Pavlinka Kovatcheva,

Faculty Librarian: Natural Sciences

pkovatcheva@uj.ac.za

University of Johannesburg, South Africa

The Technologically Challenged Academic Librarian: What has changed in the provision of information services in

the age of social interactions?

IAMSLIC Conference19 October 2011, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Presentation Outline

•South African Research Environment

•University of Johannesburg Research

- Faculty of Science

- Zoology Department

• Online Resources for Zoology Users

•SA Libraries & UJ Library overview

•The Transformation of a Science Librarian

- The Transitional experience

- The Web 2.0 experience

- The Mobile experience

- The Embedded librarian experience

• In Conclusion

South African Research Environment

The South African Higher Education2003-2004 started with reforms in the HEMergers/Incorporation of small Universities /Technikons

into Larger InstitutionsFrom 32 to 21 Public UniversitiesDivided into three type of Universities- Traditional Universities (Theoretically oriented)- Universities of Technologies (Vocational/Practical) - Comprehensive Universities (Combination of both)Large in student numbersFocus on ResearchFocus on 1st generation students

Top Africa Universities Ranking (Jul 2011)

http://www.webometrics.info/top100_continent.asp?cont=africa

South African Research: Subject Areas (2009-2010)

http://www.scimagojr.com/aboutus.php

Country Ranking: Research in Aquatic Science (2010)

Country Ranking: Research in Animal Science & Zoology (2010)

University of Johannesburg

Faculty of Science &the Department of Zoology

The University of JohannesburgThe University of Johannesburg came in existence from a merger between the Technikon Witwatersrand, Rand Afrikaans University and Vista Universities in 2005. • Over 45,000 students• 9 Faculties on 4 Campuses• 5 Academic Libraries

Challenges for the SA Education:• Poverty and Crime• Cultural and Language diversity• Urban vs Rural education• Access to Internet and Bandwidth • Information and Computer Literacy

http://www.uj.ac.za/

UJ Faculty of Science overview

14 Departments2 Campuses2010 - 151 permanent & 79

non-permanent academics94.5% of the Academics are

with Masters56.3% are with Doctorate

degrees

2010 Science Students Enrolment

- Undergraduates 2332- Postgraduates 584

Up-to 90 Rated Researchers in 2010

http://www.uj.ac.za/EN/Faculties/science/Pages/default.aspx

UJ Zoology DepartmentIn existence for 43 yearCurrently 10 academic staff members & 6 support staffResearch active departmentPublished almost 1000 manuscripts Well known for its work in freshwater biology, specifically

with regard to biodiversity of freshwater animals and the effect of pollutants on the histology, morphology and physiology of animals.

Lectures in Zoology, Human Physiology, Human Anatomy, Ocular Anatomy and Physiology and Microbiology – 17 semester courses, almost 750 undergrads and almost 60 postgrads students Source

Zoology Department Research Areas (1)Current Research in Genetics Research in Fish ParasitologyThe Centre for Aquatic Research (CAR) research projects focuses

into the field of fresh water and estuarine ecotoxicology. - Hartbeespoort Dam Water Monitoring and Algae Management

Program- Monitoring of metallic and organic pollutants along the South African coastline- Ecological Risk Assessment for pesticides at Vaal harts Irrigation Scheme- Marine Fish Parasitic Isopods from Southern Africa- Ecological Risk Assessment of Nanomaterials in the Aquatic Environment, etc.

Zoology Department Research Areas (2)Research in Fish Histopathology and Reproductive

BiologyResearch in Comparative Respiratory Functional

MorphologyFETWater programme in Rivers and WetlandsAquarium facilityCollaborations:Students & Research Exchange with the University of

Hong KongCollaboration with the University of Hokkaido,

Sapporo, Japan

http://www.uj.ac.za/EN/Faculties/science/departments/zoology/Pages/Econ@UJ.aspx

Where does the UJ Aquatic Researchers Publish?

