Annual Research Report 2020

33 Table 3. Collections and resources Resource Tool or Database Uses Services introduced SABINET Database Multidisciplinary database Access to e-journals JSTOR Database Multidisciplinary database Access to e-journals and eBooks Taylor and Francis E-journals Database Access to electronic journals Access to e-journals and eBooks ScienceDirect Database Multidisciplinary database and ebooks Access to e-journals and eBooks SCOAP3 E-journals Database Access to electronic journals for physics Access to e-journals and eBooks ProQuest eBook Central eBook Database Access to eBooks Access to eBooks IET Journals E-journals Database The IET Journals span all areas of engineering and technology, covering electrical, electronics, computing, control, biomedical, and communications technologies. Access to e-journals and eBooks SABICAT Tool Access to the World Catalogue Searching for books online REQUEST Tool For Inter Library Loan Requests Inter Library Loans Dspace Tool To develop an institutional repository An institutional repository is developed FirstSearch/Discovery Tool Search tool to find resources Search tool Springshare Tool Online booking system and to develop electronic guides School-specific electronic guides RemoteXs Tool Off-Campus Tool Access to resources off-campus The SPU Library and Information Services (SPU LIS) opened its doors in the new building in 2017. It had previously been based at the Old Library in the Academic Building. The aim of the SPU LIS is to support the mission of the SPU in research, teaching and learning. Thus, SPU LIS aims to provide all SPU stakeholders with access to an extensive collection of materials that best serve their teaching, learning and research needs. Regarding research, the goal is to support institu- tional scholarly communication and provide research support. The vision of SPU Library is to be an innovative partner, facilitating inclusive access to information that promotes success in a digitally empowered university. In support of research, the SPU Library strives to develop a rele- vant, digitally focused and innovative library service to support quality teaching, learning and research needs through broad institutional engagements, collaboration and provision of fit-for- purpose 21st-century facilities and resources. National structures to support researchers The national structures that the library has joined include the South Africa National Library and Information Consortium (SANLiC), which collectively negotiates for acquisitions of digital resources for academic libraries. The SPU LIS has also joined the Committee of Higher Education Libraries of South Africa (CHELSA), promoting libraries in higher education institutions, as well as the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) to pro- mote librarians. In addition, membership of CHELSA enables SPU researchers to access other academic libraries. Collections and resources for researchers In 2020, the library only had subscriptions to EBSCOHOST, Lexis­ Nexis and Press Reader. These were too few and did not cover most programmes. An age-of-collection report was compiled for the print holdings of SPU. This was done to assess the library collection, identify strengths and areas of needs, and make decisions about purchases and weeding. In total, the library has 4393 print books. In addition, ProQuest eBook Central was added to the SPU collection from July 2020, which has provided researchers with access to more than 150 000 eBook titles. Support for researchers In 2020, three additional information librarians were employed to provide services and develop the collection for all the Schools. In addition, the SPU LIS employed a library assistant responsi- ble for inter-library loans to enable transactions to be speedily processed. The Institutional Repository for SPU was established in November 2020. This enables the library to harvest all research output from the University. Twenty-two journal articles had been uploaded onto the Repository by the end of 2020 Partnerships and engagements On 27 October 2020, the Indian Consul General in Cape Town, Mr PK Ashok Babu, visited Sol Plaatje University and donated several books to the SPU Library on different subjects relating to Indian culture, history, philosophy, tourism, geography, architecture, foreign policy, economics, and folk stories. The donation also contains a tome on the Indian Constitution, books on the merging India story and Indian classics such as the Ramayan, Mahabharat and Bhagwad. Library Support