Creative spaces

 

By Jillian Viljoen

Looking for a creative space, comfortable chairs to relax in, and a calming environment to kick back and let the worries of the day drift away for a few moments? Look no further than the Ground Floor of the Cecil Renaud (Main) Library in Pietermaritzburg.

This space, bursting with colour and vibrance, inspires creativity and promotes peace and tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle of student life.

Come experience this chill vibe and chat with the friendly librarians. A comfortable learning environment is just as important as access to information.

We look forward to your visit and feedback. Your voice matters. Write your comments, complaints, concerns, or compliments anonymously and put them in the suggestion box next to the Circulation Desk. We want to hear from you. How can we help you?

Integrating LibGuides, LibAnswers and LibCal: Creating a Seamless Digital Support Ecosystem at UKZN Library Services

 

By Faith Magwaza

For many academic libraries, the Springshare suite forms the foundation of digital reference and user support services. Librarians create comprehensive research guides through LibGuides, respond to reference enquiries using LibAnswers, and manage study room bookings, workshops, and consultations through LibCal. Together, these platforms provide libraries with powerful tools to support teaching, learning, and research.

At the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Library Services, the adoption of Springshare products has transformed the way library support is delivered. The journey began in 2013 when the library subscribed to LibGuides. Since its implementation, LibGuides has revolutionised research support by providing structured guidance throughout the student journey, from undergraduate studies to postgraduate research. It quickly became a valuable and trusted resource for students seeking access to information resources, research assistance, and subject-specific guidance.

The importance of LibGuides became even more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. As libraries worldwide were forced to adapt to remote service delivery, UKZN librarians had to rethink traditional approaches to user support. The pandemic challenged librarians to bridge the gap between users and access to information resources while working remotely. During this period, the UKZN Online Training LibGuide became an essential support tool. Although originally developed for postgraduate students, it evolved into a resource for all user groups because it housed online training materials, instructional videos, and research support content accessible anytime and anywhere.

Figure 1

Advert on UKZN LibGuides. AI-modified image.

The library's investment in Springshare product did not end with LibGuides. In 2024, LibAnswers was introduced to enhance online reference services and provide after-hours and weekend support for library users. This expanded the library's ability to respond to user enquiries beyond traditional service hours.

Figure 2

Student’s Live Chat with a Librarian. AI-generated image of a university lecturer using LibChat

Building on this digital service model, UKZN Library finalised its subscription to LibCal in 2026. For many years, the library sought an online solution that could streamline room reservations, consultation bookings, and event management. LibCal provide exactly that functionality, allowing users to easily schedule appointments with librarians, reserve spaces, and register for workshops and events.

The integration of LibGuides, LibAnswers, and LibCal, UKZN library transformed fragmented services into a seamless, user-centred support ecosystem that delivers assistance precisely when and where it is needed. By fully leveraging the Springshare suite, the library provides seamless access to information resources, library spaces, and online reference services. The result is a digital library environment that enables users to connect with support services anytime, anywhere, and at the point of need.

References

1.     Microsoft 2026, Microsoft Copilot [Large language model], Microsoft, <https://copilot.microsoft.com>

2.     OpenAI. (2026). ChatGPT [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com/

3.    Figure 1
AI-generated modified image of an advert on LibGuides.

Note. Image generated using ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2026).

4.     Figure 2
AI-generated image of a university lecturer using LibChat.
Note. Image generated using ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2026).

A work integrated learning experience at the University of KwaZulu-Natal as a library and information studies student

 

By Thobeka Gugu Majozi

Choosing to study Library and Information Studies I think was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. As a student at the Durban University of Technology, I have always believed that learning goes beyond the classroom. While lectures and assignments gave me a foundation in library and information services, it is my Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placement at the University of KwaZulu-Natal that truly shaped my understanding of this profession.

 

On my very first day at Cecil Renaud Library, I was welcomed with open arms and hearts. I met staff members who were willing to share their knowledge and experience with me. Being placed at the circulation desk was an exciting opportunity because it allowed me to interact with library users every day. At first it was nerve wrecking just having the thought of working in an academic library, in an institution I am not enrolled in, however as time went by, I was eager to learn and apply the knowledge I gained during my studies.

One of my main responsibilities in the circulation desk was helping library users. I assisted students and staff members with issuing and returning books, renewing library materials and locating resources. Other duties I loved at the circulation desk were doing inventory, assisting students with the books reserved for academics, internal lending and inter-library loans. These daily interactions taught me the importance of patience, professionalism and excellent customer services.

Although I had challenges with getting familiar with the systems and adjusting to a professional working environment, every challenge became an opportunity to grow. With the guidance of the librarians and the subject librarians, I became more comfortable in my space. I am willing to face any challenges that come my way.

