ABOUT FACE! in the DIGITAL SPACE:

mergers and redefining library roles

Paper presented at the workshop for the Research Libraries Consortium in cooperation with eIFL.net on Institutional Repositories: Creating an Information Infrastructure for the scholarly community.

HANNIE SANDER19 July 2007

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“Don’t anybody move.

This is a merger.”

H Sander About Face! Merger and libraries, 19 July 2007

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AGENDA

The announcement Incorporation and MergerThe University of JohannesburgChallenges Snowball affectVision and missionOperating modelStructure Job profilesImpactConclusion

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THE ANNOUNCEMENT

Special courage, deep pragmatism, many sensitive deliberationsCitizen 12 February 200230 May 2002: AnnouncementInitial reaction: shock, disbelief, surprise, anger, anxiety, disappointment, trepidation, sadnessReality: equality, transformation, resignation, acceptance, opportunityExpectations: Better campuses, more academic programmes; bigger picture, difficulties, confrontations, heavy workloads

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INCORPORATION & MERGER

1 January 2004: Former Vista campuses: East Rand and SowetoProcess detail merger; TWR includedUniversity and University

1 January 2005RAU + TWRUniversity and Technikon Comprehensive institution

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UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG

Integration: academic & vocational programmes9 faculties, 5 campuses 43 000 students3 500 staff7 libraries140 permanent staff > 800 000 items

64%3%

5%

28%

0%

BLACKCOLOUREDINDIANWHITEUNKNOWN

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CHALLENGES

Process took much longer than anticipatedConditions of ServiceHRLibrary structure and reporting linesAcademic architectureDuplication CentralisationLibrary Information SystemsOperational focus vs Strategic focusTotally different organisational culturesExisting policies – prescriptive; languageAcademic information support in comprehensive institutions

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THE SNOWBALL EFFECT

Joint Merger Office •Prescribed procedures•TimelinesTime for researching policies and best practicesConsultationFeedback Continue services as well as merger issuesAlignment ………

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VISION FOR THE UJ LIBRARY AND INFORMATION CENTRE (UJLIC)

A globally acknowledged African gateway to scholarly information, renowned for breaking knowledge boundaries.

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UJLIC MISSION

Support and facilitate teaching, learning and research: • Access / Connect(ivity)• Information service / Connect(ivity)• Integrating information resources / Connect(ivity)• Information literacy and life-long learning / Connect(ivity)• Partnerships: collaboration and cooperation / Connect(ivity)• Research and development LIS / Innovation• Social responsibility / Community engagement /

Connect(ivity)• Competent experts / Connect(ivity) / New roles

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ABOUT FACE!

The link ……Turn-it-around …..Opportunity knocksAlignmentRenewal and Integration

ConsultantsOperating model Match and place

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JOB PROFILES

Number of purposes • M & P in ‘to-be’ structure• Job evaluation and grading• Recruitment process• Staff performance reviews

Key outcomesEssential qualificationsNot exhaustive statementNot limiting opportunities for necessary modificationsNot limiting opportunities to work creatively and collaborativelyNot limiting opportunities for supervisor to assign projects

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JOB PROFILES (2)

1 Job Information Title; grading level; job cluster; role in cluster; department; Authority relationships; Dependent relationships; Peer relationships; External relationships

2 Job definition – Job purpose; Key outcomes

3 Job requirements – Education; Experience; Knowledge; Skills

4 Profiling session data – job analyst; participants; test battery info

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JOB PROFILE (3)

e-learning, e-research, e-scienceManage digital resourcesIntegrate into programmesOA & IRPreservation and digital archiving Digitisation projects

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JOB PROFILE (4)

Self driven / perseveranceTask orientation Problem solvingCreative and innovative People / Communication skills / Persuasive / assertive Technical / IT skillsCombination IT and LIS qualifiedTeam work (Individual & collective effort)Project management skillsVision and assertive

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IMPACT(LIC SPECIFIC)

Specific job profile – Librarian: Institutional repository

BUT

Virtually every other environment job profile

LIC Information Systems; Copyright and Digital rights manager; CDM (metadata); Info skilling; Information librarians; VLE specialist librarian; e-Resources admin and management; Web content services

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OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS ….

Turn it around …Face the challenge….Think big ….Dream …Lobby support ….Business plan ….

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IN MY WILDEST DREAMS …

Would say thank you for the merger?

Be closer to a personal dream …. ?Local content and scholarly communication globally available

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THANK YOU!