CHAPTER 15
THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
15.1 GENERAL INFORMATION
15.1.1 Building Capacity
The first phase of the
University Library, almost in the geographic centre of the campus, is a modern
functional building on two levels. The library was designed by Messrs Norman
and Dawbarn, as were most of the University buildings during that time. Its
foundation stone was laid down by Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra on 15
September 1969 and the structure itself was completed two years later. It has a
floor area of 10 200 square feet with a book capacity of approximately 50,000
and space for 120 readers. An extension
of about 22 000 square feet to the first library building started in 1977 and
was completed by the end of 1979.
The ground floor houses the
administrative, technical, circulation and staff sections and a browsing area.
It comprises a spacious counter area and lobby, offices for the Chief Librarian
and the administrative staff as well as a multi-purpose auditorium now occupied
by the Centre D’Accčs ŕ l’Information (CAI).
At the farthest end of the
old building is a large printing and binding unit as well as a dark room for
photographic and litho-offset plate processing. The western wing houses the
shipping and receiving section, the typing pool, and a large technical
processing room for books, periodicals and other materials. The Reserve Section
is also located on this floor next to the issue counter.
The first floor is an open
area with reader tables along the windows and a popular browsing area. Other
sections include Mauritiana, Law, Reference and Bibliography. This floor also
comprises the main stack and shelves for current issues of periodicals, the
United Nations depository collection together with the publications of some of
its specialised agencies like FAO, GATT, ILO, and WHO. The Canadian Government
Publications, received on request depository, are fully catalogued and are
inter-shelved with the main collection.
This floor also houses the
audio-visual unit, which provides a photocopy service to library users and the
multimedia library, which is presently being set up. The shelves for displaying
the current issues of periodicals are located in the southern wing.
The second floor is used as
the main reading hall and for stacking the main book collection, whereas the
third floor houses bound volumes of back issues of periodicals.
The present policy of the
library is to acquire, by purchase or through donations, gifts and exchange,
all the necessary materials to support the teaching, research and informational
needs of the five constituent Faculties of the University - Agriculture,
Engineering, Law and Management, Science, Social Studies and Humanities - as
well as the Centre for Professional Development and Lifelong learning, Virtual
Centre for Innovative Learning Technologies (VCILT) and the Centre for
Information Technology and Systems (CITS). Significant textbooks and reference
works on a wide range of subjects are also purchased.
Subjects already represented
in the library stock relate mainly to the following: accounting, agriculture,
animal sciences, banking, biology, botany, business studies, chemistry, civil
engineering, communication, computer science, economics, electrical
engineering, food and sugar technologies, horticulture, law, local government,
management, mathematics, mechanical engineering, physics, political science,
public administration, pure and applied sciences, sociology, statistics and
surveying.
There are some 165,000
volumes at present in the library, consisting of some 135,000 monographs and
the bound volumes of periodicals. The library subscribes to some 325
periodicals while some 175 additional ones are obtained either through gift or
on exchange. The audio-visual section has a small collection of records and
videotapes together with a collection of some of the older Mauritian newspapers
on microfilm and also some selected documents on tape, microfilm and
microfiche. These will eventually be transferred to the multimedia centre to be
set up in the library so that users can access information stored in other
non-conventional format including electronic format like CD-ROM or optical
disks.
15.1.8 Facilities
Apart from the normal
borrowing and consultation facilities provided to the readers, the professional
staff of the library also handles a variety of queries on a multitude of
different topics. The library staff normally searches for specific information
from the resources already available within the collection or guides readers to
the proper sources of documentation. In case the information is not available
at the University, the readers are referred to other local libraries, which
have the required materials.
The University library has
also entered into inter-library loan agreements that allow it to borrow
documents from other libraries, both local and foreign. For journal articles or
research papers of moderate length not available locally but needed for
research purposes, the library can order copies from abroad in any of the
following formats: photocopy, microfilm or microfiche because there is a
microfilm/microfiche reader in the audio-visual section of the library. Photocopies
of articles from the learned journals already available at the library are
provided at cost. A wide range of audio-visual facilities is also made
available to the University and its members.
To facilitate information
search and retrieval by both staff and users, the library has embarked on a new
computerised Library Management System (LIBERO) and the cataloguing and
circulation services are now fully automated.
The Library maintains close
cooperative links with the libraries of the Mauritius Sugar Industry Research
Institute (MSIRI), the Food and Agricultural Research Council (FARC), the
Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE), the Mahatma Gandhi Institute (MGI), the
Documents on agriculture
going back to its early beginnings in
15.1.11 Medical Sciences
Library
With the running of a degree
course in Medical Science, the library is building up a core collection of
medical books to meet the teaching, learning and information and study
requirements of the students enrolled on this programme and their lecturers.
