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Distance Education and Distance Education and Library Resources at Vista Library Resources at Vista University:University:

From Unplanned growth to a Visionary Package

Juliano M. KabambaVista UniversityPretoria, South Africa

Kbmba-jm@acaleph.vista.ac.za

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Vista University Library Vista University Library Services:Services:OutlineOutline

Historical IntroductionHistorical Introduction Overview & CompositionOverview & Composition Distance Education ProgrammeDistance Education Programme Library Services: 1982 - 1998Library Services: 1982 - 1998 Library Services: 1998 - to-dateLibrary Services: 1998 - to-date Planning the Way ForwardPlanning the Way Forward Forging Strategic PartnershipsForging Strategic Partnerships

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Vista University Library Vista University Library Services:Services:OutlineOutline

Management StructureManagement Structure Policy StatementPolicy Statement Students ProfilesStudents Profiles Library Service ProgrammesLibrary Service Programmes Procedures & DocumentationProcedures & Documentation Feedback & IntrospectionFeedback & Introspection Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks

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Vista University Library Vista University Library Services:Services:Historical IntroductionHistorical Introduction

Youngest of the Public Funded Youngest of the Public Funded Universities in South Africa Universities in South Africa

Largest of the Historically Largest of the Historically Disadvantaged UniversitiesDisadvantaged Universities

Nature of the Historically Nature of the Historically Disadvantaged UniversitiesDisadvantaged Universities

Dual Mode and Non-residential Dual Mode and Non-residential University University

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Vista University Library Vista University Library Services:Services:Overview & CompositionOverview & Composition

Students Population : over 25,500Students Population : over 25,500 Eight Campuses located in three Eight Campuses located in three

Provincial CentresProvincial Centres Faculties: Management, Science, Faculties: Management, Science,

Education, Law, & ArtsEducation, Law, & Arts Library StructureLibrary Structure

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Vista University Library Vista University Library Services:Services:Distance Learning Distance Learning ProgrammeProgramme

Origin : Upgrading of Teachers Origin : Upgrading of Teachers qualificationsqualifications

Phasing out Certificate Phasing out Certificate ProgrammesProgrammes

Development of Degree Development of Degree ProgrammesProgrammes

Learning modelLearning model

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Vista University Library Vista University Library Services:Services:Library Services: 1982 - Library Services: 1982 - 1989 1989

Exclusion of Off-campus StudentsExclusion of Off-campus Students Under funding Under funding Underlying AssumptionUnderlying Assumption Absence of Will and CommitmentAbsence of Will and Commitment Lack of competionLack of competion

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Vista University Library Vista University Library Services:Services:Library Services: 1998 to-Library Services: 1998 to-datedate

Creation of Position of Central Creation of Position of Central Campus LibrarianCampus Librarian

Experiences of other InstitutionsExperiences of other Institutions Linking with Branch / Public Linking with Branch / Public

LibrariesLibraries

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Vista University Library Vista University Library Services: Services: Planning Process Planning Process

Setting the AgendaSetting the Agenda Searching for PartnersSearching for Partners Mapping Students LocationsMapping Students Locations Identification of Public & College Identification of Public & College

LibrariesLibraries Focus on Learner Support CentresFocus on Learner Support Centres

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Vista University Library Vista University Library Services:Services:Forging Strategic Forging Strategic PartnershipsPartnerships

Phased-in ApproachPhased-in Approach Laying the FoundationLaying the Foundation Explaining the SchemeExplaining the Scheme Pre-view of Library FacilitiesPre-view of Library Facilities Memorandum of AgreementMemorandum of Agreement

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Vision for Distance Vision for Distance Learners:Learners:Management StructureManagement Structure

Shifting from Reactive to proactive Shifting from Reactive to proactive approachapproach

Setting the stageSetting the stage Appointment of Librarian Appointment of Librarian

Responsible for Distance LearningResponsible for Distance Learning

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Vision for Distance Vision for Distance Learners:Learners:Policy StatementPolicy Statement

Affirmation for SupportAffirmation for Support Principle of Equivalent ServicesPrinciple of Equivalent Services Avoiding inequalities Avoiding inequalities

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Vision for Library Services:Vision for Library Services:Students Profiles Students Profiles

Information Needs of Off -campus Information Needs of Off -campus StudentsStudents

Disparities Among Off-campus Disparities Among Off-campus StudentsStudents

Plotting the Nature of Services Plotting the Nature of Services

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Vision for Library Services:Vision for Library Services:ProgrammeProgramme

Planning for the Mode of DeliveryPlanning for the Mode of Delivery Categories of Students CohortsCategories of Students Cohorts Differentiating levels of SupportDifferentiating levels of Support

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Vision for Library Services:Vision for Library Services:Procedures & Procedures & DocumentationDocumentation

Articulation of Library ServicesArticulation of Library Services Dissemination of procedures & Dissemination of procedures &

Regulations Regulations Suppressing Undue ExpectationsSuppressing Undue Expectations

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Vision for Library Services:Vision for Library Services:Feedback & IntrospectionFeedback & Introspection

Performance & Cost EffectivenessPerformance & Cost Effectiveness Culture of Record ManagementCulture of Record Management Follow-up Site VisitsFollow-up Site Visits Maintaining Contacts with Maintaining Contacts with

Academics Academics

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Vision for Library Services:Vision for Library Services:Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks

Is complete Parity Achievable?Is complete Parity Achievable? Opportunities Offerings of ITOpportunities Offerings of IT Digital Recording & Electronic Digital Recording & Electronic

TransferTransfer Donor Support and PartnershipsDonor Support and Partnerships Competion for StudentsCompetion for Students