Speakers:
Bill Hemmig, Dean, Learning Resources and Online Learning, Bucks County Community College, Affordable Learning PA Steering Committee
Jenny Park, Director of Academic Leadership Initiatives, Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC)
Tanya Spilovoy, Director of Open Policy, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET)
We offer “free” usage to qualified teachers and schools. The IB Library is built by certified IB professionals. We are NOT an IB school or endorsed by IB. We love the IB educational foundation and concepts and we believe that this type of learning should be available to children everywhere.
CALMing the High Cost of Educational Resources: How CSUSM is Creating Alterna...Carmen Mitchell
Presented at the Digital Initiatives Symposium at the University of San Diego in April 2014.
Co-presenter, Barbara Taylor, Instructional Developer, Cal State San Marcos
The cost of a college education continues to rise, outpacing inflation and median income growth in the last decade. As a result, students are piling on debt and recent graduates are struggling under the weight of loans they wouldn't have needed 10 to 20 years ago.
The Cougars Affordable Learning Materials Project (CALM) is part of the CSU Affordable Learning Solutions initiative started in 2010. CALM aims to aid faculty in replacing costly textbooks with lower cost alternatives by using high-quality open educational resources (OER), library resources, digital or customized textbooks, and/or faculty-authored materials.
Personlig branding - Top chef på LinkedIn - WorkshopBodil Damkjær
Workshoppen henvender sig til top chefer, som gerne vil være fortrolig med LinkedIn. Det er hands on og alle medbringer computer og login til LinkedIn. Der er sat tid af til videndeling og debat om dos og don'ts...
Presentasi Final Exam kelas Perencanaan Kreatif Periklanan untuk kampanye iklan Nokia 5800 X-Press Music "Twice as Good, Half the Price"
CW : Lucky Budianto Ardhi
Slide Design : Lucky Budianto Ardhi
This presentation was given at the Colorado chapter's Business Marketing Association (BMA) roundtable. Brett Schklar presented on the B2B's approach to making Agile work in a fast-paced, ever-changing world of B2B Marketing.
Mod 1 the role of the teacher librarian and the schooltlspecial
UBC LLED 469: Role of the TL and the School Library Program
Module 1 presentation introduces students to the capacity of the teacher-librarian to support classroom teachers designing resource-based inquiry learning.
Paper Presented during International Conference on What’s next in libraries? Trends, Space, and partnerships held during January 21-23, 2015 at NIT Silchar, Assam. It is being jointly organized by NIT Silchar, in association with its USA partner the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Decolonising the academic library: opening the library doorsdecolonisingdmu
Kaye Towlson, De Montfort University
In a recent workforce mapping exercise sponsored by the Chartered Institute of Information professionals (CiLiP) less than 5% of the survey sample (4336) identified with a “non-white” ethnicity. The overwhelming whiteness of the library sector is well established. Decolonising DMU offered opportunities to address this issue. Experience of this has been positive for post incumbents and library staff.
At DMU our library staff profile reveals 17% identify as a person of colour. This figure fails to reflect the local demographic profile (57% Leicester City population is of a minoritised ethnicity) or the DMU student cohort, approximately 50% students of colour:50%white students.
Research shows a sense of belonging and connectedness with the institution will encourage help seeking and a diverse staff profile to be beneficial (NUS 2011). Although usage statistics reveal the LLS typical user to be a female of colour and more students of colour engage with learning support services, there is a social justice imperative to enable diversity and cultural representation within the library and information service workforce. Mindful of barriers to entering this sector the delivery of a Library Traineeship funded through Decolonising DMU and the uptake of institutional paid internships is offered as a slow burn path to decolonising libraries.
This session charts the development and delivery of a Library Trainee role within De Montfort university Library and Learning Services 2021 –2023. Opportunities afforded to and by the Library Trainee role will be noted and ways of maximising work opportunities through institutional paid internships will be discussed. The positive impact these roles have on the experience of staff within the institution and the role holders, the learning that flows from this approach are offered as a positive, although incremental way forward to making the academic library workforce more diverse.
