To keep abreast of the trends of the twenty-first-century, the North-West University’s (NWU’s) academic libraries has embarked on major space renovations since 2014.

One such renovation includes the establishment of research commons spaces at each of the three campus libraries.

The research wing for master’s and doctoral students at the Vanderbijlpark Campus library opened its doors to users in 2014. Later that year, the Potchefstroom Campus library followed suit and reinvented its spaces to incorporate the honours and research commons for master’s and doctoral students. Similarly, a research commons was added to the Mahikeng Campus library in 2016 to cater for the honours, master’s and doctoral students.

“Since the establishment of these research commons’, the spaces have proved to be very popular among senior students, which is in turn contributing to graduate and research output at the NWU,” says Dr Mathew Moyo, chief director of Library and Information Service (LIS).

 “The NWU is ranked among the top 10 best universities in South Africa. Its immediate target is to increase its research outputs and be among the top five ranked universities in the country. The NWU’s strategy is also to improve postgraduate throughput and output and the NWU’s three libraries aim to support this mission,” he adds.

Facilities at the NWU’s Vanderbijlpark Campus library

The research wing has spacious computer workstations, individual laptop stations and printing and copying facilities. There is a technologically equipped venue with an interactive whiteboard, sound, and lighting facilities.

Data projectors and laptop connections can be booked by honours, master’s, and doctoral students, and there are also 60 lockers available for booking by master's and doctoral students.

The research wing boasts a collection of research books and reference works for easy access. Onsite faculty librarians are available to provide research and information-related services.

Facilities at the NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus library

The research commons offers admission to master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral students as well as academic and research staff. It has 39 workstations, individual laptop stations, and seminar rooms for group discussions, one of which has Skype facilities.

It also includes a modern technologically equipped conference room with interactive white board, sound and lighting facilities. Furthermore, it includes a comfortable leisure area and a self-paid coffee machine. 

The honours commons offers admission to honours and fourth-year students and also boasts spacious computer workstations, individual laptop stations, seminar rooms for group discussions, print and scan facilities and a leisure area with daily newspapers.

Both areas have experienced information staff available to assist students and to refer them to subject librarians when necessary.

Facilities at the NWU’s Mahikeng Campus library

The research commons is fully equipped with 64 state-of-the-art computers on the senior side and 45 on the junior side. The space includes six group study rooms, print and scan facilities and a self-paid coffee machine.

It houses popular research books and dictionaries for that postgraduate students can use.

Visit the NWU’s Library and Information Services for more information: https://library.nwu.ac.za/

The research commons in the library on the Mahikeng Campus.

The research and honours commons is situated on the third floor of the library on the Potchefstroom Campus.

 The research wing in the library on the Vanderbijlpark Campus.