University of KwaZulu-Natal now live with OCLC WorldShare Management Services

Pretoria, South Africa, Leiden, Netherlands, 13 Feb 2015

The University of Kwazulu-Natal, a leading African university, is now using OCLC WorldShare Management Services (WMS) as its library management system.

WMS provides cloud-based library management and discovery applications in an integrated suite, offering librarians a comprehensive and cost-effective way to manage library workflows efficiently, and improve end-users' access to library collections and services.

The implementation of WMS helps bring the university closer to its mission of achieving academic excellence and innovation in research. Joyce Myeza, Library Director, University of KwaZulu-Natal, explains: "WMS is a global knowledge system, it helps us widen access to learning research, and innovation, to both our local and global scholars. WMS enables us to deliver infrastructure and support services designed around their learning needs."

Speaking of the reasons for selecting WMS, Myeza says: "The costs of maintaining our legacy systems was becoming unsustainable. This, combined with a desire to provide consolidated access to all of our resources and make better use of our collections budget, were instrumental in our decision to implement WMS."

The University of KwaZulu-Natal was formed on 1 January 2004 as a result of the merger between the University of Durban-Westville and the University of Natal. The university brings together the rich histories of both the former universities.

"OCLC are excited to welcome the University of KwaZulu-Natal to the WMS community," said Eric van Lubeek, Managing Director, OCLC EMEA. "One of the institution's strategic objectives is to establish efficient, effective management systems for students, which meet their requirements in a pragmatic and flexible way. We are delighted that the university saw WMS as way to achieve this for its many library users."

OCLC works in conjunction with its local partner, Sabinet, in the African region. Sabinet provided on-the-ground implementation support and training for the University of KwaZulu-Natal and will be providing ongoing support for WMS in Africa. "We are pleased to have played a significant role during course of this implementation," stated Ros Hattingh, MD of Sabinet. "Sabinet has worked with OCLC for a number of years and the successful implementation of WMS at the University of KwaZulu-Natal is as a result of this successful partnership."

Almost 300 libraries on four continents - Australia, Europe, North America and Africa - are currently using OCLC WorldShare Management Services to gain efficiencies and improve usability in library services and end-user discovery.

More about WorldShare Management Services is on the OCLC Web site.

University of KwaZulu-Natal

The University of KwaZulu-Natal unites two major educational institutions in KwaZulu-Natal: the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville. The University of KwaZulu-Natal aims to be a truly South African university that reflects the society in which it is situated not only in terms of race, gender and class, but in terms of how it structures its values and priorities and how it responds to social needs.

As an institution of higher learning, it is committed to academic excellence, innovation in research and critical engagement with society. With its vision to be the premier university of African scholarship, the University of KwaZulu-Natal draws inspiration from an African identity and takes seriously its responsibilities to the development of the African continent.

OCLC

Founded in 1967, OCLC is a non-profit, membership, computer library service and research organisation dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and reducing library costs. More than 74 000 libraries in 170 countries have used OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalogue, lend, preserve and manage library materials. Researchers, students, faculty, scholars, professional librarians and other information seekers use OCLC services to obtain bibliographic, abstract and full-text information when and where they need it. OCLC and its member libraries co-operatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the world's largest online database for discovery of library resources. Search WorldCat.org on the Web. For more information, visit the OCLC Web site.

Sabinet

With a sound track record of 31 years, Sabinet has firmly established itself as a leader in facilitating access to a wide spectrum of high quality and credible information sources. Over the course of the last three decades, Sabinet has managed to build a strong local and international reputation for providing Africa's information to the world and the world's information to Africa.

Sabinet's mission to support library technical process, promote resource sharing and enable access to information sources is underpinned by its dedication to the values of commitment, partnerships, understanding and support.

Sabinet's roots are in library support services, where it is recognised for providing central platforms for collaboration and resource sharing among libraries. For more information, visit the Sabinet Web site.

Editorial contacts

University of KwaZulu-Natal now live with OCLC WorldShare Management Services

University becomes first African institution to implement OCLC's cloud-based library management services.