|
 2006
Library Action Plans
Twenty one action plans have been developed to address problems that were
identified by repondents during the 2005 LibQual survey.
The complete list of action plans are listed on the
Library homepage and
include, among others, the following:
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The establishment of a "Knowledge Centre" in the JS Gericke Library
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Collection evaluation and the development of a collection development
policy
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Redesign of the Library website
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Further market research (by means of focus group discussions)
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The establishment of various communication channels for feedback from
clients
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An investigation into the hours of the Health Sciences Library
Enquiries: Lucia Schoombee, tel.: 808-2125 or Marié Roux, tel.:
808-2623
Further sharp increase in database usage
The usage statistics of databases continues to increase with more than 525
173 full-text electronic articles that were downloaded in 2005 as against
420 167 in 2004.
The increase in the usage of databases (searches)
is shown in the graph below which indicates the databases with
the highest usage in 2005.
Enquiries: Johan Mouton, tel.: 808-4641
The ten most popular databases
The Library currently provides access to more than 22 000
electronic journals that are included in more than 100 databases.
The ten databases with the highest usage in 2005, in terms of searches
performed, are:
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Academic Search Premier - 225 302
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PsycInfo - 176 196
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ScienceDirect - 163 405
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Business Source Premier - 45 138
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Web of Science - 45 138
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SACat - 43 574
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SA Studies - 34 224
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Index to SA Periodicals - 27 280
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ERIC - 20 545
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EconLit - 16 004
It is anticipated that database usage will increase further in future due to the
implementation of EZProxy verification software earlier this year that
facilitates off-campus access to electronic material.
Enquiries: Johan Mouton, tel.: 808-4641
|
 Documentation centre for music established
A documentation centre for music (DOMUS) has been established
in the Music Library at the Conservatoire to collect, organise, describe
and preserve music collections of composers and performing artists in an
ordered manner.
The Special Collections Division of the Music Library has been in existence
for a number of years during which time staff of the Music Library as well as
academic staff of the Music Department have worked on the collection on an
ad hoc basis. However, funds made available by the Vice-rector
(Research) and the Director of the Conservatoire enabled the appointment
of staff to develop the centre into a fully fledged research
source that has become DOMUS.
In addition to existing bequests of art music from the music fraternity, DOMUS
aims to include the musical and literary bequests of composers and performing artists that
are active in popular music and jazz. From a cultural and historical viewpoint
these genres often serve as a more significant barometer of our time than the
high culture of art music.
Enquiries: Beulah Gericke, tel.: 808-3713
 Collection
evaluation
A new evaluation instrument to determine the quality of the
Library collection will be implemented during the course of the year.
This evaluation instrument is based on a
collection
evaluation questionnaire. The results of the questionnaire will
be used to develop subject
profiles for the various subject areas in the Library collection. A
subject profile reflects the scope, relevancy and timeliness of the
Library collection within a specific subject area. The annual completion
of the collection evaluation questionnaire by academic departments will be
of the utmost importance to ensure that the quality of the Library's
collection is being maintained.
The results of the questionnaires will be made available to academic
departments by means of the Library homepage.
The collection evaluation questionnaires, which should be completed by 30
June, have already been distributed to academic departments.
Enquiries: Delene Pretorius, tel.: 808-4382
Geology Library relocated The Geology Library's
collection was moved to the JS Gericke Library during April 2006.
Books were integrated with the JS Gericke Library collection but their
location is still being displayed as "Geology Library" in the Library catalogue.
A number of the older Geology books that are not recorded in the Library catalogue are
temporarily housed in the Catalogue Division, but are available for
use by clients.
Journals have also been integrated with the JS Gericke collection.
Only approximately 20 journal titles still have to be recorded in the
Library catalogue and, in the meantime, may be consulted in the Journals
Division.
Enquries: Marita Landsberg, tel.: 808-4433 or Marianna Kritzinger,
tel.: 808-4888
New books
A selection of new books are displayed on
the Library Website weekly. Click
here to see more ...
A list of new material may also be requested from the
Library homepage.
Enquiries: Lucia Schoombee, tel.: 808-2125 or Marié Roux, tel.:
808-2623 |