The University Library
Regulations will apply to the Medical Sciences collection with the following
exceptions:
(i)
Loan
privileges are restricted to the students and academic staff of the Departments
of Medicine and Health Sciences.
(ii)
Medical books may, on the occasion, be placed in the Reserve Section
for the use of students during special courses necessitating the use of these
materials.
15.1.13 Publications of the United Nations and its Agencies
As mentioned before, the
University Library has been selected as the official/ partial depository for
With all these resources at
hand, the University Library is thus striving to keep pace with the development
needs of the country as well as acquire a small representative stock of
universal literature to play its role as efficiently as possible as an
information dispenser and a reference Centre.
The library is enjoying
increasing popularity. Its members include staff and registered students of the
University and such other categories of outside members as stipulated in the
Library Regulations. However, the flood of requests for borrowing privileges
has had to be checked as the present limited resources of the library are
barely sufficient to satisfy the information needs of the academic population.
It is only in exceptional cases that outsiders are permitted to borrow books
from the library and other bona fide members of the public may also use
the library but for reference consultation and reading facilities only.
15.2.1 Preamble
The
“Subject to the provisions of the
Statutes, the Senate shall have power to make regulations relating to (...) the
use of the library.”
The
“ 25
Library Regulations
All matters of internal discipline
on the library premises shall be governed by the Library Regulations. If the
matter is of such seriousness that it warrants action under the Disciplinary
Regulations, then the provisions of these Regulations shall prevail.”
15.2.2 Hours of Opening
Week days 8.00
am - 8.00 pm
Saturdays 8.00
am - 1.00 pm
(The opening hours may change on the decision of the
Chief Librarian)
15.2.3 Membership of the Library
Membership is open to
(i)
University full time academic staff and part time lecturers, and
visiting lecturers;
(ii)
all registered students of the
(iii) technical staff of the
University;
(iv) academic and research staff
of the Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE) and the Mahatma Gandhi Institute
(MGI) on the recommendation of their respective librarians;
(v)
research and technical staff of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and
Fisheries and the Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute (MSIRI) on the
recommendation of their respective librarians;
(vi) Bona fide researchers from Government
Ministries and Public Corporations on application to the University Library.
15.2.4 Registration
All persons eligible to register as
members of the University Library must complete and sign the prescribed
registration form obtainable at the Circulation Desk of the Library. Members
under 15.2.3(ii)
will pay the appropriate fee as prescribed by the University Council from time
to time.
15.2.5 University of Mauritius/Library ID Cards
(i)
All
borrowers are issued with a valid UoM ID card for loaning out books as follows:
(a)
Borrowers in category 15.2.3(i): 6 books including 2 from Reserve
Section.
(b)
Borrowers in category 15.2.3(ii): 3 books including 1 from Reserve
Section.
(c)
Borrowers in category 15.2.3(iii): one book
(ii)
A valid UoM/Library ID card must be presented before borrowing a book
and when the book is discharged.
(iii) UoM Library ID cards which
are issued free in the first instance are personal and not transferable. Lost
ID cards will not be replaced automatically; replacement will, in any case, be
charged for at the rate of Rs 50 each.
(iv) Members should return all
library books and UoM/Library ID card in their possession to the Chief
Librarian at the termination of their respective courses or on expiry of their
membership of the University Library. A library clearance certificate will then
be issued to them for admission to the conferment of their university
qualification.
15.2.6 Loans
15.2.6.1 General
All books on ordinary loans
are subject to immediate recall.
All books must be charged
out at the Circulation Desk before being removed from the library.
A reader remains responsible
for a book charged out to him/her until it has been returned.
In special circumstances,
the Chief Librarian may, at his/her discretion, lend books for such periods as
s/he may decide.
15.2.6.2 Ordinary Loans
(i)
Academic, senior administrative and research staff of the University
and visiting lecturers may borrow up to six books at a time for a period of one
month.
(ii)
Borrowers in category 15.2.3(ii) are permitted to borrow up to two
books at a time for a period of up to fourteen days. A book may be renewed for
a further period of fourteen days provided that no other reader has reserved it
and that is not overdue. For such renewals, books must be produced at the
Circulation Desk so that the appropriate date may be stamped in.
(iii) Other members of staff of
the University and borrowers registered under category 15.2.3(iii) may borrow one book for a
period of fourteen days. Renewals can be arranged as at rule 15.2.6.2(ii).
(iv) MPhil and PhD students may
borrow up to five books at a time.