This presentation was delivered at Reimagining Higher Education: journeys of decolonising at De Montfort University, Leicester, on Wednesday 8th November 2023.
Demonstrating the Value of Academic Libraries in Times of Uncertainty: A Rese...OCLC
Connaway, Lynn Silipigni. 2017. “Demonstrating the Value of Academic Libraries in Times of Uncertainty: A Research Agenda for Student Learning and Success.” Presented at the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, April 7.
Demonstrating the Value of Academic Libraries in Times of Uncertainty: A Rese...Lynn Connaway
Connaway, Lynn Silipigni. 2017. “Demonstrating the Value of Academic Libraries in Times of Uncertainty: A Research Agenda for Student Learning and Success.” Presented at the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, April 7.
Innovative library services a case study of rayat shikshan sanstha’s ycis sat...अमोल खोब्रागडे
Library is considered as an important part of the college which is the major learning resource for the students and staff. As per the changing time, role of library is also being changed. Advanced technology has been utilized by the library to provide library services. The main aim of library is to avail the various reading material and learning resources to the students and work for the amusement and imbibe values in the readers by reading various autobiographies of great leaders. Students get inspirations and life-force for their future life by reading.
Library and information science (LIS) is a multi-disciplinary and dynamic field which adapts rapidly to technological and social developments, and keeps pace with emerging ideas and technologies. The willingness of library and information professionals to proactively accept changes and venture into new knowledge territories is helping the LIS discipline to stay relevant and useful in the fast changing society. Other factors that are driving innovation and creativity in LIS, are the popularity of the Web as an alternative source for information acquisition as well as competition from non-library agencies now involved in information provision.
Information and communication Technology (ICT) has been considered as the most instrumental factor for the change in the mode of delivery of library services. General and traditional services of the library have been influenced with the introduction of new innovative practices, because of application of new ICT –based products and services.
Rayat Shikshan Sanstha
Late Padmabhushan Dr. Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil founded Rayat Shikshan Sanstha in 1919 with a view to provide education to all classes of the society. “Education through self help” is our motto. Rayat Shikshan Sanstha is the biggest educational institution in Asia in a class of its own. It is spread over 14 districts of Maharashtra and 1 district of Karnataka having 674 branches which include colleges, industrial training institutes, high schools, primary and pre-primary schools and ashram shalas. At present it caters to the educational need of upto 4.5 lakh students through excellence human resource of 1800 workforce.
Karmaveer Vidhya Probodhini is the academic council of our institution involved in undertaking the projects indigenously to keep pace with the challenges in the competitive world.
General criteria for high quality open access journalsIna Smith
Access the recording at http://webinar.assaf.org.za/playback/presentation/0.9.0/playback.html?meetingId=64bc87cc9da0731f5d8fc426bf700e593aeddd92-1479448454255
Unit 8 - Information and Communication Technology (Paper I).pdfThiyagu K
This slides describes the basic concepts of ICT, basics of Email, Emerging Technology and Digital Initiatives in Education. This presentations aligns with the UGC Paper I syllabus.
Operation “Blue Star” is the only event in the history of Independent India where the state went into war with its own people. Even after about 40 years it is not clear if it was culmination of states anger over people of the region, a political game of power or start of dictatorial chapter in the democratic setup.
The people of Punjab felt alienated from main stream due to denial of their just demands during a long democratic struggle since independence. As it happen all over the word, it led to militant struggle with great loss of lives of military, police and civilian personnel. Killing of Indira Gandhi and massacre of innocent Sikhs in Delhi and other India cities was also associated with this movement.
The French Revolution, which began in 1789, was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France. It marked the decline of absolute monarchies, the rise of secular and democratic republics, and the eventual rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. This revolutionary period is crucial in understanding the transition from feudalism to modernity in Europe.
