The library has left the building! Breaking down barriers for Rhodes University researchers

By Siqhamo Jama

 

For years, your ability to access the Rhodes University Library depended entirely on where you were standing. If you were in the library or connected to the campus Wi-Fi, the doors were open. But for the thousands of Oppidan students working from their digs, or researchers collaborating from abroad, the experience has often been defined by frustration. Different passwords for different databases. "IP address" errors. Technical tickets that take days to resolve.

As of 2026, those digital walls have come down.

The Rhodes University Library has officially migrated its management system to ALMA, a move that fundamentally changes how students and staff interact with the University's massive collection.

 

The end of "password fatigue"

"In the era we live in, everything has gone digital," says Anele Mabona, Manager: Digital Innovation, Systems and Web Management at Rhodes University Library. "But our old system was based on an old access protocol. It wasn't bad, but once you were off-campus, you had to jump through hoops."

Those "hoops" often involved a complex dance of back-and-forth configurations between the library, vendors, and ICT. "Sometimes, such issues would take one to three days to fix," Mabona admits.

For a student with a deadline, three days is an eternity.

The new system introduces OpenAthens, a Single Sign-On (SSO) technology that treats all users the same, regardless of location. Whether you are in a res room, a flat in town, or attending a conference in London, you use one login – your standard Rhodes University credentials – to access everything.

 

Surfacing the invisible

However, the upgrade isn't just about logging in; it is about what you find when you get there.

Previously, researchers had to navigate separate silos, one for physical books, another for digital files. For Wynand van der Walt, Senior Manager: Innovation, Systems & Collections at the library, the move to ALMA is about turning the library from a storage facility into a discovery engine.

"We are transitioning from a system that simply lists items to one that actively connects them," explains van der Walt. "By introducing ALMA’s library discovery service Primo, as a single 'one-stop shop', we are unlocking the serendipity of research. A student searching for a textbook might now instantly see a related e-book or a journal article they didn't know existed. It exposes the true depth of our resources."

With over 300,000 print books and nearly 300,000 e-books now searchable in one bar, the system ensures that valuable knowledge is no longer hidden behind complex interfaces.

 

Opening the digital doors

For Dr Nomakwezi Mzilikazi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation & Strategic Partnerships at Rhodes University, this move represents a critical step in a broader strategy to support high-impact scholarship.

"For us, this migration isn't just a software update; it is about ensuring that the distance between a researcher’s question and their answer is as short as possible," says Dr Mzilikazi. "We are removing the friction so that our scholars can focus on what matters: creating new knowledge."

She adds that this aligns with the University's commitment to accessibility. "We often speak about 'opening the doors of learning'. In 2026, those doors are digital. This system ensures that the library is no longer just a physical building on campus; it is a resource that travels with our students."

 

Excellence meets access

This migration is a textbook example of the Rhodes University philosophy: modernisation isn't just about buying new software; it is about equity of access.

By removing the technical friction, the University ensures that the user experience is no longer a "disconnected experience".

"The user experience is the same," Mabona confirms. "Whether you reside on campus, are in an Oppidan student community, or are outside the country... everything is managed centrally."

With the new system, the Rhodes University Library is no longer just a building on campus. It is a service that follows the student.