UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURG

Strategic Plan

UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND LIBRARY STRATEGIC PLAN TOWARDS WITS 2010

1. INTRODUCTION

In 2002 the Library used the University?s strategic plan Shaping the Future to develop a mission, vision and strategic goals. These were approved by the then Academic Board and the Senate Library Committee.

The implementation of the Library?s Strategic Plan 2002-2005 over the past three years has strengthened the Library in a number of areas. These include, in particular, provision of electronic access, including remote access, to research resources; information skills support for academic staff, postgraduates and undergraduates; creation of a middle management level of senior librarians; enhancement of physical infrastructure and facilities, including the two Knowledge Commons; and the storage and preservation of digital copies of Wits theses and dissertations and of past examination papers. More importantly, the strategic planning process fostered a culture within the Library in which planning is valued. Our annual reports for the period record the many changes that have been made, and other notable achievements, during this time.

The University?s vision is to be recognized as an intellectual powerhouse in the developing world. Over the next five years the University hopes to sustain the many rich and diverse areas of quality performance. It will continue to be valued as the University that provides society with quality professionals and specialists in the humanities, while making the greatest national contribution to the natural sciences and engineering.

The Library recognizes the critical part it plays in the attainment of the University?s 2010 vision and mission in positioning itself as a research intensive institution. While committed to supporting the University?s research thrusts, the Library will endeavour to meet the wider expectations of students and staff for services that provide inspiration and information to support their study and research in a rapidly changing and expanding technological environment.

This implies that the Library should continue to strive to be the ?heart of the University.? Librarians will mediate knowledge acquisition and knowledge evaluation, organise materials, and teach students to access information efficiently and competently, utilizing the Library?s vast complex resources for research from their first undergraduate projects to post-doctoral work.

This plan for 2006-2010 is informed by the 2005 SWOT analysis carried out by Library staff as well as the Library?s Self Evaluation Report, undertaken by Library staff in preparation for the Quality Assurance audit of the University.

Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to the Wits Library staff for their enthusiastic, thoughtful and insightful input into the processes that led to the production of this plan, and especially to the Deputy University Librarians and Senior Management Team for steering the processes and providing invaluable editorial work.

Felix Ubogu
University Librarian
September 2006

2. VISION

The University of the Witwatersrand Library seeks to maintain and enhance its position as a leading academic library in the Republic of South Africa, in Africa, and in the world by sustaining globally competitive standards of excellence in library and information service.

3. MISSION

In pursuit of its vision the Library is committed to supporting the University in promoting freedom of enquiry and the search for knowledge and truth. It will do this through the provision of quality cost-beneficial library and information services and products that are innovative and sufficiently flexible to support the University?s strategic priorities of being research driven, building high level and scarce skills, engagement with strategic partners, intellectual achievement, and financial strength.

4. GOALS

4.1 ACADEMIC SERVICES

4.1.1 Research

Goal: The Library will provide high quality services, facilities and information resources and collections to contribute to and support increased research productivity of academic staff and the University?s research thrusts and research activities.

OBJECTIVES

  1. Develop collections, services and facilities in response to the specific research needs of the research community.
  2. Start implementing specifically the Library support of University research activities as outlined in the Carnegie Corporation Grant proposal document:
    • Provide better subject-specific in-depth expert assistance for Masters and doctoral students and other researchers.
    • Develop Library expertise in publishing trends, citation searching, specialist resources, techniques for maximum utilisation of databases, efficient compilation of bibliographies, literature review support, etc. and work in partnership with the Faculties, University Research Division and the Graduate Studies Committee to provide awareness of this.
    • Develop Research Commons as a ?space? for various research ?Communities of Practice?.
  3. In collaboration with the Faculties/Schools, organise seminar sessions/workshops for academic staff on the different information retrieval services that the Library currently provides.

4.1.2 Learning and Teaching

Goal: The Library will provide access to comprehensive and up-to-date information resources and collections and services; it will develop students ability to access and utilize information in order to succeed at Wits and beyond, to meet society?s skills needs and as lifelong learners.

OBJECTIVES

  1. Develop collections, services and facilities in response to the specific and changing teaching and learning needs of the University community;
  2. Integrate information resources and learning object repositories into the learning environments ;
  3. Maintain and expand physical and virtual access to ensure timely and convenient access to information;
  4. Develop information literacy delivery through inter-active self-learning modules;
  5. Expand and develop subject portals to support all courses offered at the University;
  6. Work with academic teaching staff to integrate information literacy into teaching and learning.

4.2 RESOURCES

4.2.1. Information resources and collections

Goal: The Library will continue to acquire, provide and enhance high quality information resources and collections that are appropriate for the support of the University?s teaching, learning and research mission and programmes.