For more information, visit-www.vavaclasses.com
2024.06.01 Introducing a competency framework for languag learning materials ...Sandy Millin
http://sandymillin.wordpress.com/iateflwebinar2024
Published classroom materials form the basis of syllabuses, drive teacher professional development, and have a potentially huge influence on learners, teachers and education systems. All teachers also create their own materials, whether a few sentences on a blackboard, a highly-structured fully-realised online course, or anything in between. Despite this, the knowledge and skills needed to create effective language learning materials are rarely part of teacher training, and are mostly learnt by trial and error.
Knowledge and skills frameworks, generally called competency frameworks, for ELT teachers, trainers and managers have existed for a few years now. However, until I created one for my MA dissertation, there wasn’t one drawing together what we need to know and do to be able to effectively produce language learning materials.
This webinar will introduce you to my framework, highlighting the key competencies I identified from my research. It will also show how anybody involved in language teaching (any language, not just English!), teacher training, managing schools or developing language learning materials can benefit from using the framework.
The Roman Empire A Historical Colossus.pdfkaushalkr1407
The Roman Empire, a vast and enduring power, stands as one of history's most remarkable civilizations, leaving an indelible imprint on the world. It emerged from the Roman Republic, transitioning into an imperial powerhouse under the leadership of Augustus Caesar in 27 BCE. This transformation marked the beginning of an era defined by unprecedented territorial expansion, architectural marvels, and profound cultural influence.
The empire's roots lie in the city of Rome, founded, according to legend, by Romulus in 753 BCE. Over centuries, Rome evolved from a small settlement to a formidable republic, characterized by a complex political system with elected officials and checks on power. However, internal strife, class conflicts, and military ambitions paved the way for the end of the Republic. Julius Caesar’s dictatorship and subsequent assassination in 44 BCE created a power vacuum, leading to a civil war. Octavian, later Augustus, emerged victorious, heralding the Roman Empire’s birth.
Under Augustus, the empire experienced the Pax Romana, a 200-year period of relative peace and stability. Augustus reformed the military, established efficient administrative systems, and initiated grand construction projects. The empire's borders expanded, encompassing territories from Britain to Egypt and from Spain to the Euphrates. Roman legions, renowned for their discipline and engineering prowess, secured and maintained these vast territories, building roads, fortifications, and cities that facilitated control and integration.
The Roman Empire’s society was hierarchical, with a rigid class system. At the top were the patricians, wealthy elites who held significant political power. Below them were the plebeians, free citizens with limited political influence, and the vast numbers of slaves who formed the backbone of the economy. The family unit was central, governed by the paterfamilias, the male head who held absolute authority.
Culturally, the Romans were eclectic, absorbing and adapting elements from the civilizations they encountered, particularly the Greeks. Roman art, literature, and philosophy reflected this synthesis, creating a rich cultural tapestry. Latin, the Roman language, became the lingua franca of the Western world, influencing numerous modern languages.
Roman architecture and engineering achievements were monumental. They perfected the arch, vault, and dome, constructing enduring structures like the Colosseum, Pantheon, and aqueducts. These engineering marvels not only showcased Roman ingenuity but also served practical purposes, from public entertainment to water supply.
Ethnobotany and Ethnopharmacology:
Ethnobotany in herbal drug evaluation,
Impact of Ethnobotany in traditional medicine,
New development in herbals,
Bio-prospecting tools for drug discovery,
Role of Ethnopharmacology in drug evaluation,
Reverse Pharmacology.
This is a presentation by Dada Robert in a Your Skill Boost masterclass organised by the Excellence Foundation for South Sudan (EFSS) on Saturday, the 25th and Sunday, the 26th of May 2024.
He discussed the concept of quality improvement, emphasizing its applicability to various aspects of life, including personal, project, and program improvements. He defined quality as doing the right thing at the right time in the right way to achieve the best possible results and discussed the concept of the "gap" between what we know and what we do, and how this gap represents the areas we need to improve. He explained the scientific approach to quality improvement, which involves systematic performance analysis, testing and learning, and implementing change ideas. He also highlighted the importance of client focus and a team approach to quality improvement.
