Library Guide

  1. Organization of the Library collection

The print collection in Kyambogo University Library service centres is arranged based on Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC). This allows the collection to be arranged based on call numbers which start from notations 000-Generalia to 999-Geography and History. Main Class Numbers are:

  • 000-099-Generalia or Generalities
  • 100-199-Philosophy/Psychology
  • 200-299-Religion
  • 300-399-Social Sciences (Political, Sociology, Economics and Education)
  • 400-499-Languages
  • 500-599-Pure Science (Chemistry, Physics and Biological Sciences)
  • 600-699-Applied Sciences
  • 700-799-The Arts (Fine Art, Music)
  • 800-899-Literature (Fiction, Poetry and Drama)
  • 900-999-Geography and History

2. Reservation services

A Library user may reserve a book of his/her choice for use at any time. When a user identifies a book he/she wants to use at a given time, may request the person in charge to put it on hold/reserve until the appointed time. Once a book is reserved; it cannot be lent out until its status is remove/lifted. But it can be used within the Library.

3. Admission to the Library

All present students and staff of Kyambogo University are entitled to use the library as readers and borrowers only after Registration by the Library.

All Alumni including those of former ITEK, UPK and UNISE and external users who may be interested to use the Library should submit a written application to the University Librarian for individual reading and or borrowing for consideration.

  • The application should be accompanied with a reference letter from a current University staff with evidence of Identity Card.
  • The University librarian if satisfied, shall notify such applicant of his/her acceptance who shall proceed to pay the prescribed fees.

4. Current fees for Different Categories of Members

  • Family members of University Staff, Annual subscription of US$3 or its equivalent per person with no borrowing rights.
  • Alumni Annual subscription of US$10 or its equivalent per person with borrowing rights
  • Present students and staff of Affiliated Institutions, Annual subscription of US$10 or its equivalent including borrowing rights. Applicants must write their applications through their respective Institutional Librarians or Lecturers responsible for the Library services
  • General Public Annual subscription is US$20 or its equivalent including borrowing rights
  • Casual users, service charge of US$1 or its equivalent per visit
  • Institutional Membership, Annual subscription of US$50 or its equivalent. This includes, bibliographic, reference and current awareness services.

5. Expiration of Membership

Library membership expires:

  1. At the end of each academic year for students.
  2. On leaving employment of the University for staff
  3. Expiry of twelve (12) months from the date of registration for any external user

6. Borrowing of Library Resources

  1. When a user has identified a book form the open shelves section, and wishes to borrow it, she/he presents the book/item, to the responsible person at the issue desk, who shall issue out the book/item according to the laid out procedures.
  2. There are categories of readers whose membership does not entitle them to borrow as indicated in the rules and regulations on borrowing
  3. Borrowing is done under the names of the person fully registered with the library and is not interchangeable.
  4. A borrower remains responsible for any library resource under his/her record as long as the borrowing remains un-cancelled

  5. Registered users with borrowing rights are entitled to the following number of items per loan:

    • Staff are entitled to six items For a period of one month
    • Students are entitled to four items for a period of two weeks
    • Others categories are entitled to one item as directed by the issuing officer at circulation desk.

    These resources can be borrowed from any service centre from open access collection. Borrowed resources can be renewed only once. Failure to returned borrowed resources at the stipulated time attracts a penalty.

7. Number of Resources to be borrowed and the borrowing duration

  1. All resources can be borrowed for a period of 14 days/ two weeks, except the university staff who may borrow up to 30 days
  2. Students are not entitled to borrowing in the course of the recess.
  3. Resources in excess of the above stipulated numbers can be borrowed only in very exceptional circumstances by permission from the University Librarian.

8. Fines for non-compliance

A fine of shillings 500 per day shall be charged on every item retained beyond the permitted loan period.

Any lost item shall have to be replaced either in kind or at a cost of 120% inclusive of administrative charges.

Fines and charges for lost/damaged items shall be regarded as debts to the university and in cases of non-payment ,a defaulter shall be reliable to disciplinary action

9. Clearance

Clearance certificates shall not be signed unless all borrowed items are returned and or lost items have been replaced by the borrower as indicated above.

10. Access to Library Resources

All items on open shelves can be borrowed and used both within and outside the library facilities

Items in closed sections of the Library are issued under specific conditions and are strictly used within the Library facilities for a period allocated at the time of issuing.

Library items are issued on first come first serve basis

Provided the item is not reserved by any other reader a loan can be renewed but not for more than two consecutive times.

11. Use of the Library Spaces

Silence is to be observed in all library public reading areas.

Mobile phones and other gadgets should be used in silent mode

The Library is a smoke free zone

Food and drinks are not allowed into the Library

Reservation of seats and tables is not permitted. The library staff may remove such personal effects left for any length of time on chairs or tables. The library accepts no responsibility for personal belongings left lying on chairs and tables

Bags and related personal items should be left in the place designated for the purpose at the prescribed fee. The library shall not be reliable for the contents of such bags.

All items consulted within the library should be left on the reading tables. Don’t Reshelf Library items Please.

All readers leaving the library in possession of items including; books, papers, folders, etc must show them to the library staff on duty for checking at the point of exist.

12. Behaviors that can attract penalties

Any disorderly or improper conduct or breach of any of these rules and regulation.

  1. Failure to obey lawful orders from the library staff on duty
  2. Mutilation or cutting of library items
  3. Taking the library items through unauthorized means
  4. Out right theft of library items.
  5. Making noise/discussions in un-designated places in the library
  6. Use of digital devices in a manner that disturbs other library users

     13. Penalties

Penalties are based on the nature of misbehavior and shall include

  1. Suspension from use of the library facilities
  2. Arrest and be forwarded to the University security and police for action
  3. Fines as prescribed
  4. Indefinite Expulsion from the library facilities

14. A security Rider

In your own interest and in the interest of other Library Users, you are advised to be security conscious. Be vigilant while in the Library, the reader next to you might be a terrorist, a thief of mutilator of valuable books/documents.

Report any one you suspect of any wrong doing to any Library staff around or University security or any other member of university staff you think can help you to curb the bad and dangerous habits.