UCT Libraries services during the second semester

12 August 2020 | DVC A/Prof Lis Lange
 

Dear colleagues and students

I am writing to inform you about the management of services offered by UCT Libraries during the second semester, including:

  • the continuation of UCT Libraries services virtually
  • UCT Libraries’ revised response to the UCT Return to Research Plan
  • the launch of the pilot phase of Leganto, a management tool for course reading lists.

1. UCT Libraries will continue as a virtual library service

At a meeting held on 29 July 2020 between members of the UCT Executive and the UCT Libraries directorate, it was decided that UCT Libraries will not reopen physically on campus on 1 September. This was informed by the:

  • continued lockdown status of the country and the university
  • proven ability of UCT Libraries to function virtually
  • strict controls applicable to the management of buildings
  • health and safety protocols and restricted access to UCT campuses
  • decision to complete the 2020 academic year using remote teaching
  • return, by invitation only, of a very limited number of students (approximately 2 000) and essential staff (approximately 1 600)
  • strict conditions imposed on students invited to return to campus, which does not include access to the physical libraries.

UCT Libraries will continue as a virtual library service for the rest of the academic year in support of the Emergency Remote Teaching programme and the UCT Return to Research Plan. The physical reopening of UCT Libraries will now coincide on the academic calendar with the resumption of contact teaching and learning.


2. UCT Libraries’ revised response to the UCT Return to Research Plan

UCT Libraries’ revised Return to Research Service has been informed by and built around supporting the UCT Return to Research Plan. The service will take into consideration the adoption of a phased return approach; the completion of master’s and PhD submissions; the research priorities and timelines of the UCT Return to Research Plan; and institutional lockdown regulations, staff health risk assessments, and return-to-work and reopening-of-buildings protocols.

To support the implementation of the UCT Return to Research Plan, UCT Libraries has consulted widely and will be offering limited services from 1 September. Unless otherwise determined and agreed upon, UCT Libraries will be functioning according to a strict schedule and on a closed-access basis, ie general browsing will not be permitted. Available services will include:

  • Scan and email: Researchers and postgraduates must inform librarians of their research resource needs 24 hours in advance so that print materials may be scanned (within copyright legislation) and distributed (via email) to the researcher or postgraduate within 48 hours.
  • Loans: Researchers and postgraduates must inform librarians 24 hours in advance of specific materials to be borrowed from the open shelves. Loan quotas will be increased, and collection dates and times will be determined by a booking system. Extended loan periods with automatic renewals will apply.

Only those included on the following lists will be eligible to use the above services:

  • confirmed master’s and PhD students, researchers and postdoc fellows who have received and accepted a formal invitation and have a permit to travel to UCT, as noted in the UCT Return to Research Plan
  • master’s and PhD research students who will not be returning to campus but are working on the final stage of their degrees
  • prospective master’s and PhD students working towards the finalisation of their research proposals for submission. Virtual browsing will be encouraged in consultation with the librarian.

Functioning within the current lockdown level, UCT Libraries will need to rely on a core team of staff who will physically access the respective library on certain days only. Strict adherence to health and safety protocols will be expected.

Read more about UCT Libraries’ response to the UCT Return to Research Plan.


3. Leganto: breathing new life into course reading lists for teaching and learning

UCT Libraries will be piloting Leganto, a tool that enlivens course reading lists for a more active and effective teaching and learning experience. This will be a first for a South African academic library. The primary functions of this tool are to:

  • create, access, manage and share “new look” dynamic online reading lists
  • provide seamless access to a variety of digital content and multiple format information resources held by UCT Libraries
  • embed reading lists within Vula for taught courses
  • track student use of reading list materials.

We believe that Leganto will have a positive impact on the teaching and learning experience, and student success and retention. As an added layer to Vula, the tool optimises access to and use of knowledge resources, and its powerful data analytics facility allows course conveners to track student progress and see how reading lists are being used. These insights can be used to facilitate the review and improvement of course reading lists and course delivery for a better teaching and learning experience.

