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Library information services are provided free of charge to all registered students and staff at the University. The Library employs specialist information librarians who will assist you in finding the information you need to complete your assignments, or prepare for your examinations. These librarians will also teach you how to make effective use of the library. You will be able to apply the information skills you learn here for the rest of your life.
We urge you to make the acquaintance of the information librarian responsible for your subject areas as soon as possible after joining the library. We look forward to developing personal relationship with you so that we are able to serve you better.
The Senior Librarian: Information Services is Suzette Oosthuizen. The departments under her management are:- Lending Services (Circulation), Information Services and Campus Library at Bhisho. Mariette Lotter is the Senior Librarian at the East London Campus Library.
This section is responsible for doing literature searches for information in periodicals or journals, and for other information not held by the Library. It is also responsible for the user education and information literacy training. The Library staff responsible for this is section are Lungelwa Madyibi, and at the East London Campus, Lungi Katiya.
Information requests after normal office hours should be submitted at the issue desks at any campus library. Where possible these will be dealt with by the staff on duty, but you may be asked to enter an Information Request form that will be processed by the Information librarians during normal working hours.
The Online Library Catalogue (OPAC) may be accessed from the link contained in the heading above, or you may type, or copy and paste the following URL to your browser: http://opac.seals.ac.za/search~S9. The OPAC provides you with a number of advanced search options, as well as additional functionality, such as:
- On-line renewal of your Library books (provided you don't have any overdue items).
- The ability to request new Library books.
- A suggestions form where you can comment on the Library services.
- A book suggestions form where you can recommend books for purchase by the library.
To use these functions you are required to enter your Surname, Barcode and a PIN number. This confirms your status as a registered Library user.
- Your barcode is the 10 digit number stuck on the back of your staff or student identity card.
- You are required to create your own PIN for security reasons.
- Click here for help on creating a PIN number on the OPAC.
The Library conducts a number of courses designed to teach you how to make effective use of the library and the services available in it. A general introduction to the Library is essential part of the Orientation Programme offered to first year students. Advanced training may be offered to your class, or you can make an appointment with your information librarian to attend when courses are advertised in the Library.
The Reference section contains atlases, dictionaries, encyclopaedias, and more. It is an essential aid when preparing for assignments. General and subject-specific encyclopaedias, dictionaries and yearbooks enable you to develop a broad understanding of the subject field that you should in turn apply to finding more specific information. Reference books are not available for loan and must be used in the library.
The Library receives a wide range of journals and periodicals for different subject areas, as well as daily newspapers. These are used to obtain detailed, up-to-date information on your subject. Ask your information librarians for assistance in using the journals effectively.
- Full Text Electronic Databases
In line with international trends, the Library subscribes to a number of Electronic Full Text Databases. These databases provide access to a considerable number of academic, peer-reviewed journals via the Internet or from CD-ROMS located on the University's internal network, allowing you to access the information from any PC on the University network. Links to these databases are provided on this page under the heading "Online Resources" opposite.
We cannot over-emphasize the importance of these information resources to any person engaged in academic endeavour. Whether you are a first year student, or engaged in Phd research, these are the information resources of the future, available for your use today.
Please ask your information librarians for assistance in searching and using the databases effectively.
Inter-Library loans are available for staff and postgraduate students.
- Howard Pim Library of Rare Books
The Alice Campus Library houses the Howard Pim Library of Rare Books on the lower ground floor. The collection consists of a number of rare books and concentrates in the fields of South African and African history and education.
This is a closed access library. You may not browse the shelves in the hope of finding a book that is relevant to you. Visitors to the Howard Pim Library are expected to have conducted an initial search for the material they require in the OPAC, or to have been referred to the Howard Pim librarian by the information librarians.
No materials from this section may be removed. The librarian does all the photocopying on your behalf.
Books or articles that required reading for your course are placed in the Short Loan Collection at the request of your lecturer. A Short Loan item is loaned for two hours (Alice Campus), or one hour (East London Campus), and may not be removed from the Library during this time. Some items are also available for over-night loan from the Alice Campus but these must be returned by 9 am the next day.
If you don't return the item at the end of its loan period you will incur a substantial fine. If you borrow a Short Loan and fail to return within three days, the matter will be referred to the University Disciplinary Committee for further action.
The East London Campus does not issue Short Loan material overnight.
If the book you want is out on loan, a reservation for the item can be made at the Issue desks at any one of the campuses. The Library will notify you when the book becomes available.
If the book that you want is displayed in the OPAC, but is either at another branch, or is at your local branch, but is out, you may reserve the book yourself by pressing the Request button and following the on-screen instructions.
The Library has computers set aside for your use. Full Internet access is available so that you can browse the World Wide Web for information or to keep contact with friends of family via e-mail. Word processing programmes enable you to prepare your assignments for printing.
Note: Printing facilities are available at both the Alice and East London campuses. The University's Technological Support Centre is responsible for operating this service. Please direct all enquiries regarding printing to this department.
The computers are heavily used and the Library operates a booking system to ensure that all students get equal access to use them. Preference is given to students using the computers for academic purposes. If you are not using a computer for this purpose you may be asked to give up your place for someone with a more urgent need.
There's an area to leave your bags or coat while you are in the Library and plenty of room to study.
Photocopying facilities are available. The cost per page is currently 30c at the Alice Campus and 20c at the East London Campus.
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