The Library will strive to locate, maintain and preserve the Library?s collections, in all formats, according to appropriate international standards, so that these meet the educational and research needs of the University community.

OBJECTIVES

  1. Acquire, deliver and preserve information resources in all formats to support the University?s goals;
  2. Review and update the Library collection development policy, including levels of collection required in subject disciplines and digital formats;
  3. Develop an online order and reporting system to keep academic staff and Library staff better informed on the progress of specific orders placed;
  4. Develop more uniform and systematic involvement of senior and branch librarians with academic staff in the collection development and order process to ensure optimal development of subject collections;
  5. Develop and promote open access initiatives to showcase the University?s research output.

4.2.2 Human Resources

Goal: The Library will continue to recruit, develop, reward and strive to retain high calibre and service-oriented members of staff who are competent, individually and collectively, to deliver high level performance to achieve the Library?s goals. The Library will continue to work towards equity and transformation at all levels of staffing across the Library in accordance with the University 2006 Human Resources strategy.

OBJECTIVES

  1. Identify skills and knowledge required and training needed (including ICT skills) at all levels, to ensure full staff contribution to delivery of the goals of the Library within their own areas of responsibility;
  2. Increase development of subject knowledge of professional staff and greater awareness of disciplines within Schools and Faculties; increase knowledge of research methodology among senior professional staff;
  3. Encourage all staff to improve their own levels of qualification (from completing ?matric? to starting tertiary or professional study to enrolling for postgraduate or specialised post-basic study and publishing in the professional literature) and recognise these achievements by highlighting them in e.g. year-end review;
  4. Investigate implications for professional Library staff of the ?academic track? presented to Senate in 2006.

4.2.3 Infrastructure and environment

Goal: The Library will continue to upgrade and modernise physical facilities and equipment, and the teaching, learning and research environment within the Library.

OBJECTIVES

  1. Identify, prioritise and budget for infrastructure improvement needs with regard to
    • upgrading buildings or internal physical environments;
    • upgrading disabled access facilities;
    • upgrading ICT infrastructure and access for personal ICT equipment;
    • addressing issues of noise and behavioural management.
  2. Address urgent requirements for appropriate storage of older resources (and develop collaborative policies for off-site campus storage);
  3. Explore medium-term possibilities for consolidation of Library sites for more efficient/effective access to collections and services

4.2.4 Finance

Goal: The Library will strive to ensure adequate and appropriate financial support from within and outside the University, in order to continue to contribute towards the University?s strategic objectives. It will implement best practice in the management of its finances in accordance with University policy and practice.

OBJECTIVES

  1. Work towards ensuring agreement on, and obtaining an annual Library budget allocation compatible with the University?s desired status as a leading research-active higher education institution, and approved by SPARC.
  2. In line with University policy, seek external funding for Library resources, facilities and projects from all possible sources including commercial companies, foundations and alumni;
  3. Define a process whereby funding is identified and assured for resources and facilities required to support information resources for current and new academic and research programmes.

4.2.5 Information and Communication (ICT) infrastructure

Goal: The Library will implement appropriate state-of-the-art ICT to support teaching, learning, research and administration within the framework of the University?s ICT standards

OBJECTIVES

  1. Plan and implement extended Knowledge Commons facilities throughout the Library;
  2. Establish a rolling programme of hardware and software upgrades to ensure that the Library is able to keep up with IT developments and offer appropriate facilities to match curriculum requirements and user needs;
  3. Exploit the full potential of wireless and other new technologies and explore the use of SMS and email for Library communication with students and staff.

4.3 ENGAGEMENT

4.3.1 Partnership & Collaboration

Goal: The Library will continue to collaborate with other institutions and participate in regional, national and international initiatives. The Library will continue to be active in the external professional field/community of practice.

OBJECTIVES

  1. Lead/participate in consortial, regional, national and international professional initiatives and partnerships, including digital initiatives;
  2. Develop programmes and services with the Office of Alumni Affairs/ the Alumni Association for local, regional, national and international Wits alumni groups and individuals (in line with the University plan to attract greater funding from alumni)
  3. Review and revise policies and procedures for service to external users (including implementation of the CHELSA agreement, Corporate User and permit holders schemes, interlibrary loans, relationships with private higher and further education institutions)

4.3.2 Quality Assurance

Goal: The Library will provide academic support services of the highest quality, that position the Library as a leader in its field, through active participation in the University and national quality assurance processes.

OBJECTIVES

  1. Identify appropriate areas of Library facilities and services for benchmarking against other institutions
  2. Focus on users, and develop and implement a variety of mechanisms to obtain feedback to monitor performance against user expectations and requirements, including the possible implementation of LibQUALTM and the follow up to the HEQC SER Improvement Plan.
  3. Investigate and address required levels of service related to hours of Library access
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