The success of Leganto is built on a partnership between UCT Libraries and the academic. Academics who have been identified by faculty library teams as a champion of UCT Libraries will be invited to participate in the pilot.

During the pilot phase, UCT Libraries staff will work closely with you to:

  • convert your current reading list into a dynamic online reading list on Leganto
  • create online versions of your reading list
  • connect you to the vast expanse of knowledge and information resources
  • investigate alternative digital versions of essential readings that are held in our print collections.

I urge you to accept this invitation to be a part of this exciting pilot. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank UCT Libraries for the remarkable service offered to both staff and students during this period.

With best regards

Associate Professor Lis Lange
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning


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UCT’s response to COVID-19

COVID-19 is a global pandemic that caused President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a national disaster in South Africa on 15 March 2020 and to implement a national lockdown from 26 March 2020. UCT is taking the threat of infection in our university community extremely seriously, and this page will be updated with the latest COVID-19 information. Please note that the information on this page is subject to change depending on current lockdown regulations.

Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, has in June 2022 repealed some of South Africa’s remaining COVID-19 regulations: namely, sections 16A, 16B and 16C of the Regulations Relating to the Surveillance and the Control of Notifiable Medical Conditions under the National Health Act. We are now no longer required to wear masks or limit gatherings. Venue restrictions and checks for travellers coming into South Africa have now also been removed.

In July 2022, the University of Cape Town (UCT) revised its approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic on UCT campuses in 2022.
Read the latest document available on the UCT policies web page.

 

Campus communications

 
2022

Adjusting to our new environment 16:50, 23 June 2022
VC Open Lecture and other updates 17:04, 13 April 2022
Feedback from UCT Council meeting of 12 March 2022 09:45, 18 March 2022
UCT Council
March 2022 graduation celebration 16:45, 8 March 2022
Report on the meeting of UCT Council of 21 February 2022 19:30, 21 February 2022
UCT Council
COVID-19 management 2022 11:55, 14 February 2022
Return to campus arrangements 2022 11:15, 4 February 2022

UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre

On Wednesday, 20 July, staff from the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Faculty of Health Sciences came together with representatives from the Western Cape Government at the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre at Forest Hill Residence to acknowledge the centre’s significance in the fight against COVID-19 and to thank its staff for their contributions. The centre opened on 1 September 2021 with the aim of providing quality vaccination services to UCT staff, students and the nearby communities, as well as to create an opportunity for medical students from the Faculty of Health Sciences to gain practical public health skills. The vaccination centre ceased operations on Friday, 29 July 2022.

With the closure of the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, if you still require access to a COVID-19 vaccination site please visit the CovidComms SA website to find an alternative.

 

“After almost a year of operation, the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, located at the Forest Hill residence complex in Mowbray, will close on Friday, 29 July 2022. I am extremely grateful and proud of all staff, students and everyone involved in this important project.”
– Vice-Chancellor Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng

With the closure of the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, if you still require access to a COVID-19 vaccination site please visit the CovidComms SA website to find an alternative.


Thank You UCT Community

Frequently asked questions

 

Global Citizen Asks: Are COVID-19 Vaccines Safe & Effective?

UCT’s Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) collaborated with Global Citizen, speaking to trusted experts to dispel vaccine misinformation.



If you have further questions about the COVID-19 vaccine check out the FAQ produced by the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (DTHF). The DTHF has developed a dedicated chat function where you can ask your vaccine-related questions on the bottom right hand corner of the website.

IDM YouTube channel | IDM website
 

 

“As a contact university, we look forward to readjusting our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in 2023 as the COVID-19 regulations have been repealed.”
– Prof Harsha Kathard, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning

We are continuing to monitor the situation and we will be updating the UCT community regularly – as and when there are further updates. If you are concerned or need more information, students can contact the Student Wellness Service on 021 650 5620 or 021 650 1271 (after hours), while staff can contact 021 650 5685.

 

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