Unisa online - Unisa Library peer review

From left: Deputy Executive Director: Library, Dr Judy Henning; Executive Director: Library, Dr Buhle Mbambo Thata; Executive Director: DSPQA, Ms L Griesel; Quality Specialist, Prof L Swanepoel and Executive Dean: College for Graduate Studies (also Chairperson of the Peer Review Panel), Prof G Cuthbertson.

Dr Mbambo Thata hands over the Library Quality Portfolio to Prof Cuthbertson.

Within Unisa’s focus to improve the quality of services offered to students, the Library has embarked on several initiatives to evaluate its services with the view to improve them.  In this context, the Library has volunteered for a Peer Review Process that is scheduled for 27 May to 29 May 2012. 

The peer review involves the impartial evaluation of the Library services by experts in the Library and Information profession against specified criteria aligned with national and international standards. The aim is to reinforce areas of strength and quality, and to identify areas for development and improvement. This formal peer review is an important quality governance mechanism that will provide the Library Management and staff an opportunity to reflect on the departmental performance.

With the support of the Department of Strategy, Planning and Quality Assurance, the Library conducted a self-evaluation in April 2012 and produced a Peer Review Portfolio for review by the Peer Review Panel. The Portfolio includes a self-evaluation report and supporting documentation in printed and electronic format.

The Peer Review Panel consists of senior academic library leaders from four different institutions and they are listed below in alphabetical order:

• Ms E Tise, Senior Library Director, University of Stellenbosch
• Ms R More, Deputy National Librarian
• Ms V Agyei, Director: Library, Tshwane University of Technology
• Mr R Moropa, Director: Library, University of Pretoria

The Panel will be chaired by Prof G Cuthbertson, Executive Dean: College of Graduate Studies.

The Panel’s activities will include a tour of the Library and interviews with various stakeholders such as the Unisa Management, Student Representative Council members, Library Management, Branch Libraries and postgraduate students. 

The Library Peer Review Portfolio was handed over to the Chairperson of the Peer Review Panel by the Executive Director of the Library, Dr B Mbambo-Thata, at a meeting with the Executive Director: Department of Strategy Planning and Quality Assurance.