Creating an e-Environment for
scholarship: dream or reality?
Dr Heila Pienaar
Deputy Director: e-Information Strategy & e-Research Enablement
Department of Library Services
University of Pretoria, South Africa
heila.pienaar@up.ac.za ; http://www.library.up.ac.za/profile/heila_pienaar/cv.pdf
Enable teaching
& learning
Enable research
•Information literacy training (e.g.
using game technology)
•Faculty libraries with information
specialists for each subject
•Learning centre / commons
•Relevant information collection (extensive
e-resources)
•Integration with ClickUP (web
pages with full-text information
resources)
•Relevant reserved information
collection
Community & professional
engagement
•Information literacy training for
postgraduates and researchers
•Enhanced research competencies
•Planned research commons
Mandate: Library is responsible for the
management of academic information
and knowledge, and for leading the
University in information and knowledge
innovation
•Carnegie African Library
Leadership Academy
e-Strategy
•Mamelodi library community
outreach
•Open access repositories
•Presenting workshops on eskills
•Digitisation & preservation
•World Digital Library
•Open mandate (UP articles)
•Web 2 tools
•e-Research: research data
management & VRE’s (virtual
research environments)
Why such an emphasis on E?
• In the Library’s risk register dated February
2010:
• Risk: “Not taking advantage of new IT tools,
concepts & breakthroughs to improve current
services and create new services”
• Context:
– “Slow uptake of new innovations by academic clients
and library staff obstruct new and improved services
– Lack of understanding that IT tools have conceptual
implications / new concepts are embedded in IT; a
different way of looking at the world e.g. virtual
worlds” (Web 2.0 ... The Machine is Us/ing Us http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE: 4.35 minutes)
Content
• e-Information Strategy
• Governance
• Examples of products of the e-Strategy
in support of Scholarship
Why an e-Information Strategy?
• Can be seen as a high-level Innovation
Strategy for any organisation
• Integrate e-Information applications within a
broad framework
• Help to focus the organisation
• Keep the organisation on the cutting edge of
new developments
• Establish a framework for capacity e.g. staff, IT
to implement the strategy
• Actually just another term for a focused
corporate Knowledge Management strategy
Objective: Creating an
e-Environment for Scholarship
e-Research
e-Learning
Library web
Repositories
e-Resources
e-Information
Strategy focus
areas
Mobile
services
Open
Scholarship
Web / Library 2
Digitisation &
Preservation
Governance
• Deputy-director: e-Information Strategy &
e-Research Enablement is responsible for
the development & implementation of
the strategy
• e-Service unit is responsible for the
research, development, implementation &
maintenance of e-products & services
that support the strategy
• e-Steering committees (matrix teams) are
responsible for co-ordination and
development of their respective focus
areas
e-Service Unit
• Deputy-director: e-Strategy & e-Research
enablement: dr Heila Pienaar
• UP Repositories manager: Hettie
Groenewald
• UP Digitisation manager: Ria Groenewald
• UP Open Scholarship manager: Elsabe
Olivier
• Library Web manager: Christelle Steyn
Project / matrix teams to implement
focus areas
Subject
librarians
e-Steering committees (project teams)
• Library e-Service steering committee (overarching): Dr Heila Pienaar
(chair)
• e-Research steering committee: dr Heila Pienaar
• e-Learning steering committee: Christelle Steyn
• Digitisation & Preservation steering committee: Ria Groenewald
• Open Scholarship steering committee: Elsabe Olivier
• Repositories steering committee: Hettie Groenewald
• Library web steering committee: Christelle Steyn
• Web / Library 2 steering committee: Janice de Wee
• e-Resources steering committee: Soekie Swanepoel
• Mobile services steering committee: Christelle Steyn & Ria
Groenewald
• Ex officio members of Library e-Service steering commitee: Library
executive, Library IT manager (Leonora Wydeman), 3 members of
the Faculty managers (Johann van Wyk, Susan Marsh, Maureen du
Pisanie)
Objective: Creating an
e-Environment for Scholarship
Heila
Pienaar
e-Research
e-Learning
Christelle
Steyn
Christelle
Steyn
Soekie
Swanepoel
Library web
Repositories
Hettie
Groenewald
e-Resources
e-Steering
committees’
managers
Mobile
services
Christelle
& Ria
Open
Scholarship
Elsabe
Olivier
Web / Library 2
Janice
de Wee
Digitisation &
Preservation
Ria
Groenewald
Roles & responsibilities of steering
committees
• Chairs are responsible for the establishment of
their steering committees
• Steering committees are responsible for their
own strategic & implementation plans
• Steering committees to co-ordinate with one
another
• Steering committees to discuss progress etc
with the e-Service steering committee on a
regular basis
• Steering committees are responsible for good
communication and interfaces between line
and project perspectives
e-Research
Objective: to do faster, better
and different interdisciplinary
research
• e-Research advocacy
• Virtual Research Environment (VRE) projects
• Research data management initiatives
Advocacy: e-Research Seminar May 2009
Welcome: Prof Robin Crewe, VC Research, University of Pretoria, South Africa
e-Research in the United Kingdom: Mathew J. Dovey, Programme Director (e-Research), JISC
Executive, UK
e-Research and MS Research: Lee Dirks, Director, Education & Scholarly Communication,
Microsoft Corporation – External Research
e-Research and digital preservation: Dr Dawid L. Giaretta (MBE), Associate Director, Digital
Curation Centre, UK & Project leader: CASPAR, PARSE. Insight, ISO standard for audit and
certification of digital repositories
e-Research in South Africa: Prof Colin J Wright, Head: Research, Centre for High
Performance Computing (CHPC), dr Martie van Deventer, Portfolio Manager CSIR’s
Information Services, South Africa & Wim Hugo, Managing Director, MBV Equsys/Consulting.
