My Appreciation to CPD

It has being o good time of  of learning by adding new knowledge to information profession regard to library and information science practices. Since day one up to the last I have experienced kindness, love and caring from you. my role is now to share the knowledge and skills i gained from the program. Big thanks CPD team may almighty God bless you for such a great program, that not only crucial to five selected but also to all librarian and information profession in Africa continent

I real appreciate

Virtual Research Environment

Busy day and and last day to attend classes at the university of  Pretoria (UP), and the class has ended with interesting topic on virtual Research Environment (VREs) that deal with information infrastructure (hardware and software) that support enables all the systematic steps taken in consideration in research process in an integrated platform. 

It may therefore be necessary to build a generic VRE that also caters for other disciplines of research interest. 

The VREs platforms allow researchers to integrate as social media network like wiki, blogs and and systems such as information management system and research data management. in such environment editing the document, messaging, online conference can be take place easily and become centralized too. 

The role of librarians especially CPD 6 participants and is to disseminate information on VREs to the parent institution as infrastructure in turn will allow researchers to not only be more efficient. It also allow them to start thinking about ways and means in which to address the grand challenges in science, engineering, medicine and humanities.

every participant seem to be interested VREs as we were expose to the practical. Surely, it is user friendly in terms of navigation and design. we were able to simply create blog and wiki page that can be shared with group member, sharing and every one is able to see changes and comment of all social media network on the VREs platform.

virtual research environment is taking research  activities to next level

    

    

Research Data Management

such a brilliant day that was dedicated to the theme known as research data management of which i had less idea. but after the extensive, detailed presentation from Martie van Deventer accompanied by practice, i was able to grasp key issues.

Manage research data as a resource it has become difficult due to forces like data storage and security, open access, preservation, nature of data, lack of research data management and skills organisation culture good research practice, technology change etc. these are some of stumbling blocks on RDM.

as the  data life cycle that focus on data creation, processing, analysis, preserving, giving access to data and re-using. thus we librarian and information have our important role to play is to understand RDM, by developing practical strategies to embed data management and sharing into research practices so as to come up with best product to work with

However, librarians have a very big role to play my making sure the community benefit their profession

The role of Academic Library in Research Process

As budgets across higher education are shrinking, some in the academy are questioning the continued value of large academic libraries. At the same time, many academic libraries are providing vital and innovative services and resources in support of emerging forms of research, publishing, and information management. While some would argue that academic libraries are playing an increasingly important role in scholarly research, others fear that they are on the brink of extinction and must change radically to survive. It’s time to rise above the debate, and take a fresh look at the role of academic libraries in supporting research.

In order to continue to play a central role in support of scholarly research and publishing, academic libraries must:

1. Commit to continual study of the ever-changing work patterns and needs of researchers; with particular attention to disciplinary and generational differences in adoption of new modes of research and publication.

2. Design flexible new services around those parts of the research process that cause researchers the most frustration and difficulty.

3. Embed library content, services, and staff within researchers’ regular workflows; integrating with services others provide (whether on campus, at other universities, or by commercial entities) where such integration serves the needs of the researcher.

4. Reassess all library job descriptions and qualifications to ensure that training and hiring

encompass the skills, education, and experience needed to support new modes of research.

6. Recognize that discovery of content will happen outside of libraries—but that libraries are

uniquely suited to providing the organization and metadata that make content discoverable.

7. Embrace opportunities to focus on unique, core services and resources; while seeking

collaborative partnerships to streamline common services and resources.

Digitisation

storing paper based or print material for so long, it is very challenging now  digitization has become an alternative managing conversion of analogue material to a digital format for on-going access by electronic devices during the intended life cycle of the digital object

the lesson learnt is that if digitization is initiated in library,  it will bring benefit such as improve business process efficiency, quality and consistency, integrate records with digital systems, improve accessibility and facilitate better knowledge sharing and to store the potential information materials that can be accessible in the log run

as my plan to initiate digitization after completion of the program i suppose consider if the digitization support the mission and vision of my organisation. Also, availability of audience to access the materials, proper choice of the material to be digitized, copyrights issues. physical preservation, budget for equipment and skilled personnel to run the section

as a challenge, digitization is too expensive to think of it as a short-term project – think long-term. Therefore, there must be a thorough preparation and justification before initiating such project 

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Great Tour to SOWETO

We had great tour to Soweto  as historical town and the visit had numerous impressions such as Freedom Charter where by In 1955, the ANC sent out 50,000 volunteers into townships and the countryside to collect "freedom demands" from the people of South Africa. This system was designed to give all South Africans equal rights. Demands such as "Land to be given to all landless people", "Living wages and shorter hours of work", "Free and compulsory education, irrespective of colour, race or nationality"

Also, we were able to see historical Regina Mundi church in Soweto that used by protesting pupils on the use of Afrikaans language in schools in 1976 

On the other hand, it is so sad, hearing story on Memorial of the youths who sacrifice their lives for freedom in 1976. Hero youth; Hector Peterson and other youths are to be remembered when looking at freedom fight of south. More than 500 school kids were murdered alongside Hector.

Moreover, visit to Nelson Mandela's house at No 8115 Orlando West, Soweto. Such a great man and father of South Africa had simple life compare to today’s African Presidents luxurious life they have. Unbelievable, The late Nelson R. Mandela in among leaders who paved a way to independence of South Africa and African freedom at large. Your legacy is the best practice on land and mind of Africans.   The trip to Soweto was accomplished with merriment and we all had fun at lunch time. “No Soweto no South Africa”

However, with all such historical stuffs; you can't imagine, that there some parts people are living in abject poverty. Very surprising; how this could be a town of rich history with all the tourists it receives many tourists, I was shocked.

Finally, we had fun and wonderful traditional Lunch at Chaf Pozi Tower, Thank you the CPD Team, we real appreciate your kindness 

Social Media

development is growing so fast concerning every aspect of human life. and means of communication and sharing information is part of the pillar for one to develop

that is why CPD program intake has exposed us on the creation and use of social media network such as blog on how to post, setting pages design, how to see statistics based on blogging activities, sharing the link to other social media network like twitter and Facebook

however, twitter is another another social media platform and the user friendly that can be used by librarian and information professionals to share information by creation followers, the useful feature of hash tag (#) play major role where by a certain group can discuss their common interest under such tag. and now CPD program intake 6 participant are twitting on #cpdstudents6

Facebook is more popular social media and i have been using it for a long time but i was not aware that through setting i can blocking a friend, visibility( my post can be public, private or to specific friend). also, filtering the the notification from friend and groups as well post that appear on the wall

Therefore, social media is a conveyor belt on information sharing and dissemination, as next generation librarian and information professionals is now our task to use them effectively and become ambassador by sharing knowledge gained