About the Library

Mission Statement

The mission of Al Ghurair University Libraries is to support the teaching and research missions of the University by providing access to relevant learning and research materials, instruction to facilitate research, assistance to meet information needs, environments conducive to learning and independent thinking, and responsive interaction with users.

Objectives

• Support academic and research excellence through

Appropriate collection development, including online resources

Simple discovery mechanisms (easy access to online resources)

Establishing collaborations to broaden access

• Provide effective service

Robust catalog and circulation system

Rapid acquisition of materials

Prompt response to user needs

• Reach out to users

Basic instruction through a variety of technologies

Instruction for upper level and post-graduate users

Communication regarding resources and services

Support for life-long learning

• Offer suitable environments

Spaces conducive to quiet study

Group study areas

Spaces and materials promoting problem solving, innovation and brainstorming

Collection Levels

Materials are collected at the following levels:

• Basic Level: To acquire a few, limited, representative, and essential works in a given subject.
• Core Level: To build a highly selective core collection which serves to introduce and define the subject. This includes major dictionaries and encyclopedias, essential reference works, and a few major periodicals in the field.
• Undergraduate Level: To provide necessary materials to support undergraduate instruction and study. It includes core reference materials, core periodicals, and a wide range of books, and audiovisual materials.
• Research Level: To provide research materials for graduate instruction and research. It includes all important reference works, an extensive collection of journals, and a wide selection of specialized monographs.

Information Resources to be acquired

The materials to be acquired by the Library are:

• Print Materials:   Books, Serials / Periodicals (non-archival), Newspapers
• Electronic resources: Databases, e-journals, book collections
• Multimedia as needed

Library Budget

The budget is distributed in such a way to keep a balanced collection among the disciplines. New allocations are made for new disciplines and subject areas.

Ordering Dates

E-resource material and subscriptions are generally purchased at the end of the fiscal (calendar) year for the following calendar year.  Book orders are placed throughout the year. Materials needed urgently are purchased as a rush order and shipped at special rates.

Selection of Materials

The librarians are responsible for developing the collections in consultation with faculty. The librarians also select reference works and other materials of overall interest. New titles are selected from online notifications provided by the supplier, according to the subject profile submitted by the librarians. Recommendations from faculty and students are welcome at any time and reviewed by the librarians. Requests should include author, title, publisher, date of publication, and ISBN.

Acquisition Procedure

Most print books are purchased from the content supplier, who sends notifications of new titles, provides online ordering, shelf-ready labeling, and MARC records for the catalog.  The books are shipped when over 50 lb of books are cumulated in order to ship at freight rates. Shipments are received by the University’s service for customs processing and delivery.

Online materials are purchased through vendors or publishers.  The library provides access to online books through the catalog.  Some online materials are on a subscription basis and the material is accessed through the library website.  In all cases the library is responsible for providing users access from off-campus through an authentication mechanism.

Circulation Policy

Eligible Borrowers

• All members of the University community (registered students and employees on the Al Ghurair University payroll) are eligible to borrow materials from the library.
• Other staff may borrow library materials with prior permission from a university manager.

Borrowing policies

• Materials are to be checked out at the Circulation Desk before leaving the library
• Borrowers are responsible for loans until the material has been returned and checked in.
• Loaned items may not be transferred from one borrower to another, but must be returned to the library and re-issued.
• Borrowers should observe due dates.

Circulating Materials

• All books in the general collection
• Back issues of periodicals
• Current issues of periodicals (for teaching staff only)
• Copies of audio-visual materials

Non-Circulating Materials

• Reference materials (e.g. encyclopedias, dictionaries, directories, manuals, handbooks)
• Reserve books (see section on Reserves below)
• Unprocessed books (newly received in the library)
• Final year project reports
• Bound volumes of periodicals
• Newspapers
• Originals of audio-visual materials

Loan Periods

Recalls:  All loaned materials are subject to recall by the library earlier than their due date, if required urgently for teaching purposes.

Renewals:  The borrowed material can be renewed once provided that another user does not require it.

Overdue Notices

• Borrowers with overdue materials will be notified.
• A maximum of two notices will be generated, after which the borrower will be charged the cost of replacing the overdue item.
• Users who do not comply with the policy may lose borrowing privileges.

Reserves

• Course reserves offer in-library access to materials that are required for courses.
• Reserve materials are available on a first-come first-served basis.
• Reserve materials may be checked out for overnight use and must be returned within 30 minutes of opening the next morning.
• Teaching staff may recommend reserve materials for their courses or supply personal copies.
• Materials are kept on reserve for the duration of the course or as specified by the teaching staff.
• At the end of the reserve period/academic year, the library-owned reserve books are returned to the general collection and personal copies to the faculty.

Lost, Damaged or Mutilated Materials

• Borrowers are responsible to pay replacement cost for lost or damaged materials. Those who underline words, deface, mark, cut, mutilate or lose any library material, have to pay the full cost of its replacement (its current price plus handling)
• A higher charge may be levied if the material is out-of-print or difficult to replace.

Clearance

• Students are required to return all issued library materials and textbooks before the last working day of the academic year, and to obtain a Library Clearance Report in order to release grades from the Registrar.
• University regulations require staff and students to obtain a Library Clearance at the end of service or upon withdrawal from an academic program. The library will endorse the clearance form when all borrowed materials are returned.