1. University of Cape Town
Library and Information Studies Centre
15th LIASA Annual Conference: libraries in dialogue for
transformation and innovation, Cape Town International
Convention Centre, Cape Town, 8-11 October 2013
Bridging the theory-practice gap in
LIS education: a UCT experiment
Jaya Raju & Gwenda Thomas
2.
3. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Overview
• Introduction
• Purpose of the paper
• Methodological approach
• Conceptual framework: theory and practice in higher education
• Bridging the theory-practice gap in LIS education: UCT Libraries
• Bridging the theory-practice gap in LIS education: LIS School at UCT
• Lessons, the way forward and conclusion
3
4. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Introduction
• Recurrent tension between theory and practice in
LIS – well documented (Chu 2010; Lynch 2008)
• “Inclusive” rather than a dichotomous
conceptualisation of relationship between theory
and practice is a “holistic necessity for
professional development” (Stigmar 2010)
4
5. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Introduction
• LIS graduates entering a world of work (higher
education) - transformed by “the revolution in
scholarly communication”
• These changes have dramatically affected all
aspects of academic library operations (Davis &
Moran 2005)
• Do LIS schools “really understand the
increasingly complex … academic libraries … in
the digital environment…? (Barthhorpe 2012)
5
6. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Purpose of the paper
• Universities globally restructuring themselves for
efficiency purposes in a highly competitive higher
education environment (Raju 2013)
• UCT LIS School: organisational locus within the
university libraries; academic home in the
Humanities Faculty
• Paper uses a conceptual framework to mount a
critical evaluation of the implementation of this
model
6
7. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Methodological approach
• Evaluative approach
• Evaluation as a research tool aims to assess the
“impact of social interventions” within a particular
“social context” (Babbie 2013)
• ‘Evaluation indicators’ drawn from the experiences
of Executive Director of UCT Libraries and the
Head of the LIS School at UCT - qualitative element
7
8. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Theoretical framework: theory and
practice in higher education
8
Theory and practice: from segregation to integration (Source: Stigmar 2010)
theory
practice
theory and practice
9. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Bridging the theory-practice
gap in LIS education: UCT Libraries
9
10. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
LIS education at UCT: past & present
• UCT School of Librarianship established in 1939
• University Librarian was head of the Library and the
Library school until the mid-1970s
• Senate decision to close the school in 2011
• LIS education re-established in 2012 as the Library
and Information Studies Centre (LISC) with a three
year window of opportunity
• LIS School located organisationally in the UCT
Libraries & offers its qualifications through the
Humanities Faculty
10
11. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Re-establishing the partnership
• The organisational model facilitated the way for a close
relationship between academic project and practice
• Vision developed over two years to grow the next
generation of librarians able to enter the workplace with
a sound understanding of scholarly communication
systems, associated specialisations and contemporary
issues
• Resulted in some tough exchanges and debates to
recognise and respect what was expected of both the
Libraries and the LIS school – the social intervention and
social context of the partnership
11
12. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
UCT Libraries & the Library School:
challenges of a new social context
• Quality of the graduates needs to improve to meet the
workplace requirements as determined by the
practitioners
• The student cohort would need to grow over the next 3
years and attract a different calibre of student if the LIS
school is to be sustainable
• Student, academic and practitioner research productivity
would need to increase
• National imperative to produce the next generation of
academic librarians
• Urgent need to address the theory-practice gap in LIS
education
12
13. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Academic libraries are located in a
new ‘social context’
• Academic Libraries are framed in & defined by all the
cross-cutting influences of the knowledge economy &
globalization;
• They have become “unhinged” from their traditional
frame of reference based on functions (user services,
acquisitions, cataloguing);
• Academic libraries find themselves between two
missions:
-an old traditional order focused on functions
-a new transformational order shaped by
globalisation, the knowledge economy, user
expectations and institutional priorities
13
14. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Towards a transformational mission
for librarians
• R. David Lankes in “The Atlas of New Librarianship” (2011)
advances that the new mission of librarians is:
“to improve society by facilitating knowledge creation in
their user communities.”
