The Rhodes University Library staff members were on Friday (3 September 2010) commended and praised for the hard work and long hours put in especially in making the launch of Research Commons in the new Library possible.
Speaking at the launch which he called “a simple low-key internal affair”, Vice-Chancellor Dr Saleem Badat said the Research Commons represented an exciting new chapter in the University’s history of endeavours in the domain of research and knowledge production.
Rhodes is committed to become more postgraduate and research oriented, and the Research Commons is a significant step in the direction of sustaining and further enhancing a research culture at Rhodes.
In this regard Ms Fiona Still-Drewett and Ms Eileen Shepherd were acknowledged for publishing accredited articles in an international journal. “It is a great pleasure to acknowledge that blazing the trail is Ms Eileen Shepherd, the Principal Faculty Librarian for Science and Pharmacy. Eileen has just published a fully accredited article in an international journal titled ‘In-service training for academic librarians: a pilot programme for staff’,” said Dr Badat.
It also “gives me enormous pleasure to report that, through exceptional project management our Director of Library Services Gwenda Thomas, her staff, the project team as whole, and with lower than anticipated pricing on key components of the building, the estimated final cost of our wonderful new Library will now be in the region of the R75 million. This is R11 million or close to 13% below the original estimate.”
Turning to the development of Rhodes librarians, Dr Badat said “some 16 Rhodes Library staff members have been selected to participate in national training workshops for the consortium partners. They have been exposed to the full spectrum of activities and dynamics involved in the research process, in order to understand and provide relevant support for researchers.”
Four Librarians will be given the opportunity to participate in a 10-week internship in the USA, where they will immerse themselves in what a top-level research librarian does.
Speaking during the launch Ms Thomas said, “The opening of the Research Commons, the launch of the web-based library research portal, within the structures of our new University Library, is evidence that we are serious about advancing and strengthening our support for the research enterprises at this institution.”
The $300 000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York has given the Rhodes Library a “turbo gear” to advance support for academic research and attracting more postgraduate students. The top-class facilities that are available at the Research Commons will enhance, inspire and support scholarship and research at Rhodes.
The Research Commons will accommodate about 40 staff and students. It is intended to serve senior postgraduate students and staff, and especially emerging researchers who may not otherwise have access to such a space. Fifteen senior postgraduate students will be employed as research navigators to assist after normal office hours and training will also be available for users.
Badat's speech click here
Gwenda's speech click here
Picture: Daneel Knoetze.