SA Malaria researchers’ VRE components
Repositories:
research results;
experiments;
literature &
documents
Identification of
research area
Literature review &
indexing
Dissemination &
artifacts
Skype, smart
board, video
conferences
E-learning
system for
researchers
(Collaborative)
Electronic Lab
book
Integrated
data
management
system
Red: none
Orange: some
Yellow: all
Web/wiki/blog: search engines,
databases; researchers &
topics; funders, portals,
communication, projects
Real time
communication
Identification of
collaborators
Proposal writing
Training / mentoring
etc
Scientific workflow
Servers with
data files
Internal shared
database of
indexed articles
Sophisticated
instruments that
generate digital
information and data
Mathematical modelling tools;
numerical algorithm tools; simulation
software; in silico experiments
Identification of
funding sources
Document
management
system
Generic
software e.g.
MS / Open
Office
Project management
Access to
research
networks &
super
computers;
access to labs
with in silico
screening +
Project
management
system
(Free) Data
analysis
software
Demonstrator interface
Access and authentication
Library resources
Internet
resources
Alerts and RSS feeds – may help with
info overload
BL / MS RIC: Management of published info
ResearchGate:
research collaboration
OPENWETWARE: Lab
Notebook on Blog
myexperiment:
scientific workflows
HUBzero: access to
interactive simulation
tools
archer e-Research
toolkit: data
management
nanoHUB: subject
gateway built on
HUBzero platform
Research data management
Survey of research data management practices at the University of Pretoria. Survey of 52
researchers on their data management practices by 16 information specialists. The
report is available.
Very Large Database initiative. In an attempt to address the data needs of academic
institutions and projects of national interest, the Department of Science and
Technology (DST) has recently mandated the Centre for High Performance
Computing (CHPC) to initialise an intervention known as the Very Large Data Base
(VLDB). It is hoped that with the contribution from the stakeholders, the VLDB
intervention would be able to implement the appropriate mechanism to support and
enhance the key data-bound research and operations of today and tomorrow (Jeff
Chen, CHPC, April 2010). UP Library is working closely with dr Chen to realise this
initiative.
World Data Centre for Biodiversity and Human Health in Africa. A meeting were attended
by Wim Hugo (SAEON), Dr Daisy Selematsela & Henda vd Berg (NRF), Dr Martie
van Deventer (CSIR) and Dr Heila Pienaar (UP) to discuss the funding,
development and implementation of the proposed World Data Centre. Department
of Science & Technology has contracted SAEON to develop a shared platform and
substantial overlap exists with the platform required for the World Data Centre. The
United States Geological Survey is sponsoring some of the work needed, as well
as NRF/CSIR/UP (funds are available via the 1st African Digital Curation
Conference). The prototype will be available mid June. The NeDICC consortium will
meet to discuss the agenda for this prototype development. A presentation will also
be given at the Codata data management conference in Cape Town, 27-29
October 2010 http://www.codata2010.com/
e-Learning
Integration of web resource
pages with the different modules
of the e-Learning system
Teaching e-Skills to UP librarians:
60 minutes workshops
Games for Information Literacy
Digitisation > Digital Collections
http://www.library.up.ac.za/digital/index.htm
World Digital
Library (WDL)
e-Resources, global search engine
& catalogue
Open Scholarship
Repositories
Digital Repository Model
Only digital
material can
be submitted:
digitized or
digitally born
UP Library manages 2 repositories
UPSpace statistics
4 Jan 2010 - 10 March 2010
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Top 5 Communities accessed:
1. Engineering, Built Environment & Information Technology http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/71
2. Economic & Management Sciences http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/1682
3. Education http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/63
4. South African National Veterinary Repository http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/3809
5. Veterinary Science http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/78
Top 5 Sub-communities accessed:
1. Architecture http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/72
2. Southern African Transport Conferences http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/5201
3. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/8641
4. Research Articles (Jonathan Jansen ) http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/111
5. HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/11004
Top 5 Collections accessed:
1. Campus Buildings http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/6523
2. Pretoria Environs Buildings http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/11706
3. Africana Books Collection http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/4911
4. LLM Dissertations (Centre for Human Rights) http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/927
5. Jonathan Jansen Collection http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/108
Top 5 items accessed:
