Wits engineering library on par with global standards following PPS donation

from left to right: Maryna van den Heever, Principal Librarian: Engineering Library at Wits; Cheryl McAlpine, Regional Sales Manager at PPS; Prof Beatrys Lacquet, Dean: Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment at Wits; John Marsden, National Sales Director at PPS; and Prof Fambirai Takawira, Head: School of Information & Electrical Engineering at Wits.

Engineering students at the West Campus of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits) are benefitting from a newly constructed and modernised engineering library following a R200 000 donation from PPS, the financial services provider focused

According to John Marsden, National Sales Director at PPS, the company is thrilled to donate this money that went towards the much needed revamping of the engineering library located in the Chamber of Mines Building. “The donation has been used to purchase state-of-the-art computer workstations for students, a fully-equipped Information Skills class room (electronic class room) and the provision of electronic resources alongside traditional printed materials.

“Access to the latest technology and resources are vital foundations for the provision of a quality education, especially for engineering students as South African is currently suffering from a severe engineering skills shortage,” says Marsden.

He says that the engineering library supports learning, teaching and research practices across the complete range of five schools in the Engineering Faculty including Mining Engineering, Electrical and Information Engineering, Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, as well as Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering.

Professor Beatrys Lacquet, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment says the engineering library had an ambitious and exciting goal; to bring the library into the 21^st century through a carefully considered refurbishment and expansion project. “With specially designed spaces, furnishings and equipment, the library will showcase contemporary trends in academic library design and provide an innovative environment for information provision.”

Lacquet says that the library provides a full range of educational services to 150 academics and researchers, and approximately 4 000 engineering students at undergraduate and post graduate levels.

The establishment of the new engineering library will significantly improve access to library collections, study and research spaces, computer workstations to users and will facilitate training opportunities, as well as generally improve access to library services and staff work areas, says Marsden.

“We are thrilled to be able to improve the educational environment for the Wits engineering students and trust they will be inspired to complete their education successfully and play a critical role in supplying the engineering skills this country desperately needs,” concludes Marsden.