Have you ever entered a library and thought you were entering a world of limitless knowledge? On my first day at the University of Groningen Library, I felt exactly that way. With the help of the Ubbo Emmius Foundation's Joan van Albada Archivist Training Fund, my internship and professional exchange journey officially began.
I was warmly welcomed by Marjolein Nieboer, the University Librarian and Director of Universiteits Bibliotheek (UB) of the University of Groningen, as well as her assistants Klarman Visscher and Jan Herman Veldkamp as soon as I entered this informational treasure trove.
I was amazed by the sheer number of actual volumes on the shelves when I toured the library with Arjen Spijkstra, an experienced library assistant. It was amazing to observe how these volumes coexisted harmoniously with the sophisticated computerised systems of the library.
The BU Library is an information empire that combines the qualities of a library, study hub, archive, and museum rather than just being a collection of books. I couldn't help but notice various fascinating artefacts that added to the library's historical beauty, such as vintage printing presses, recored plates, zip drives, and cassettes.
The variety of study rooms that were offered on various levels was what really impressed me. You can locate a quiet spot that works for you, whether you're a student, researcher, or staff member. Additionally, there are accessible copy rooms next to coffee rooms on each floor. The coffee room allows library visitors to enjoy a hot beverage and a snack while reading, and the copy room enables students to print literature while abiding by copyright laws. Additionally, readers can socialise and feel connected to nature while studying in the open roof lounge spaces.
A delicious event occurred at the official welcome lunch with Director Marjolein, Senior Policy Advisor Marjolein Stern from UB, and Head of Educational Support Jacob Reinsma. I was welcomed into this professional conversation with knowledge at its core in what felt like the height of hospitality.
One of the educative part of my tour was getting to know the "content" departments, which were expertly run by Feddie Nicolai, Head of Metadata Department. It was educational to investigate the world of content management in the library. I came across the World Share Management Services (WMS) library software, a complete platform for managing libraries used by several Dutch universities. It has modules for enhancing metadata, acquisitions (invoices, subscriptions, ordering), licencing, circulation (registering book lending), and WorldCat, a global search engine.
Finally, there is "Pure." The public of the University of Groningen can access data through the Pure system and repository. As a platform for showcasing research at the RUG, the Pure Research Portal makes all registered research outputs and activities, even those that are not included in international citation databases, more visible to external search engines.
I am excited to share my knowledge and experiences from Nigeria and Africa as part of this symbiotic exchange, and I know that this remarkable adventure will forever affect the person I am. I already have vivid memories from my first day at the University of Groningen Library, and I'm looking forward to the relationships and learning opportunities that lie ahead.
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