15.2.6.3 Special Loans
Books from the Reserve Section may
not be taken out of the library during working hours; they may however, be
borrowed one at a time overnight or over a weekend. In such cases, the book
will be issued at closing time and should be returned on the next opening day
at 9:00 am sharp. Rule 15.2.5(ii) applies in this instance. Members may only borrow
reserve books connected with their course of study.
15.2.7 Fines
(i) The Chief Librarian is
empowered to levy fines on readers who fail to return books within the
prescribed time.
(ii) The fine for ordinary
loans is three rupees (Rs 3.00) for each day the book is overdue including Sundays
and holidays for the first seven days, six rupees (Rs 6.00) per day for 8-14
overdue days and ten rupees (Rs 10.00) per day for 15 overdue days and above.
(iii) The fine for special
loans made under Rule 15.2.6.3 is five rupees (Rs 5.00) per day for 1-7
overdue days, ten rupees (Rs 10.00) per day for 8-14 overdue days and fifteen
rupees (Rs 15.00) per day for 15 overdue days and above.
15.2.8 Periodicals
Unbound periodicals
are to be consulted in the library; they may not be borrowed. For bound volume,
the Chief Librarian must be consulted.
15.2.9 Reference
(i)
Reference books and certain other library materials from special
collections may not be borrowed.
(ii)
Books from the Mauritiana collection must be consulted in the special
room where they are located.
(iii) Access to thesis/dissertation is by way of
application to the Chief Librarian made on Thesis/Dissertation Access Condition
Form, which is obtainable at the counter in the library.
15.2.10 Damage and Loss of Library Materials
(i) (a) The Chief Librarian is authorised to
collect the cost of replacing lost or damaged library materials.
(b) The Chief Librarian is authorised to
withdraw all library privileges from any reader who willfully damages or
misuses the library or its facilities or whose conduct is deemed to be
unbecoming.
(c) Other borrowers found guilty of serious
misuse of library facilities shall be reported to the Vice-Chancellor.
(ii) Borrowers are not permitted to smoke, eat or drink in the
Library.
(iii) Bags and briefcases must be deposited in the
spaces reserved for this purpose near the main entrance.
(iv) All items being
carried out of the library are subject to inspection on exit.
None of the foregoing
Regulations can be interpreted as a prejudice to the general stipulations of
the General Regulations and Disciplinary Regulations approved by the Senate on
21.09.71 or as they may be amended by Senate from time to time.
15.2.11Library Lending Code
This code describes the
privileges and responsibilities of all borrowers using circulating collections
in the
(i)
Eligible Borrowers
The following categories of
individuals are eligible for University of Mauritius Library borrowing
privileges unless such privileges are prohibited by Library or University
policy e.g. unmet financial obligations to or suspension from the University.
(a) Automatic
Borrowing Privileges with UoM ID
UoM academic staff; UoM
part-time lecturers; UoM registered students.
(b)
Borrowing Privileges upon Application
Official visiting academics/ scholars sponsored by UoM
departments;
UoM vacation courses enrolees.
(ii)
Borrower Cards
A valid UoM Library card
must be presented in order to borrow library materials either for on-site or
off-site use.
A borrower is responsible
for items checked out on her/his ID or Library card and for any fines incurred;
this responsibility cannot be transferred.
The Library will not knowingly check out material to
someone using another’s ID.
A lost ID or Library card
should be reported to the Library immediately. The ID number will be blocked so
that it can no longer be used for borrowing and a replacement Library card will
be issued against payment of the appropriate replacement fee.
(iii) Address Information
(a)
Current Address
It is the responsibility of
a borrower to keep the Library informed of his/her current address to permit
mailing of notices by the Library. To avoid potential fines of delinquencies, a
borrower who changes addresses must notify the Library directly of the address
change. If mail sent to a borrower is returned by the Postal Service, borrowing
privileges will be suspended.
(b)
Temporary Absence from Current Address
A borrower who will be away
from her/his address for extended periods (break periods, vacations) should
either return all library materials before leaving or make arrangements to
ensure that the borrowed library materials can be located and returned to the
Library if recalled.
(iv) Confidentiality
It is the general policy of the
(v)
Loan Periods and Recalled Materials
(a)
Loan Periods
UoM academic staff and
part-time lecturers have a loan period of one month. All other borrowers have a
two-week loan period. Some categories of materials (items on reserve or for
specific programmes) are circulated with short-term loan periods (one-hour,
one-day and one-week loans).
(b)
Recalled Materials
Materials on loan may be
recalled from any borrower. Items needed for reserve are subject to immediate
recall. Otherwise, an item charged out to a borrower is subject to recall once
it has been on loan for one week.
