Page 10 - Library Annual Report 2019

3.Unisa Library Supporting Teaching and Learning
3.1. Increased partnerships
The Unisa Library continued to form partnerships with public libraries and the Department of Correctional Services in an effort to accelerate equitable access to library resources and expand delivery points for these students who face unique challenges.
3.1.1. Expanding public library partnerships
The expansion of public library partnerships is one of the Unisa Library’s Strategic Focus Areas in order to bridge the transactional gap that distance poses for Unisa students who cannot access a Unisa branch library close to home. During 2019, six partnership agreements (partnerships agreements are signed for a three-year period) were approved for signing with targeted libraries. Through these partnerships students are afforded additional spaces for study, Internet access, and convenient delivery and collection points for library material. The partnerships are spread across three provinces, i.e. Western Cape, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu- Natal, with one more in Ethiopia. The partnerships are in the following municipalities and districts:
• Oudtshoorn Municipal Libraries (Western Cape)
• Mandeni Local Municipality Libraries (KwaZulu-Natal)
• Govan Mbeki Municipality Libraries (Secunda)
• Msukaligwa Local Municipality Libraries (Ermelo)
• City of Mbombela Libraries (Nelspruit)
• United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Ethiopia)
As part of the public library partnership agreements programme, regional workshops for the staff of public libraries are held on an annual basis. This is in line with our obligations to the partnered public libraries to offer training workshops to capacitate public librarians with any skills and knowledge they will need to assist Unisa students.
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