Supporting overseas campuses and
partnerships
Conducting training for Malaysian librarians
In June 2004
Monash University Library conducted a training program for a group of
librarians from the Malaysian Library Association, Persatuan
Pustakawan Malaysia. The program focussed on the delivery of library
services in the digital era and provided participants with an overview
of how the library manages its resources.
Participants
also gained hands-on experience by spending time in key library
sections such as reference and loans. The group comprised 12
librarians from tertiary institutions across Malaysia andthe National Library in Kuala Lumpur,
as well as two librarians from Monash University Malaysia.
Supporting international students on campus
In 2004 the library provided special
services to 2146 international students on campus, 1245 of whom were
students enrolled at Monash College, 857 were from
courses run by Monash University English Language Centre (MUELC) and
44 were from Monash International Short Courses.
In all, library
staff facilitated 98 information literacy classes and 10 library tours
for students of Monash International, specifically:
- four Train the Trainer
sessions (all provided by librarians for Monash International
teachers);
- 47 introductory library
skills sessions (seven of these were given by librarians; 40 by MUELC
staff with assistance from library staff);
- 47 database and subject
searching skills sessions (all given by librarians); and
- 10 library tours.
Conducting a Train the Trainer program for Monash
University English Language Centre
Early in 2004 a decision was made to change the
way information literacy classes were delivered to Monash University
English Language Centre students. Preparation of training materials
for classes to be run at Monash International was discussed at
meetings between Monash International teaching staff and library
representatives and then the library prepared a program. The first
classes were held in April 2004.
Library staff gave Train The Trainer
classes and library tours to the Monash International teachers
involved with these MUELC courses. Teachers were assisted by library
staff in giving the first basic information literacy session, with the
library providing exercises and brochures for each class.
The second session was designed to teach database
and subject searching skills, so qualified librarians conducted these
classes. All sessions are held in the excellent facilities at Monash
International, providing practical experience for students in familiar
surrounds.
This program has been judged successful based on
excellent feedback by Monash International staff. The classes are
specifically tailored to the needs of MUELC students so they are able
to absorb more information than in standard library classes.
Providing access to online resources for Malaysia and South Africa
campuses
Whenever possible, Monash campuses in Malaysia
and South Africa were included in new and renewed licences for access
to electronic resources. This enables Monash students and staff at
overseas campuses to access these resources through the web.
In 2004 the library extended coverage of South
African online journals. Access is now provided to the 85 titles in
the South African electronic journal collections - business and
finance and social sciences and humanities. This is a shared
subscription with Monash South Africa, with access for all Monash
campuses, including Malaysia.
The library is also providing access to
Digital Imaging Project of South Africa (DISA). The first phase of
the DISA project, South Africa's Struggle for Democracy:
Anti-Apartheid Periodicals, 1960-1994, has made accessible online
forty selected periodical titles presenting a wide spectrum of
political views published during these years and a diversity of
subjects.
Library staff
have also worked with counterparts at Monash Malaysia to improve
coordination of the selection and licensing of electronic resources.
Designing a new library for the Malaysian campus
The library has
been involved with the design of a combined Library and Learning
Commons to be a showpiece at the heart of the new Monash University
Malaysia campus, in Kuala Lumpur. In September 2004, the Director,
Information Systems undertook a workshop of the learning commons
concept and the library's Facilities Master Plan with key stakeholders
at Monash University Malaysia. The schematic design for the new
library has been approved and work on the design is in progress to be
completed in 2005.
Providing access to the Rare Books Collection for overseas and
national visitors
Claire Kilner, a
researcher for the new edition of the Cambridge Bibliography of
English Literature, visited to review the library's Jonathon Swift
collection. Other visitors included Almat Boehme, the Music Librarian
from the University of Scotland; David McKitterick, the Librarian of
King's College Cambridge; and Sydney poet, Paul Knobel.
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