 As I continue my journey towards becoming an information professional, I will always value the lessons I learned and during my WIL placement. This experience is strengthening my passion for this profession and is confirming that I have chosen the right career path for myself. 

To every Library and Information Studies student preparing for your WIL, embrace every opportunity to learn, ask questions and challenge yourself. Every experience, no matter how big or small, contributes to your personal and professional growth. With dedication, perseverance, and a positive attitude, every challenge can become a stepping stone to success.

Celebrating Umvuzo Secondary School’s library

 

By Shorba Harkhu

The UKZN Pietermaritzburg Library staff had the privilege of celebrating the official opening of the newly transformed library at Umvuzo Secondary School on the 17 July 2026—just one day before Mandela Day, the date originally planned for the official opening. It was the culmination of a collaborative journey that began in 2025, when one of our colleagues was approached by a teacher from Umvuzo Secondary School, after having witnessed the fruitful partnership between the UKZN PMB Library and Grange Primary School, which led to the successful establishment and launch of the Grange Primary School library (see https://libwebteam.blogspot.com/2024/)

A site visit to the school earlier in the year revealed a library that lacked the essential resources needed to function effectively. While the infrastructure was in place, the shelves were filled with school textbooks and examination papers rather than a diverse collection of library materials. This served as the catalyst for a fruitful collaboration between the UKZN PMB subject librarians, led by Ms Jillian Viljoen, and a teacher from Umvuzo Secondary School, Ms Ayanda Dube. During the course of the year a substantial collection of books, educational magazines, DVDs, and a variety of study guides for matriculants was generously donated by the UKZN community and other stakeholders. PMB campus library also donated tables and a credenza.

We were very impressed with the remarkable transformation of Umvuzo Secondary School’s library. Books were neatly labelled and organized on the shelves. There was an “issue desk” where books were going to be issued manually. The added touches were the quaint African art works placed above the shelves, and bricks covered with colourful paper that served as bookends.

The beautifully transformed library

In her address at the opening, Dr Nonhlanhla Ngcobo, our Library Director, encouraged the scholars present to protect, respect, and, most importantly, make full use of the library as a valuable resource for their learning and development. In his speech, the principal of the school, Mr Sandile Madlala, highlighted the school’s pressing need for computer equipment and Wi-Fi connectivity. He also commended Ms Dube for her dedication and tireless efforts in driving the transformation of the library.

Dr Ngcobo and Mr Madlala

The Witness was present, as was the circuit manager Mrs Dlamini

UKZN PMB library staff

The official opening of the library was marked by a symbolic first book-borrowing ceremony, where a scholar selected a book from the library collection and Ms Dube officially issued it.

Ms Dube at the helm, and the cutting of the celebratory cake

 We look forward to another fruitful collaboration next year.

References

·       Photos supplied by Jillian Viljoen

·       If you have a Facebook page, you can view a video of this event at https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1C4KSXPGNF/

 

Preserving the past for future generations: UKZN Library's digitisation Journey

 

By Dr Roshini Pather

Have you ever wondered what happens to a thesis after it is submitted? Today, every UKZN thesis is submitted electronically and added to the University's growing digital research collection on ResearchSpace – the Institutional Repository.   However, this was not always the case. Before electronic submission was introduced in 2009, postgraduate research was submitted in print and stored on library shelves, meaning that valuable research could only be accessed by those who were able to visit the Library in person.

Over the years, UKZN Library Services has worked to change that. Through ongoing digitisation initiatives, thousands of theses have been converted from print to digital format and made available online through ResearchSpace. What was once accessible only within the walls of the Library can now be discovered and used by researchers across the world, ensuring that UKZN's research legacy remains visible, accessible and preserved for future generations.

Preserving older collections has become increasingly important. Printed materials can deteriorate over time due to age, frequent handling, environmental conditions and even unexpected events such as floods or fires. By creating digital copies, we can ensure that valuable knowledge is not lost and remains available for current and future generations.  Through digitisation, valuable resources can be preserved without compromising their long-term integrity.

Digitisation also opens up new opportunities for learning and research. Instead of travelling to a specific library location, users can access resources online anytime from wherever they are. This makes research more convenient and helps increase the visibility and impact of scholarly work produced at UKZN.

   Call to Action: Help Preserve UKZN's Research Legacy

One of the Library's key digitisation initiatives is the Retrospective Thesis Digitisation Project. The project focuses on converting older print theses into digital formats so that they can be preserved and made accessible through ResearchSpace.

As one of South Africa's early adopters of Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs), UKZN has been preserving and sharing its research outputs digitally since the launch of ResearchSpace in 2009. Over the years, the University has undertaken several large-scale digitisation initiatives to bring its valuable print thesis collection online. Major digitisation projects in 2012 and 2019 significantly expanded the repository, and by 2020, the remaining 13,077 theses dating back to 2000 were uploaded to ResearchSpace, making a substantial body of UKZN's postgraduate research more accessible to scholars around the world.