AFRICAN ZOOLOGY (ISI Accredited)AFRICAN JOURNAL OF AQUATIC SCIENCE (ISI

Accredited)ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETYENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGYHUMAN AND ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENTMARINE POLLUTION BULLETINPHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY OF THE EARTHSOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE (Open

Access, ISI Accredited)WATER SA (Open Access, Accredited Journal)

Online resources for zoology users

Online Resources for Zoology Researchers

http://ujsciencelibrarian.pbwiki.com/Zoology

Online Book Collections

http://ujsciencelibrarian.pbworks.com/Online-Books

UJ Zoology Department Institutional Repository:UJDigispace

http://ujdigispace.uj.ac.za:8080/dspace/

Open Access Science Directory

http://atoz.ebsco.com/Titles/8623?lang=en&lang.menu=en&lang.subject=en

The university of Johannesburg library

the south African libraries

National Consortium (SANLiC)

Library Associations (SAOUG; LIASA; SLIS, etc.)

Carnegie Foundations for SA Libraries

Open Access in SA – SciEloInstitutional RepositoriesWeb 2.0 technologiesMobile technologies (iBala)

SA Libraries Initiatives UJ Library Highlights

5 Libraries in 4 campusesArchive & Institutional

Repository CollectionsDewey projectMobile projecteReaders projectOne-book-One Library

project Open Access Seminar,

26 October 2011http://www.scielo.org.za/

The Transformation of a Science Librarian

A Web 2.0 experienceThe technological & social

librarian

The Metamorphosis Life of a Librarian

The 80s – The traditional roleThe 90s – The transitional role The 1st decade of the 21st Century - The growing online access to Information

- The implementation of Web 2.0 Technologies - The increase use of Mobile Technologies

- The practice of Embedded LibrarianshipThe 2nd decade of the 21st Century - It is all about Embedded Librarianship, Social

Media, Mobile Devices & Applications, eReaders & Tablets, Open Access….

Adapting to the changing needs of patrons, make it a necessity for the libraries and librarians

to embrace the new technologies.

The transitional role of the Modern LibrarianThe Traditional

Librarian do:• Information Retrieval• Reference Services• User Education &

Information Literacy• Collection

Development• Marketing the Library

Services & Resources

• Liaison with Library stakeholders

The Web 2.0 Librarian make use of:

• Blogs • Social Networking • Social Bookmarking • RSS feeds• Wikis• Instant Messaging• Mind Maps• Podcasts & Videos • Widgets

To ENHANCE her TRADITIONAL role by contributing, sharing and collaborating with patron

The Mobile Librarian provides:

• Library services on the GO!

• Access to Mobile Library catalogues, websites, services & resources

• 24/7 access• Social Interactions

via Mobile Web 2.0 Applications

• Current Awareness

To BRIDGE the GAP in social interaction

Helps PATRONS within the Library Physical wall

UJ Sciences Librarian Web 2.0 Strategy

Stage 1: 2007-2008 (Individual Experiments)

Created accounts to the following tools:

- UJ Sciences Librarian Blog (Oct’07)- UJ Librarian News Blog (Oct’ 07)- Delicious: tag articles (Oct’ 07)- Flickr account (Nov’ 07)- YouTube account (Dec’ 07)- Wiki portal (Early’ 08)- Facebook profile (May’ 08) - Second Live account (May’08)- Mind Maps (Mid’ 08)- Twitter (Sep’08)- Library Thing account (Sep’ 08)- UJ Science Library News Blog (Oct’08)- Technorati; Snap Shots; Share This;

Scribd, LinkedIn, many more …..

Stage 2: 2009 (Integration + further experimentation)

Updated the Wiki Portal (Jan’ 09)- Over 45 web pages

- IM/Chat account: MeeboMe (Feb’09)- Embedded Widgets on the Portal (IM; Blogs; Twitter; Delicious; Google widgets, etc.)Some more experiments:

- iGoogle web profile (Apr’ 09)- Netvibes portal (May’09)- Custom Search Engine for the Portal- Library Google Maps (Aug’ 09)

Stage 3: 2010 +It all comes together within the:

- Virtual Learning Environment- Embedding Library Services - Mobile Technologies

Adapted from Chua, 2008

Support to users with the Technological & Social Tools

Library News; Library Services; Projects & Initiatives; Trial databases; New databases; Publisher’s news and updates; etc.

http://ujscienceslibrarynews.wordpress.com/

BLOGS

SOCIAL BOOKMARKING & SHARING

Implications for Librarians, Researchers and LearnersTagging information resources with keywords has changed the

way we store and find information.Use Social Bookmarking & Sharing websites to:- Simplify the distribution of Reference lists, bibliographies,

articles; news and other resources among peers and students

- Use for Current Awareness and Selective Dissemination of information (articles, news; ToC, websites; blog posts, etc.)