1. Curriculum reform in South Africa: a critical analysis of outcomes-based education
http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/132
2. Geslacht-register der oude Kaapsche familien. Deel 1, A-J
http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/9290
3. Geslacht-register der oude Kaapsche familien. Deel 3, P tot Z.
http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/9288
4. Language and other background factors affecting secondary pupils' performance in Mathematics in South
Africa http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/4915
5. Geslacht-register der oude Kaapsche familien. Deel 2, A tot O
http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/9289
Examples: Repository
content
Web & Web 2 tools
Facebook: Information
specialists available in the
student environment
Blogger: UPSpace
metadata training
YouTube channel for UP Library
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy0f-qHSHM4
Source: National
Geographic, March 2010
Library web: gateway to tools,
information resources & experts
In conclusion: it is still more of a dream than a reality,
but we are moving in the right direction …
In conclusion
Bibliography
•
•
Pienaar, H., Van Deventer, M. 2009. To VRE
or not to VRE? Do South African malaria
researchers need a virtual research
environment? Ariadne, 59, April 2009.
http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue59/pienaarvandeventer/
Pienaar, H., Smith, I. 2008. Development of
a library 2.0 service model for an African
library. Library Hi Tech News, 25(5): 7-10.
•
http://www.library.up.ac.za/digi/programme.htm
•
Van Deventer, M.J., Pienaar, H. 2008. South
African repositories: bridging knowledge
divides. Ariadne, 55, April 2008.
•
http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue55/vandeventerpienaar/;
https://www.up.ac.za/dspace/handle/2263/8615
•
Page-Shipp, RJ., Hammes, M., Pienaar, H.,
Reagon, F., Thomas, G., van Deventer, MJ.,
Veldsman, V. 2005. eResearch support
services: responding to a challenge facing
the South African research and information
communities. SA Journal of Information
Management, December 2005, 7(4)
http://www.sajim.co.za/default.asp?to=peer4
vol7nr4 ;
https://www.up.ac.za/dspace/handle/2263/1
806
Source: http://www.library.up.ac.za/profile/heila_pienaar/cv.pdf
Pienaar, H., van Deventer, M. 2009. Conceptual
framework for a Malaria VRE in South Africa. The
Research Information Centre (RIC) Stakeholder
Event, British Library, London, 23 March 2009
https://www.up.ac.za/dspace/handle/2263/9734 ;
http://www.slideshare.net/heila1/conceptual-framework-for-amalaria-vre-in-south-africa
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/viewContainer.do;jsessionid=78A376CF81DB520
E7A35DEC90D1DB231?containerType=Issue&containerId=6013282
•
Van Deventer, M., Pienaar, H., Morris, J, Ngcete, Z.
2009. Virtual research environments: learning
gained from a situation and needs analysis for
malaria researchers. African Digital Scholarship and
Curation Conference. Pretoria. 12-14 May 2009.
Pienaar, H. Libraries on the move - shifting barriers,
going places, sharing spaces. Stellenbosch
University Library 10th annual symposium, 6-7
November 2008. Stellenbosch.
https://www.up.ac.za/dspace/handle/2263/7877 ;
http://www.slideshare.net/heila1/stellenbosch08socialpresentation/
•
Van Deventer, M., Pienaar, H. Advance & attack:
technology demonstrator to the rescue …and
beyond. International Internet Librarian 2008
conference. London. 16-17 October 2008.
https://www.up.ac.za/dspace/handle/2263/7878
•
•
Pienaar, H. Development and implementation of an
e-Information Strategy for an academic library.
Libraries & Information Management Forum 2008,
Hilton Hotel, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa.
21-22 August 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/6721
Pienaar, H. Digital Scholarship and the role of the
university library. Ninth Southern African Online
Information Meeting. CSIR Conference Centre,
Pretoria. 3-5 June 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/5830