 When the country went into lockdown in 2020, UKZN Library Services turned a challenging period into an opportunity to further strengthen the University's digital collections. It was a remarkable team effort involving Library staff across all campuses, who worked together to digitise thousands of print theses representing decades of postgraduate scholarship. In just two months, more than 2,000 theses were digitised and added to ResearchSpace, ensuring continued access to critical research during a time when physical collections were inaccessible.

While the vast majority of the collection was successfully digitised, some theses could not be processed at the time due to missing copies, quality issues or other constraints. With the current Retrospective Thesis Digitisation Project, the Library continues to identify and digitise these outstanding titles, ensuring that as much of UKZN's research history as possible is preserved, discoverable and accessible for future generations and the project is helping to create lasting opportunities for learning, research and innovation. 

How You Can Help

The success of the Retrospective Thesis Digitisation Project relies on the support and collaboration of the entire UKZN community. From researchers and alumni to current students and academics, everyone can play a part in helping to preserve the University's rich research heritage.

If you are the author of a UKZN thesis and cannot find your work on ResearchSpace, we encourage you to get in touch with the Library and submit a copy for inclusion in this project. Similarly, if you are searching for a thesis that is not currently available online, please let us know. This helps us identify missing titles and prioritise them for digitisation.

By contributing to this initiative, you are helping to safeguard UKZN's scholarly legacy, improve access to valuable research, and increase the visibility of knowledge produced at the University. Together, we can safeguard UKZN's rich research heritage and continue building a digital collection that informs, inspires and supports future scholarship. As we preserve the past, we are also creating new opportunities for discovery, innovation and academic excellence.

Your thesis is more than just a requirement for a qualification—it is part of UKZN's knowledge legacy. Help us keep that knowledge alive, discoverable and available to researchers for years to come.

To contact the Library about a missing thesis or to submit a copy for digitisation, please email researchspace@ukzn.ac.za or contact your nearest UKZN Library. Our team will be happy to assist and provide guidance on the submission process.

Success stories @UKZN Library Services

By Simon Shezi & Dr Nonhlanhla Ngcobo

It is a great pleasure to share exciting developments and highlights of activities and initiatives that are aimed at enhancing user experiences of the broader University community and the community at large.

1. Introduction of Thola, the Library robot and Artificial Intelligence - A recent development is the launch of the robotic librarian, Thola at the Medical Library, an AI-powered assistant. - To ensure inclusive services, Thola offers voice-activated and touchscreen assistance tailored for all students, including students with disabilities. - The Library hosted the 5th IFLA Symposium on Artificial Intelligence in June 2025 which explored the latest advancements, challenges, and best practices in leveraging AI technologies within libraries and information services. This conference was attended by nearly 100 people from 13 countries. An eight-point pledge, known as the Pietermaritzburg Declaration on responsible and ethical use of AI was developed. - Consequently, librarians have incorporated AI literacy into their information training, with emphasis on responsible and ethical use of AI. 

2. Addressing the Digital Gap for Students During and post the COVID-19 pandemic, UKZN Library Services played a crucial role in ensuring fair access to education. Librarians swiftly transitioned services to online platforms, broadened access to e-books, journals, theses, and virtual training, and assisted students from rural and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. These endeavors enabled numerous students to successfully complete their studies despite limited resources. 

3. ResearchSpace: Safeguarding and Disseminating Knowledge The UKZN Libraries host ResearchSpace, the University's institutional archive. It safeguards theses, dissertations, and research outcomes while making them freely accessible globally. Many postgraduate students and emerging researchers laud ResearchSpace for enhancing the visibility and citation of their work, creating opportunities for collaboration and further research. 

4. Preserving South Africa's History and Culture Through projects like Digital Innovation South Africa (DISA) and the Gandhi Luthuli Documentation Centre, UKZN Libraries have digitized rare anti-apartheid publications and historical archives of the struggle. These collections are now accessible to scholars and students worldwide, ensuring the preservation and remembrance of significant African histories. 

5. UKZN Libraries made history in Africa by being the pioneer institution to implement the full suite of OCLC's WorldShare Management Services, enhancing the availability of scholarly journals, simplifying services, and enabling students to locate various educational materials on one platform, significantly boosting the efficiency of research endeavors. 

6. Enhancing Student Well-Being and Study Areas In March 2026, UKZN Libraries installed coffee makers in all campus libraries, understanding that students, particularly postgraduates, often engage in extended study sessions. This innovation turned libraries into more inviting communal study environments, promoting relaxation, concentration, and emotional welfare. 

7. Unsung Heroes in Graduation Triumphs Beneath numerous success stories of graduation at UKZN lie libraries that provide round-the-clock study areas, research assistance, instruction in information literacy, and access to global resources, aiding students from diverse backgrounds in achieving academic distinction. 