- Databases with Social Bookmarking: ACS, RSC, EbscoHost, IOP, etc.

http://delicious.com/sciencelibrarian

SOCIAL NETWORKING& SHARING

Use your Researchers

FB to reach to

them

http://twitter.com/#!/ujlibscience

WIKI: UJ SCIENCES LIBRARIAN PORTAL

Provide access to:- Sciences Subject Portals- Teaching, Research & Undergraduates

Support for Sciences users- Top Electronic Resources for Sciences- User Education, Guides & Tutorials- Virtual Learning Environment: Special

websites with instructions for Courses & Assignments

- Social Networking tools: Twitter; IM/Chat; Library & Research News (blogs); Social Bookmarking (articles)

- Current Awareness Services

Aim: Make scientific information

easily accessibleTailored made contentOne stop to find subject specific

informationPromote Open Access initiatives Integrate Library & Internet

Resources

http://ujsciencelibrarian.pbworks.com/

http://ujsciencelibrarian.pbwiki.com/Zoology

INSTANT MESSAGING

The Transformation of a Science Librarian

The Mobile experience

The Mobile Librarian

To BRIDGE the GAP in

Social Interaction

The Mobile Academic Librarian provides:

• 24/7 Access to the Library catalogue, websites, services & resources

• Social Interactions via Mobile Web 2.0 Applications

• Current Awareness to Services and Resources

• Information Retrieval & Reference Services

• eBook Readers on loan

At the PALM of your PATRONS HANDS

Why make use of the Web 2.0 Apps on your Mobile?Bridging the GAP in being connected & informedYou are the Librarian on the GO! Increase the visibility of the Library & yourself as a librarianYou are connected at any time to your Social Network community Use Twitter to tweet or re-tweet from conferences, workshops,

while waiting in a queue or just walkingPush notifications keeps you up-to-date with the latest news an

developments in any area of interestTo be able to train and advice your patrons of what they can access

on their MobileMobile Access to Online books, Locations, Educational

Applications, Entertainment, Research; Latest news, Chats, Photo sharing, Google are at the palm of your hand.

You are the MOBILE REFERENCE LIBRARIAN!

iPhone Examples

QR Code UJ Library Catalogue

QR Code UJ Sciences Librarian

Portal

The Transformation of a Science Librarian

The embedded experience

“Embedded librarianship takes a librarian out of the context of the traditional library and places him/her in an

“on-site” setting or situation that enables close coordination and collaboration with researchers or

teaching faculty” (Carlson & Kneale, 2011)

Embedded Librarianship is about …. (1)a Partnership with your Faculty and Students

Build relationships & increase the visibility of the Library Services by:

Providing Information literacy instruction away from the Library facility (Lecture hall; Laboratories; Offices or Research facilities)

Collaborate with the Faculty members on students’ research projects (Library-Subject based assignments)

Make use of Virtual Learning Environment to reach to students in their study space

Attend faculty Workshops, Open Lecturers, Seminars, Classes and Practical tutorials

Embedded Librarianship is about …. (2)a Partnership with your Faculty and Students

Build relationships & increase the visibility of the library services by:

Attend Faculty Board and Departmental meetings to learn about the latest on Research & Teaching, and information needs of its members

Work together with Faculty to enhance the library presence in all relevant places.

Outreach to users by using Social Networking tools to communicate, share and collaborate.

Make use of Mobile technologies to connect and provide services to patrons

The Embedded UJ Natural Sciences librarian (1)

The Embedded UJ Natural Sciences librarian (2)

Curriculum Course on Plagiarism: Sciences for

Civics1st year Sciences,

October 2011

Life Aquatic: the UJ Field Librarian, Zanzibar, 18 Oct 2011

The Multi Skills & Roles of the Academic Librarian

http://www.wordle.net/

In Conclusion

THANK YOU

The Academic librarians are challenged on so many levels

If we want to stay current we need to adapt to the changing world and the new research environments

The library patrons use new tools to find and retrieve information, the librarians should lead the change and not be left behind

Skills are learned, change is possible, social & mobile tools can be very helpful and we, the librarians, are still current and competitive