A Collaborative Framework for Super Smart Astronomy Library and Information Services in the National Research Foundation in South Africa

Abstract

Many specialised libraries of the past have worked in silos and were often confined to limited interaction with other libraries. Technology has revolutionised the way in which modern libraries deliver resources and services and has transformed the information behaviour of library users, the scope of libraries, and the role of librarians as they operate in a human-centred technological society. Despite the natural ethos of collaboration in the wider astronomy research community, the two astronomy libraries of the National Research Foundation, namely, the South African Astronomical Observatory Library and the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory Library, are, to a large extent, still working in silos. Seeking to present a collaborative library and information service framework to transform these libraries and drive positive change in the National Research Foundation, this institutional research study sought to examine the current resources, operational dynamics, functioning and services offered to their users. Philosophically situated within an interpretative paradigm, this study adopted a qualitative case study design. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the only two astronomy librarians, and a purposively selected sample of eight library users from the two libraries. Through thematic analysis of the semi-structured interview transcripts, this study gathered content to inform the variables, relationships and design of a draft framework looking to guide collaboration between the two astronomy libraries. The findings and recommendations for the draft collaboration framework are presented.