Anja Smit: Farewell to Maastricht
Posted on 25. Feb, 2010 by Henk van den Hoogen in Announcements, FASoS, FHML, FHS, FL, FPN, Inner City, Randwyck, RSS-Mail, SBE, Staff, Students
The Director of the University Library and Language Centre Maastricht, Anja Smit, is leaving Maastricht as of March 2010. Despite her short stay in Maastricht, just more than two years, there are some distinct results to be mentioned.
Anja’s focus is definitely on the user: making things better for our users, triggers her upmost. When there are opportunities to improve library services, don’t discuss and hesitate too long: use the spare time to develop and implement them, is her device.
Within this respect, the possibilities of Web technology are so widespread and dynamic, that discussing all possible aspects before acting, will lead us to considerable arrears.
This is a rather new experience in a library world where one always felt very strong about values like sustainability, reliability and solidness.
Times have changed: due to the new developments on the Web, with their huge potential impact on our service level, we have to operate as flexible, fast and user focused as possible.
In her “maiden speech” Anja stressed on three perspectives: what do faculties want, what do Maastricht students like and which opportunities are (for that) easy to realize.
To fulfill the expectations of our users (especially the new Web generation), Anja has succeeded in extending our flexible attitude: no massive policy reports, less visionary insights, and more concrete actions, giving clear answers to the question: what’s in it for the user.
Some striking moments of the last two years:
- explicit and extensive contribution to the expansion of study facilities in the Innercity location of the University Library.
- activities to integrate more Web technology facilities into the digital library environment:
- Web 2.0 software into the digital library via integration of interaction software into the University Library Catalogue via the eLibrary (book covers, ratings, tagging);
- launching the new interactive library information channel: the Library Wall
- promoting the benefits of Open Access and storage of scientific publication in the institutional repository for visibility, traceability and recognition of research and researcher. The outcome of a roadshow within the university, is the starting of a project with two faculties getting their scientific output more visible on the Web (i.e. via personal pages and harvesting services).
Some final remarks of Anja Smit:
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“When I started as director of the UM library in 2008, I was pleasantly surprised to find a library that succeeded my expectations in a number of areas: the excellent support of PBL, state-of-the-art study facilities, and a general spirit of entrepreneurship. Very fitting qualifications for a library at the centre of a young, ambitious and growing university and certainly an example for others. UM students love their library, make it the ‘place to be’ within the university and are very involved in its development. This provides the opportunity for the library to continue to be shaped by the changing needs of its users. Never dull, dynamic and agile, providing up-to-date services through highly professional librarians on campus and in the virtual world, is what the UM community deserves!” |
Anja is leaving Maastricht for the position of Director of the University Library in Utrecht. Meantime, Marianne de Ruwe will be the acting Director of the University Library and Language Centre.
Henk van den Hoogen,
Manager Education and Research Support
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Naef Saab
Mar 11th, 2010
Thank you for all the services. Library is an important entity in the advancement of knowledge.
Good luck and God Bless,
Naef
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