The Durban University of Technology (DUT) Library continues to raise the bar in enhancing user experience as it endeavours to blend state-of-the-art technologies into its physical and virtual spaces. Library TECH Week is one of the Library’s annual flagship programmes, which provides staff and students with a hands-on opportunity to engage with various support teams to explore tools and resources that enrich learning, teaching, and research.
This year’s Library TECH Week interactive sessions were held across all six DUT campus libraries from 4 to 8 August 2025, which saw each venue transformed into a vibrant hub of discovery and knowledge sharing. The programme brought together experts from the Writing Centre, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT), Information and Communication Technology Services (ICTS), and the Library IT Support team, along with library vendors such as EBSCO, McGraw Hill, Worldwide Information Services and Elsevier.
The organised sessions aimed to equip attendees with practical skills, while offering insights and raising awareness of the technological services provided by DUT Libraries and their key stakeholders.
- EBSCO guided participants on maximising a range of benefits in using the Library’s QuickFinder discovery tool to access reliable and relevant information for assignments, research, and projects.
- The Writing Centre showcased its convenient online booking system, which allows students to schedule consultations with writing tutors.
- CELT introduced a range of AI tools available to DUT students and lecturers, highlighting their potential to enhance academic work.
- The Library IT Support team guided attendees through a selection of gadgets and digital tools in the library, including Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) connectivity solutions, and EndNote.
In addition to these engaging sessions, specialised demonstrations for postgraduate students and researchers highlighted advanced library tools, including Scopus AI and the Web of Science Research Assistant, designed to support complex research and scholarly output.
Library WIL students showcasing some of the free goodies shared with students.
To acknowledge their attendance and participation in the event, library users were treated to a range of corporate-sponsored goodies, including pens, earphones, phone stands, mobile speakers, notepads, and USBs. The Library expressed its gratitude to all DUT stakeholders, external partners, and students who participated in the event. Starting from 2026, Library TECH Week will be held twice a year.
In relation to the event, one of the organisers, Mr Ayanda Thwala, emphasised that TECH Week is more than a showcase, it is a platform for empowering the DUT community to make the most of the digital resources at their fingertips. As the library continues to align with the DUT ENVISION2030 strategy, initiatives such as TECH Week reinforce its commitment to fostering innovation, accessibility, and academic excellence.
Pictured: Some of the attendees at the Steve Biko campus.
Photographers: Zenande Ngubelanga (Library Intern) and Sphamandla Shabangu (2nd year student from Photography).
