Access to Physical & Electronic Resources

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Access to Physical & Electronic Resources

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

Collections are browsable with the exception of course materials, where access is mediated by library staff. All library resources are discoverable online through the library's search engine. Physical resources include location and call numbers to help patrons find them on the shelf. Physical collections are arranged according to the Library of Congress Classification System, an alphanumerical system. 

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. Availability information is always provided.
  • Downloading eBooks for offline reading may require third-party applications (Adobe Digital Editions).

Physical collections

  • Patrons may browse collections or request items from course reserve to check out from the library.
  • Items may be checked out at the circulation desk 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.
Loan Periods & Quotas

Students 

Format

Quantity

Period

Renewals

Books & Other Media

6

3 weeks

2

*Laptops

1

4 hours

As available

**Course Reserves

1

varying

As available

eBook downloads (as determined by provider/licenses)

unlimited

varying

As available

eResources access

unlimited

* Equipment is generally intended for in library use

**Course reserves with limited loan periods should be used in the library  (4 or less hours)

 

Faculty / Researchers

Format

Quantity

Period

Renewals

Books & Other Media

12

3 weeks

As available

Faculty Teaching Materials

6

Semester

As required

Laptops

1

4 hours

As available

eBook loans (as determined by provider/licenses)

unlimited

varying

As available

eResources access

unlimited

 

Staff 

Format

Quantity

Period

Renewals

Books & Other Media

6

3 weeks

2

Laptops

1

4 hours

As available

eBook loans (as determined by provider/licenses)

unlimited

varying

As available

eResources access

unlimited

 
Alumni

Format

Quantity

Period

Renewals

eResources - walk-in use only

unlimited

Books & Other Media

3

3 weeks

2

  • 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.

Family membership is available on request and with the consent of the primary member (enrolled student, current faculy and staff).  

Notices, Holds & Recalls

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

Overdue Notices

  • 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.
  • Requests may be managed online (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 and all patrons who receive a recall notification should return the item to the library by the revised due date to avoid fines.
  • All items may be recalled for inventory purposes at the end of each semester.
Fines & Fees

Fines are levied for the late return of items

  • Fines will continue to accumulate until an item is returned or reported missing, and:
    • Up to 20 days for standard (three weeks) and long-term loans (semester loan), and;
    • Up to 50 hours for short-term loans (a week or less)
    • Patrons will then receive a statement for the replacement cost, including administrative charges and accumulated fines.
    • Students are required to clear all outstanding fines and fees directly with the Finance Department and provide proof of settlement to resume borrowing privileges. 
    • Borrowing privileges will be suspended for students with outstanding fines and fees of AED 300.00 or more.

Loss or damage of materials

  • All patrons will be invoiced for the loss or damage of library material. 

Fine & Fee Schedule

  • Standard and long-term loans:  AED 2.00 a day per item (up to a maximum of 20 days)
  • Short-term loans:  AED 2.00 per hour (up to a maximum of 50 hours)
  • Lost/Damaged Item Fee includes the following costs:
  • Replacement cost of item (as recorded on the library’s catalog).
  • Administrative fee: AED 75.00
  • Accumulated fines – up to 20 days for standard/long-term loans and 50 hours for short-term loans

Borrowing privileges will be suspended for students with outstanding fines and fees of AED 300.00 and over.

Exceptions

The following exceptions may be observed:

Fines

  • Overdue fines may be waived for items reported as lost or damaged.
  • Overdue fines for long-term loans may be waived if items are returned within 20 days of the due date and if they have not been requested by another patron during that period.
  • Overdue fines for short term loans may be waived if items are returned within 50 hours of being overdue and if they have not been requested by another patron during that period.

Circulation

  • Non-circulating materials (Reference, Current Periodical Issues, Special Collections & Archives) may be checked out by patrons on request and at the discretion of the Head of Library Management.
  • Course Reserve material may be checked-out within the last opening hour as an overnight or weekend loan.