• Shift from an old traditional order where library missions
were function-based to a new mission shaped by 3 drivers
of transformation:
- knowledge creation
- people and skills
- using knowledge & skills to improve society to the
benefit of all communities
14
15. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
The “three pillars” of transformation are
shaping the mission of academic libraries
• LIS schools to LIS departments
15
PILLARS CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
PILLAR 1: KNOWLEDGE & INNOVATION
Facilitate knowledge creation
ACADEMIC LIBRARIES
Academic library as a “commons” within the
user community where knowledge is
produced/created
PILLAR 2: PEOPLE
People & skills development
USER COMMUNITIES
Foremost, libraries are communities of users,
physical or virtual
ACADEMIC LIBRARIANS
Librarians as facilitator, liaison, connector &
disseminator of universal body of knowledge
PILLAR 3: SOCIAL GOOD
Improve society
NATION & CITIZENS
Body of Knowledge disseminated & used to
bring benefit to all in society
16. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Scholarly communication system:
core to the academic enterprise
• Scholarly communication is more than scholarly
publishing
• It is sustained by both formal and informal networks
• Scholars develop ideas, exchange information, build
and mine data, cite and give credit, certify research,
publish findings, disseminate results and preserve
outputs
• It is a vast and changing system
• Central to the academic enterprise and therefore,
• Central to the work of academic librarians
∼ACRL 2012∽
16
17. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Towards scholarly communication
librarianship: a new social context
• Journal of scholarly communication & librarianship launched in 2012
• Recognises increasingly prominent role of librarians in shaping
future of scholarly communication
• Scholarly communication librarianship is becoming a core service
area for academic librarians
• Important that there is an institutional and intellectual home that
becomes the centre for policy, direction and procedure to bring
stakeholders together – librarians, academics, technologists,
publishers and research funders
• Scholarly communication librarianship is the “new librarianship” in a
new social context
17
18. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies 18
19. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Through the transformation lens: a
reality check
Transforming academic libraries in the global context
SA academic libraries in a context of cross-cutting
influences
Global impact of new mission for academic libraries
National imperatives to transform South African society
Institutional strategic priorities and outcomes
19
Higher Education within the context of a
transforming South African society and economy
20. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Strategic priorities Critical success factors
Pillar 1: People & skills
Produce next generation of academics for SA
& the rest of the continent
• Graduate & train next generation of academics for SA,
the continent & beyond
• Grow number of academics with PG qualifications
Pillar 2: Knowledge creation
Establish HEIs as leading, globally
competitive, research-led institutions but
with a competitive edge rooted in the African
continent
• Strengthen research & make SA globally competitive
•Grow the body of African knowledge
• Grow faculty research productivity
• Increase research oriented degrees
• Grow research intensive teaching-learning
• Successful student education & graduation
Pillar 3: Improving society
Transformation in broader society to improve
the quality of life for all communities across
South Africa, & beyond
• Diverse & talented workforce within an inclusive &
nurturing institution
• Deliver on high level knowledge & skills requirements of
marketplace
• Graduates who are critical thinkers & leaders &
confident users of information
HEIs Strategic outcomes: advancing
transformation of South African society
21. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
UCT Libraries: the challenge of the
new social context
• Transformational mission has placed Libraries &
LISC at intersection of new librarianship and
national imperatives for South African higher
education
• LIS School required to frame its curricula to
embrace and advance scholarly communication
librarianship
• Libraries are confronted with the demands and
complexities of technologies, digital environment
and scholarly communication system
21
22. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Role of the educator in scholarly
communication librarianship
• New graduates have to be equipped for jobs in
academic libraries
• Educators need to understand the complexities of:
• - technologies
• - digital environment
• - scholarly communication system
• Curricula should include more content about IPR,
publishing, data management to produce graduates
who offer relevant services, lead discussions and
conduct useful research
22
23. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
UCT Libraries: the challenge of the
transformational mission
• Advance research and scholarship by:
