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ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
CONT’D
research and learning, publishing and dissemination,
and the acquisition, management and discovery of
library collections.
Improved Library Environment
The new Learning Commons area comfortably
accommodates 22 users for individual and collaborative
learning and is equipped to facilitate clients using their
own electronic devices such as computers, tablets and
smartphones.
Reference Services
The Question Point Virtual Reference Service called
ASK A LIBRARIAN was implemented in July 2014.
The service allows clients to chat with a librarian in
real time from a computer or hand held device, or
email reference and research queries to a librarian.
The service is available Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m.
– 8:00.p.m. and Saturdays 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
The QuestionPoint virtual reference service was
implemented in collaboration with the Library and
Information Association of Jamaica (LIAJA) and
the Socio-Economic Information Network (SECIN).
The Calvin McKain Library is a member of both. The
Question Point Virtual reference is hosted on the
Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) platform.
Collection Development Division
For the second year, the division collaborated with
COLINET member institutions in subscribing to College
Libraries Complete e-books collection from Proquest.
This collaborative effort resulted in a reduction in
subscription cost, as this resource was shared by
almost 20 institutions in the network.
Select Database Usage
The use of most electronic databases continued to
trend upward appreciably, as fewer users utilise the
library’s print resources. EBSCOHOST continued to
be by far the most popular database, with well over 3
million uses by the end of the year.
Library Information Systems and Outreach
Services Division
Information literacy
The librarians continued to participate in the teaching
of the literature searching component of both the
Academic Writing and Research Methodology modules.
During the review period 116 sessions were conducted.
A session on accessing e-resources was held during
the review period for Site Coordinators of the University
online Post Diploma Pharmacy programme. The
territories represented were Barbuda, Belize Antigua,
St Lucia, Anguilla and Jamaica.
Instructional Media Services Division (IMS)
Non-Print Resources
The non-print material count which comprises VHS,
CDs and DVDs in the categories of hospitality and
tourism management, education, engineering,
computing, nursing, business, psychology, building
and construction, foreign languages, law, sports
development, as well as art and architecture stood at
approximately 1,895 at the end of the year.
The audio visual theatre continued to be a highly
requested facility for material viewing and presentations,
with approximately 141 recorded requests for the use
of the room, which amounted to 405 hours and 45
minutes, a 15% increase in usage over the previous
year. Approximately fifty-six (56) bookings for the
studio were recorded for the reported period which
consisted of 131 hours; a reduction of 36%.
Graphics Production
The Graphics Unit was requested to do the production
of banners, certificates, programmes, invitations, flyers,
text layouts for books and projects, major reports,
international conference posters and other materials for
University events/proceedings.
Events Coverage
IMS continued to provide coverage of numerous
in-house and out of town media coverage in
photography, videography and public address services
Page 12
University of Technology, Jamaica
• ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015