Carnegie Research Commons
The Carnegie Research Commons is a research environment intended for use by postgraduate students at masters and doctoral level, as well as academic staff and researchers at Stellenbosch University.
It is equipped with computers, workstations and seminar rooms, as well as areas for discussion and relaxation. The main aim of the Research Commons is to enhance the Library's contribution to postgraduate throughput and research output by providing an environment conducive to research, and offering services which directly support research endeavours of postgraduate students and researchers.
Services
- Dedicated research support
- Access to electronic resources
- Personalised assistance by skilled librarians
- Faculty librarian services for subject-specific assistance and guidance
- Continuous consultation and collaboration opportunities with cognate partners for expert research support
- Workshops and seminars to enhance academic writing and research techniques
- Research discourse activities
Carnegie Research Commons spaces
- Four seminar rooms for group discussions and meetings, writing boards, plasma screens and laptops for lending. See Room bookings for more detail.
- A virtual meeting room
- Lounge area
Equipment and other facilities
- 32 individual computer workstations
- Printing, photocopying and scanning
- Wireless internet connection
- Reading material, including reference works and brochures
- Lockers
Where to find us
Stellenbosch University Library, lower level
Who may use this?
The facility is reserved for students at masters and doctoral level as well as academic staff and researchers of Stellenbosch University by means of controlled access. You will need a Stellenbosch University student/staff card to gain access to the Carnegie Research Commons.
Opening hours:
See SU Library Opening Hours
Follow us: Facebook | Twitter
Feedback: Send us any suggestions and comments about the Research Commons by email.
Contact us
Background and funding
The momentum for the creation of the Research Commons was set-off by funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY). CCNY funded the Research Libraries Consortium in South Africa. There were three different components in the Consortium which included the development of specialised facilities (the physical construction of a Research Commons), shared technologies and highly-trained professional librarians. Each of these components was considered significant in growing a new core group of researchers in South Africa.
The University recognised the potential of a highly sophisticated postgraduate research environment supporting its mission of increasing postgraduate throughput and research output by contributing more than eighty percent of the funds for the construction of the Research Commons. This cutting-edge and stimulating environment is supported by the development of a core group of skilled research librarians, as well as improved access to information resources via the search function, Library Search.