Your Name and Title: Samuel Simango, Senior Manager: Academic Support Services
Library, School, or Organization Name: Rhodes University
Co-Presenter Name(s): N/A
Area of the World from Which You Will Present:Grahamstown, South Africa
Language in Which You Will Present: English
Target Audience(s): Academic library leadership and management, Library and Information Science (LIS) researchers and educators as well as professional librarians.
Short Session Description (one line): A case study of the Rhodes University Library's quest to achieve strategic alignment.
Full Session Description (as long as you would like):
This presentation seeks to explore the comprehensive strategic framework and implementation plan developed by the Rhodes University Library (RUL) for the period 2023-2028. The RUL strategy is deeply intertwined with the overarching Rhodes University Institutional Development Plan (IDP) 2023-2028, reflecting a commitment to institutional transformation, sustainability, local relevance, and global impact. This initiative positions the RUL as a pivotal academic support service dedicated to fostering excellence across teaching, learning, research, and community engagement.
The presentation underscores the critical importance of strategic alignment - the synchronisation of an organisation's objectives, resources, and operations - as a core enabler for effective strategy implementation. The RUL systematically pursues this alignment through its Strategic Framework 2023-2028 and the accompanying Strategy Implementation Plan. The implementation plan is meticulously structured around the Library Value Chain, distinguishing between Primary Activities i.e., (1) collection development and acquisition, (2) cataloguing and metadata management, (3) access and circulation, (4) reference and information services, (5) preservation and curations services and essential Support Activities (i.e., governance, management, infrastructure, Information Technology), ensuring a holistic and integrated approach to service delivery and strategic growth.
The overarching aim of the RUL strategy is to significantly enhance the user experience by adopting a user-centric approach, increasing user engagement, and ensuring high levels of user satisfaction with all library services and resources. This detailed, action-oriented strategic framework demonstrates how an academic library can proactively align its operations with institutional goals.
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