The Ferdinand Postma Library on the campus in Potchefstroom is currently in the first phase of an extensive refurbishing project aimed at upgrading and repurposing current spaces to better meet the changing needs of all users.
This project follows earlier improvements on the ground and third floor. These included establishing an Honours and Research Commons in 2014 and an Information Commons for undergraduates in 2015.
The current project involves the first and second floors, with the second floor being first in line for a facelift. “It is the first time in the 65-year existence of the library that these floors are being upgraded and we are very excited about the new facilities the renovated spaces will offer,” says Louise Vos, manager for outreach, projects and quality.
Optimal study facilities
It is out with the old and in with the new during the two-phase project. Phase one on the second floor started on 1 September and is set to conclude on 24 November. The second phase, which involves the first floor of the library, will commence soon after that and will be completed on 2 April 2018.
Staff and students can ultimately look forward to an additional seminar room, a quiet study area with seating capacity for 172 users, and more laptop workstations. An updated air conditioning system will ensure that students don’t swelter in summer or shiver in winter. New carpets and leno wood flooring will add to the warm, inviting ambience of the library.
The refurbishment will affect the availability of the facilities on the two floors. However, the closing of facilities will be staggered to minimise inconvenience to staff and students.
Mammoth task ahead
The second phase will affect the whole first floor and there will be no access to this floor and to the main book collection.
Library staff have selected approximately 24 000 high-demand books representing all subject areas and these will be temporarily moved from the first floor when work starts there. The books will then be moved to the just-completed second floor.
“It is challenging, but we are committed to giving staff and students the best service during the course of this very essential building project. We are sure that these temporary sacrifices will all be worth it once the project is finished and that all will be proud of the new spaces and facilities,” concludes Louise.
For more information about the project, visit
Staff finds solutions to challenges
The library staff has worked tirelessly to come up with solutions to ensure that any upgrading-related disruptions are minimised and alternatives are available to ensure lecturers and students have access to essential sources and services.
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High-demand books relocated
With the law book collection not available during the first phase, library staff have identified about 4 000 high-demand books and reference works that will be temporarily relocated. With the help of the Faculty of Law, an additional 1 500 titles have been identified for relocation to the first floor and will be available while work is done on the second floor.
eBooks available
More than 229 000 eBooks on various subjects and study disciplines are also available as copies of or alternatives to their printed counterparts, and Louise says they encourage staff and students to make use of these resources.
Libraries on other campuses
They will also ensure that books from the NWU’s libraries in Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark are available to library users in Potchefstroom via the intercampus service. As usual, master’s and PhD students can request letters of introduction from the library for them to be able to access other university libraries in South Africa. Postgraduate students will be entitled to interlibrary loans for resources not available in the library.
Interim facilities
Library staff have also seen to it that interim facilities are available, such as group workstations where students can do their group discussions and other quiet study spaces such as Besembos and the Natural Science Branch Library.
Noisy work
As students use the library extensively while preparing for exams, and also to study during the exams, contractors have been requested to do the “noisy work” immediately and not during the final exams.
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