Reader Services

Reference Services

Daily reference services are co-ordinated from the Help Desk. The service acts as a link between the Library’s clients and the information resources in the library. Help Desk services include:

Registration
New students and staff members register or update their Library accounts at the Help Desk. This is done to enable them to access Library services.

General Enquiries
Staff manning the Help Desk attend to general questions. These enquires may come in person, via telephone or via Library chat facility.

Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC)
The catalogue allows users to search for the library’s collections independently .Patrons can be assisted at the Help Desk on how to use the online catalogue to search for Library print materials. Directions can be given to where exactly the material can be found.

Staff and Students clearance
At the end of each and every semester students are required to clear any outstanding fines and/or books. A clearance letter will be issued to students not owing anything. Staff members leaving NUST by any means are required to clear at the Help Desk too.

Approved Readers

These are users from other institutions who wish to use the library facilities. Approved readers do not have borrowing rights. Approved Readers are required to register at the Circulation Desk.

Non Paying Approved Readers are visiting academics and administrators and members of the NUST Council

Paying Approved Readers include researchers from public and private institutions, students and staff members from other universities and former students who are required to produce a letter from the NUST Alumni Association at the NUST Information Office.

Patron Suggestions
Patrons are free to pass their comments and suggestions for the improvement of Library services. This is done through the Submit Suggestion facility on this site. These suggestions are reviewed by Library management regularly.

eResources Center

The NUST Library e-resources centre’s aim is to build and maintain a broad periodicals collection and manage electronic resources focusing on all programmes offered at NUST.

Available Resources:

Print: Print resources available for users include journals, newsletters, newspapers, annual reports, memoirs, transactions, and proceedings of societies. All print resources are for library use only. Patrons can borrow a maximum of 1 newspaper and 3 journals at a time.

Electronic databases: NUST Library subscribes to several databases containing journals, books, newsletters, reviews, articles and conference proceedings. These databases can be accessed via NUST library website both on campus and off campus. To access the resources remotely, users have to follow the link – electronic resources (off campus). The username is the user’s surname and the barcode is the password.

E-past exam papers and E-dissertations: The e-resources centre makes available electronic past exam papers and electronic abstracts for dissertations done by final year students and postgraduate students.

Information Literacy Skills and e-resources training: The e-resources centre offers an information literacy skills and e-resources training to NUST students free of charge.

 

Circulation Services

Circulation services encompass activities offered at the issue/circulation desk and the reserve unit of the library. The aim is to facilitate fluid movement of library materials among patrons.

Borrowing Regulations

  • Only registered patrons can borrow material from the Library.
  • All items taken out of the Library must bear the Library Due Date Stamp.
  • All items going out of the Library must have a valid Date Due Slip.
  • The Library charges fines for all overdue library material.
  • Library material shall not be issued to persons who hold overdue books or with outstanding fines.
  • Due to limited resources, Library materials may not be renewed (except for Staff Patrons – who may do this at the Circulation Desk or by phone or email)
  • All items are subject to recall if in demand.
  • Any borrowers terminating membership of the Library or (Staff) proceeding on study leave must return all outstanding materials and complete a clearance form.
  • Approved Readers do not have borrowing rights.

Library Fines

(All fines are subject to change at any time)

Patrons shall be charged for the following offenses:

  • Returning books after the Due Date.
  • Damaging library material. Patrons are liable to pay for the repairs on any material brought back in an unsatisfactory condition. The Library also encourages all patrons to check material they are borrowing to see if they are in good condition.
  • Noise, drinking, or eating in the Library
  • Browsing restricted material, e.g., pornographic material
  • Using another Student’s ID
  • Parking of bicycles in forbidden areas, e.g., locking bicycles onto the gate
  • Double booking on computers
  • Attempting to leave the library with an uncleared book
  • Any other offences