Access and Borrowing Information

Enrolled students, current faculty and staff may borrow materials from the library and have access to licensed electronic resources from anywhere and at anytime.

All library resources (print and electronic) are discoverable online through the library's search engine, the main search box on the library portal. Physical resources in the search results include location and call numbers to help patrons find them on the shelf.

Electronic resources

• MBZUAI login credentials are required to access licensed electronic resources.
• Electronic resources are normally available 24/7, on and off campus.
• Access to these resources depends on the available licenses and may be limited or concurrent. 
• Downloading eBooks for offline reading may require third-party applications (Adobe Digital Editions).

Physical collections

• Print collections are browsable on the shelves with the exception of course materials, where access is mediated by library staff.
• Physical collections are arranged according to the Library of Congress Classification System, an alphanumerical system. 
• Patrons may browse collections or request items to check out from the library.
• Items may be checked out at the circulation desk or the self-checkout machine in the library. Items in the Reference and current periodical issues are non-circulating and should be used in the library.
• Student or staff credentials may be requested to check-out material.
• All patrons have access to a personal library account to renew books, place holds, check outstanding fines and fees, suggest new titles, and create booklists.
• Different loan periods and quotas (amount of items that can be borrowed to a patron) apply to the three main patron categories: staff, faculty and students.

Students 

* Equipment is generally intended for in library use

Faculty

Researchers

Staff 

 
Alumni

• alumni have access to in-house use of the library’s physical collection, reference services, and may access library databases in the library.
• Borrowing privileges (physical items) are available on renewal of membership annually.  

Borrowing privileges are not available for visitors (external researchers and students). Approved visitors may use resources on site only.

MBZUAI library patrons are responsible for all items checked out on their names.

Overdue Notices

• Automated overdue notices are sent as a courtesy and all patrons remain responsible for keeping track of due dates and returning materials and equipment on time.
• Faculty and staff may arrange for pre-approved proxies to collect and deliver loaned material but remain responsible for items checked out on their names.

Holds

• Patrons may request a hold on an item currently checked out to another patron.
• Hold requests may be managed online through the Library system (Patron Account) or in person at the library.
• Once the item is returned, the requesting patron will be informed and has three days to collect the item from the circulation desk.

Recalls

• The library may recall any checked-out item after a minimum of one week. All patrons who receive a recall notification should return the item to the library by the revised due date.
• All items may be recalled for inventory purposes at the end of each semester.