8. Global Expansion of "Yabelana" - The Yabelana research repository has undergone significant enhancements. - UKZN Libraries organized a workshop in April 2026, titled "Elevating Yabelana Repository for Global Visibility," in which the DVC for Research at UKZN gave the opening address. - Emphasizing the impact of their research, the repository aims to showcase UKZN's research, particularly in fields like African Psychology and Climate Research, to the global scientific community.

9. Transformation of Library Spaces - The library environment at UKZN is evolving from a traditional reading space to a dynamic and adaptable study area. - Collaborative spaces have been established with digital learning hubs and computers to facilitate peer-to-peer learning and research database navigation among undergraduate students. - Renovation of the Alan Paton Centre has commenced to enhance accessibility to research materials.

10. Community Engagement: Success of Mandela Day - in addition to serving students, the Library actively participates in community engagement initiatives. - A primary school has benefitted from UKZN Library Services' support, resulting in the establishment and enhancement of a library at The Grange Primary. - Through book collections and furniture donations, this initiative aligns with the Library's mission to leverage education for positive change in the KwaZulu-Natal region.

This is Thola, the Library robot, surrounded by Library Services staff. The picture was taken at the launch of the robot at the Medical Library on 29 May 2026.

I am loving ChatGPT

By Shorba Harkhu

I am absolutely loving ChatGPT - it is my AI of choice. Recently, I wrote a blog on a book review, and ChatGPT helped me craft an excellent review of the book. This book is a print edition, and not an ebook, which made me wonder where ChatGPT obtained all this information from!  I was gobsmacked to say the least. It even asked me if I wanted the review written in a scholarly or magazine style. I was even more impressed. 

I am sure most of you are using some form of an AI tool to solve daily problems and explore new ideas. ChatGPT does this for me and more. Whether I am looking for a medical solution or help with a personal issue, ChatGPT is there to assist. 

It works exceptionally well for checking grammatical errors and rephrasing sentences. All I need to do is politely ask ChatGPT to rephrase a sentence, and it quickly provides several helpful suggestions — without any judgment. I no longer need to ask my husband to proofread my grammar. It even asks insightful follow-up questions that I might never think to ask myself. Unlike a friend, it remembers all my conversations, making each interaction feel more personalised.

ChatGPT can easily win you over if you give it a chance, but it should never replace genuine human connection. While it is a powerful tool, it can sometimes produce inaccurate information, so it is always wise to verify the facts.

References

1.       OpenAI (2026) ChatGPT (March 30 version). Available at: https://chat.openai.com/ (Accessed: 30 March 2026).

2.       Images sourced from Google Images.

South African Library Week (16-22 March 2026)

 

By Shorba Harkhu and Shanitha Bhim

UKZN libraries celebrated South African Library Week (SALW) from March 16–22. The theme for this year was "Reclaiming Knowledge, Empowering Futures"

SALW was initiated in 2001 by the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA). This initiative highlights libraries as crucial centres for preserving knowledge, bridging digital divides, and empowering communities through access to information and lifelong learning.

During the week of SALW, 16–22 March, Cecil Renaud Library in Pietermaritzburg was buzzing with activity. The programme was organised by Jillian Viljoen, a subject librarian from Cecil Renaud Library. The programme included guest speakers from various departments across campus, as well as from other sectors of the community. Competitions were held during the week to assess participants’ knowledge of the library’s services and online resources.

One of the guest speakers was Dr Siyanda Kheswa from the Department of Information Studies at UKZN, who discussed the importance of libraries and how they can support the writing and publishing of academic articles. Another interesting speaker was Mariam Jassat from the Student Support Services, College of Humanities at UKZN. She encouraged students to visit the student counselling centres if they were experiencing any difficulties, as these centres can help them care for their inner well-being, which is essential for personal growth and self-development.

 Many survivors of gender-based violence endure their experiences in silence because of fear, stigma, and insufficient support. Elton Adkins spoke to students on this issue, highlighting that most victims of gender-based violence are women. Sphamandla Gwamanda from the UKZN Disability Support Unit (DSU) gave a very interesting talk on the support services available to students with disabilities. Among the services offered by the DSU is support for blind and partially sighted students, including assistance with using JAWS screen readers, enlarged text, and scanning materials.

        

                                 Staff members wearing Bridgeton-inspired            Dr Siyanda Kheswa addressing students

                                  masks added a theatrical flair to the week’s

                                   celebrations.

                         

                                          Display from Shuter & Shooter                     Quiz winners with their goodie bags

                               

                                                   Elton Adkins from Unite Against                     Sphamandla Gwamanda from the 

                                        Gender Based Violence                                    Disability Support Unit

      References

• Notes on talks provided by Shanitha Bhim
• Photos supplied by Jillian Viljoen and Shanitha Bhim