CPUT Library Annual Report 2015

Abstract

In 2015 CPUT Libraries continued with its mission and goals to support the academic project with a range of information products and related support services. Our existence within the Knowledge Information and Technology Services (KITS) Division since 2013 has enabled us to leverage new technologies, services and approaches to the delivery of our core business to the university community. The collaboration with faculties and departments has been growing from strength to strength especially in the provision of Information Literacy programmes by faculty librarians. We continue to enjoy strong partnerships and relationships with the Research Technology, Innovation and Partnerships Division and through this we have been able to advance research data management services, bibliometrics and advanced information literacy programmes to the research community. As a university library we have taken a lead in the country in building research data management services, systems and structures and we hope to build on this sound foundation. On the national and regional level we continue to play an important role in CALICO, CHELSA, SANLIC and the professional association LIASA. At international level a number of exchange programmes with two universities – Virginia Tech in the United States and Oslo and Akershus University College in Norway (HOiA) – enabled successful staff exchange activities and as well as joint workshops and presentations. The financial challenges that the Higher Education sector in South Africa are facing are also impacting negatively on some of our operations. Some of the electronic databases have been cancelled and the introduction of VAT on electronic resources has seen our overall expenditure on information resources go down. This poses a threat to the growing research landscape at CPUT that needs to be supported with a sustainable information resource base. In 2016 we will continue to strengthen our collaborations and partnerships to ensure that library services and products are at the core of supporting the institutional goal of being at the HEART OF TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION in AFRICA