1. University of Cape Town
Library and Information Studies Centre
Research librarianship
what we teach at LISC: how and why
Mary Nassimbeni
LISC, UCT

2. University of Cape Town
Library and Information Studies Centre
Research Librarianship in MLIS by Course Work at
LISC, UCT. Taught by Karin de Jager (Convener)
and MN
• Conceptualising
research librarianship1
• The module2
• Course assessment3

3. University of Cape Town
Library and Information Studies Centre
Designing the curriculum
Research
Academies
Coherence
with other
modules
Teaching &
learning

4. University of Cape Town
Library and Information Studies Centre
Research Academies: learning from
the experts
• Research Libraries’ Consortium, funded
by Carnegie:
Five Research Library Academies at
Mont Fleur
• Research Library Academy, CHEC
• Inputs at Academies:
Library Directors, Researchers from
different
disciplines/institutions, NRF, DST, Res
earch Offices

5. University of Cape Town
Library and Information Studies Centre
Constructing the curriculum: the logic
Research
Landscape
The
researcher
The
Librarian

6. University of Cape Town
Library and Information Studies Centre
• Research landscape
– National, institutional
• Scholarly
communication
• Research process
• Research process in
different scholarly
domains
• Understanding
researchers’ needs
• Conceptualising
research librarianship
• Creating partnerships
• Impact assessment
• Innovative use of IT

7. University of Cape Town
Library and Information Studies Centre
Objectives/inputs
• Ability to
investigate, analyse
and support the
demands of the
scholarly community
• Seminars
Outcomes
• Propose
strategies, and
interventions to
enhance research
productivity
• Task assignments

8. University of Cape Town
Library and Information Studies Centre
•A young researcher in
engineering, Lubabalo X: mining &
minerals
•a few papers on rock size distribution
measurements on conveyor belts in
conference publications # ISI journals.
• Wishes to publish his latest findings in
an international journal with subsidy.
•Prepare a list of his previous
publications.
•Identify the most appropriate ISI & find
the editorial instructions for authors
•Establish its impact factor
•Where could he find some guidelines &
procedures to follow in order to register
a patent in South Africa?
• A visiting scholar from India, Prof Anant
Y, an expert on OVC, visitor to your
university, needs:
• A list of names & contact details of the
most important writers with knowledge
of policies & programmes for OVC. Give
names of at least five experts.
• A list of five names & contact details of
experts involved with HIV/AIDS
interventions for OVC.
• Establish what the South African policy
situation is w.r.t OVC. Give citation
details of relevant policies & legislation.
• Identify one NGO in Cape Town with
expertise in policy dimensions of OVC
in South Africa, citing its most recent
publication. Find commentary on the
publication.

9. University of Cape Town
Library and Information Studies Centre
Exam Project. In a particular research domain:
• Explain the nature of the current research; discuss
contributions to research by researchers at your
university
• Consider the typical patterns of their information
behaviour & identify their major information needs are.
• Explain what you regard as the most important
knowledge and the necessary skills required by a
research librarian who has to engage with and support
both the established and the emerging researchers in
this research domain.
• Propose a programme (providing reasons and details)
that you will put in place to address some or all of the
identified needs.

10. University of Cape Town
Library and Information Studies Centre
Evaluation of the course
• Well received
• More group work
• Addition of bibliometrics – as a result of
input from the Research Office
With acknowledgements to Karin de
Jager, convener and colleague