Creating an e-Environment for scholarship: dream or reality?

Dr Heila Pienaar Deputy Director: e-Information Strategy & e-Research Enablement

Department of Library ServicesUniversity of Pretoria, South Africa

heila.pienaar@up.ac.za ; http://www.library.up.ac.za/profile/heila_pienaar/cv.pdf

Mandate: Library is responsible for the management of academic information

and knowledge, and for leading the University in information and knowledge

innovation

Enable teaching & learning

e-Strategy

Community & professional engagement

Enable research

•Information literacy training (e.g. using game technology)

•Learning centre / commons

•Integration with ClickUP (web pages with full-text information resources)

•Relevant reserved information collection

•Faculty libraries with information specialists for each subject

•Relevant information collection (extensive e-resources)

•Information literacy training for postgraduates and researchers

•Enhanced research competencies

•Planned research commons

•Open access repositories

•Open mandate (UP articles)

•Digitisation & preservation

•Web 2 tools

•e-Research: research data management & VRE’s (virtual research environments)

•Carnegie African Library Leadership Academy

•Mamelodi library community outreach

•Presenting workshops on e-skills

•World Digital Library

• 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)

Why such an emphasis on E?

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

Digitisation & Preservation

Open ScholarshipRepositories

Library web

Web / Library 2

e-Resources

e-Information Strategy focus

areas

Mobile services

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

Subject librarians

Project / matrix teams to implement focus areas

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

e-Research e-Learning

Digitisation & Preservation

Open ScholarshipRepositories

Library web

Web / Library 2

e-Resources

e-Steering committees’

managers

Mobile services

Christelle & Ria

Hettie Groenewald

Christelle Steyn

Heila Pienaar Christelle

Steyn

Soekie Swanepoel

Elsabe Olivier

Janice de Wee

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 Africae-Research in the United Kingdom: Mathew J. Dovey, Programme Director (e-Research), JISC Executive, UKe-Research and MS Research: Lee Dirks, Director, Education & Scholarly Communication, Microsoft Corporation – External Researche-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 repositoriese-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

Project management

Project management system

Proposal writing

Document management system

Generic software e.g. MS / Open Office

Real time communication

Skype, smart board, video conferences

Training / mentoring etcE-learning

system for researchers

Identification of funding sources

Identification of research area

Literature review & indexing

Identification of collaborators

Internal shared database of indexed articles

Dissemination & artifacts

Web/wiki/blog: search engines, databases; researchers & topics; funders, portals, communication, projects

Repositories: research results; experiments; literature & documents

Red: noneOrange: someYellow: all

Scientific workflow

(Collaborative) Electronic Lab book

Sophisticated instruments that generate digital information and data

Servers with data files

(Free) Data analysis software

Integrated data management system

Access to research networks & super computers; access to labs with in silico screening +

Mathematical modelling tools; numerical algorithm tools; simulation software; in silico experiments

Demonstrator interface

Access and authentication

Alerts and RSS feeds – may help with info overload

Library resourcesInternet resources

BL / MS RIC: Manage-ment of published info

ResearchGate: research collaboration

OPENWETWARE: Lab Notebook on Blog

myexperiment: scientific workflows

archer e-Research toolkit: data management

nanoHUB: subject gateway built on

HUBzero platform

HUBzero: access to interactive simulation

tools

Research data managementSurvey 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-LearningIntegration 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 Collectionshttp://www.library.up.ac.za/digital/index.htm

World Digital Library (WDL)

e-Resources, global search engine & catalogue

Open Scholarship

Repositories

Digital Repository ModelDigital 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

• 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

Blogger: UPSpace metadata training

Facebook: Information specialists available in the student environment

YouTube channel for UP Libraryhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy0f-qHSHM4

Web & Web 2 tools

Source: National Geographic, March 2010

Library web: gateway to tools, information resources & experts

In conclusion

In conclusion: it is still more of a dream than a reality, but we are moving in the right direction …

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/pienaar-vandeventer/

• 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.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/viewContainer.do;jsessionid=78A376CF81DB520E7A35DEC90D1DB231?containerType=Issue&containerId=6013282

• Van Deventer, M.J., Pienaar, H. 2008. South African repositories: bridging knowledge divides. Ariadne, 55, April 2008. http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue55/vandeventer-pienaar/; 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=peer4vol7nr4 ; https://www.up.ac.za/dspace/handle/2263/1806

• 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. http://www.library.up.ac.za/digi/programme.htm

• 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-a-malaria-vre-in-south-africa

• 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/stellenbosch08social-presentation/

• 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

Source: http://www.library.up.ac.za/profile/heila_pienaar/cv.pdf