2005 OVERVIEW Service Unit Veterinary Science, Academic Information Service, University of Pretoria

MAIN GOAL: organising 5th International Conference of Animal Health Information Specialists, 4-7 July 2005 . Read all about it at : http://knowledgeflows.blogspot.com

OTHER GOALS:
1. Organising Pre-conference workshops, 29 June-2 July 2005 covering various databases in the animal health field, and software packages to manage reference databases (EndNote and Reference Manager), and How to search the Internet effectively.

2. Fundraising for participants from other countries in Africa to attend the conference. Sponsorship obtained: CTA, Wageningen, The Netherlands (R78000) for 7 information specialists from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Uganda, Tanzania and Nigeria.

3. Organising optional post-conference tours: 8 July to Cradle of Humankind and Lion & Rhino Reserve; 9-12 July to Kruger National Park. 24 overseas participants and 4 South Africans

4. Training library users a) in using information resources / organising information resources: Reference Manager(faculty staff and postgraduate students)
b) Searching the Internet effectively and evaluating info found on the Web (final year undergraduate students (BVSc VI)

5. Initiating new Web-based course in Information Literacy as part of the Research Methodology (WebCT) Faculty course for postgraduate students. (Design and implementation). Marks allocated.

6. Issuing e-lists of new accessions via UPexPlore ( http://explore.up.ac.za/ftlist)

7. Compiling e-journal lists on Veterinary Science topics from Tyds@Tuks, for the Web page
(http://www.up.ac.za/asservices/ais/TYDSTUKS/Onderwerpe/Onderwerpvetsc.htm)

8.Marketing the Library's services to the Large Animal Practioners Group and the Equine Practitioners Group at their conference in July 2005, Drakensberg

9. Further marketing : 2 issues of the Library's newsletter Infomania published in paper and e-format. View it at:
http://www.ais.up.ac.za/vet/infoma13.htm

10. Library staff kept up-to-date and ensured continuing education by attending conferences:
LIASA Gauteng InterLibrary Loans, HICSA Gauteng meetings(2), Gaelic conference, SA Online Conference and 5ICAHIS (our own conference)

11. Library staff (5) presented papers and posters at 5 ICAHIS (3 papers and 1 poster)
(http://www.ais.up.ac.za/vet/icahis/5icahpro.htm)

12. E-books initiated and co-ordinated by one staff member for the AIS (A.Breytenbach)
( http://www.ais.up.ac.za/eBooks/)

13. Veterinary Digital Repository initiated and developed by one staff member (A.Breytenbach) to serve as model for AIS and other faculties. (In cooperation with the Faculty and Dept of TLEI and OVI and SAVA History Committee). Special role of metadata highlighted. Will help with development of the UP Digital Repository.