(c)
Borrower Responsibilities
When Library material is
borrowed for a short-term loan period, the Library will record a date (or date
and time) due. Borrowers are responsible for observing the date (or date and
time) due for each item and returning the short-term loan item directly to the
location from which it was borrowed. Selected material may be restricted to
in-library use and may not be removed form the lending library.
(vi) Library Clearance
Graduating, withdrawing, or
non-returning students must return all outstanding items and pay all charges
before leaving the University.
University faculty and staff
who are terminating their employment with the University must also return all
outstanding items and pay any charges due.
Part-time lecturers must
also return all outstanding items and pay any charges due at the end of their
affiliation or contract with the University.
(vii) Constraints and Penalties
Fines apply equally to all
borrowers and are assessed as follows:
(a)
Late Return or Non-Return of Library Materials on loan
(b)
Delayed Response or Non-response to a Recall Notice
1.
Due Dates
Borrowers are expected to observe
due dates for library materials loaned to them. The due date is the date
specified on the date label in the book or the date specified on the recall
notice. Library materials will not be due on dates when the lending library is
closed.
There is NO grace period for
either long-term or short-term loans. Each item must be returned by the date
(or date and time) due, and overdue charges are assessed from the expiration of
the date due.
2.
Renewals
Borrowers are permitted to renew
long-term loan items provided that the item has not been recalled. A short-term
loan item will be renewed only if another borrower has not requested it.
Renewal of loan for items on reserve is not allowed. Various methods of renewal
are available, but no telephone or mail renewals are permitted.
3.
Overdue Notices
For an item that has not been
returned or renewed by its due date, the Library will generate an overdue
notice, as a courtesy reminder to the borrower, seven days after the due date.
This notice will be sent to the current mailing address that the borrower
maintains with the Library. A borrower’s failure to receive an overdue or library
fine billing notice will not result in cancellation of library charges.
4.
Library Charges
(a)
Overdue Fines
|
|
No. of Overdue Days
|
||
|
|
1 – 7 Days |
8 – 14 Days |
15 Days and above |
|
General
Books |
Rs 3 per day |
Rs 6 per day |
Rs 10 per day |
|
Reserve
Books |
Rs 5 per day |
Rs 10 per day |
Rs 15 per day |
If a fine of Rs 300 is
reached for an overdue book, the borrowing privileges of the defaulter will be
suspended.
(b)
Replacement Charges
Once the maximum fine has
been accrued for an item not yet returned or renewed, the borrower is subject
to being billed for replacement costs of the item in addition to processing
fees and the maximum overdue fine. Should an item be declared lost before the
maximum fine has accrued, overdue fines, replacement and processing charges may
be imposed. If an item is then returned by the borrower, the borrower’s charge
for replacement may be reduced or cancelled.
If a recalled item is not
returned, the borrower will be billed for replacement and processing costs, as
well as the maximum late fine.
(c)
Damage of Library Materials
Borrowers who damage library
materials are subject to charges which may vary according to the extent of the
damage. For seriously damaged material, the Library may assess the borrower
replacement charges and processing fees.
(d)
Unpaid Charges
Unless on
appeal, library charges must be paid promptly. Failure to do so may result
in loss of borrowing privileges, the placement of holds on grades, transcripts,
and enrolment.
5.
Theft/Intentional Mutilation of Library Materials
As a deterrent to theft and
intentional mutilation of library materials, and as a means to recover the cost
of resulting damages, the Library will send to the University Discipline
Committee persons who willfully damage Library materials, who intentionally
misplace books in the Library so as to deprive others of their use, or who
willfully and without authorisation take or attempt to take materials from the
Library.
6.
Suspension of Borrowing/Access Privileges
Borrowing
privileges are suspended if the borrower:
(a) fails to return a
long-term loan or recalled item to the lending library by the time the maximum
fine has been incurred;
(b) fails to return a
short-term or reserve item by the time the maximum fine has been incurred;
(c) accumulates a total
of Rs 300.00 or more in unpaid library charges.
In addition, borrowing
privileges may be suspended if the borrower fails to pay library charges or
other University charges, if the borrower’s record contains incomplete or
inaccurate information, if mail has been returned as undeliverable, or at the
request of reciprocal-arrangement libraries.
In cases of flagrant and
repeated breach of library regulation, or for other good cause, the Library may
suspend the offender’s privileges of access to library facilities and/or report
the matter to other appropriate University authorities for action.
7.
Appeal Rights
A borrower has the right to
appeal any Library charge within 30 days of the date, which appears on the
original Library billing notice. The provisions of the Lending Code itself may
not be appealed, but suggestions for changes in the Lending Code may be
addressed to the Chair of the University Library Committee, which can amend the
Code from time to time.