- develop the research workforce
- partnering & engaging with
researchers & scholars in the
production, dissemination &
presentation of knowledge
- provide support at all stages of the
research cycle from idea generation
to research process & publication
23
24. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Roles and skills required to advance
research & scholarship
• Building new research information infrastructure
• Optimising researcher access to resources
• Developing digitisation strategy as integral part of
supporting unique and distinctive collections (large
scale digitisation as well as physical preservation)
• Being a responsible steward of unique and local
collections
• Playing an integral role in integrating special
collections in curricula
24
25. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Roles and skills required to advance
research & scholarship
• Investing in institutional repository development &
open access hosting
• Developing digitisation strategy to sustain local and
unique collections
• Providing leadership in research data management
services
• Providing leadership in metadata creation and
management
• Develop specialist skills in financial management,
statistics, web design, spatial planning and project
management
25
26. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Bridging the theory-practice gap: the
LIS School at UCT
• 2012 - radical review of teaching and research
programmes
• Firmly located within a strategic framework
• Curriculum renewal informed by trends re-defining
the LIS sector
• progamme enriched by dove-tailing
epistemological grounding with application input
from specialist practitioners from UCT Libraries
26
27. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Bridging the theory-practice gap: the
LIS School at UCT
• Seamless access to expertise from Library
specialists without any budgetary implications for
the School
• Positively influenced qualification outcomes and
quality of entry-level graduates being produced
• Curriculum designers - a close-up view of
knowledge, skills and competencies required of
practising professionals in a digital age information
environment
27
28. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Bridging the theory-practice gap: the
LIS School at UCT
• School’s research too benefitted from its inclusive
relationship with UCT Libraries
• Proximity of the School to a practising
environment transformed by technology - has
impacted on the School’s research agenda
• Steadily increasing registrations for research
degrees focusing on new areas in scholarly
communication in the digital environment
• Cohort and team research projects
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29. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Bridging the theory-practice gap: the
LIS School at UCT
• Champion to recognise the work and contribution of
the LIS School
• Not just ‘a bed of roses’ - challenges
• Two different worlds informed by different priorities
and with philosophical differences in our approaches
• Respect for each other’s space, expertise and working
cultures
• Inclusive working relationship between the two
domains
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30. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Bridging the theory-practice gap: the
LIS School at UCT
• LIS School - significant strides
• Student registrations and throughput rates
• Exceeded projections in the School’s business plan
on which its budget allocation is based
• Robust marketing and branding
• Attracting young graduates who have just
completed bachelor degrees
• Budget and other support from UCT Libraries
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31. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Lessons, the way forward and
conclusion
• Inherent tension between LIS practitioners and
educators/theory and practice - likely to continue
• But “LIS educators and practitioners working
together can ensure that tomorrow’s professionals
will be well prepared to enter the field” (Davis and
Moran 2005)
• Evaluative accounts - drawn qualitatively from
respective ‘head’ roles - does, despite inherent
challenges, point to a positive trajectory
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32. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Lessons, the way forward and
conclusion
• Lesson from this unique experiment:
theory and practice, in any professional discipline, are best
conceptualised ‘inclusively’ rather than ‘dichotomously’
• Whatever our prevailing ‘social contexts” in the
institutions we find ourselves
LIS educators and practitioners should make a tangible
effort to bridge the theory-practice divide
• “Theory and practice vitally interact, and one renews
the other” – theory and practice are “tied inseparably
to each other” (Boyer 1990)
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33. A school of choice in Africa for
Library and Information Studies
Thank you!
Jaya Raju & Gwenda Thomas
Library and Information Studies Centre/UCT Libraries
University of Cape Town
jaya.raju@uct.ac.za/gwenda.thomas@uct.ac.za
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