The Library system comprises of 14 libraries based in Colleges, Schools, Campuses and Institutes. The library ensures information needs of students & faculty are met.
The function of the library is to provide relevant information resources and services, enhance access to resources and preserve knowledge. This involves enhancing collection development by evaluating and acquiring, organizing and preserving relevant information resources to support information needs of researchers, students & faculty staff and enhancing access through information literacy and feedback tools.
To ensure quality services, the library has adopted latest information technology tools to enhance services and facilities. Library services include:
- Provision of information resources for loaning and access in the following format:
- Print books and journals
- Electronic books and journals
- Online local content uploaded on University digital repository (projects and research output and archival resources)
- Audio and videos discs
- Special collection including Africana and Archival Collection
- Services and facilities for people with disability including talking computers (Jaws and NVDA screen reader software), service desks, ramps, reserved washrooms, and reserved Computers at the Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) in all libraries.
- OPAC to enhance access to print materials.
- Capacity building for researchers and students and Promotion of Library services including:
- Continuous training and orientation both virtually and physically on use of information resources to increase usage of library services and facilities
- Information Literacy program conducted for undergraduate students
- Training researchers on research tools to increase integrity and visibility of research and improve on scholarly writing and citation.
- Organizing exhibitions including virtual/physical library open days and integrity days to promote library services research integrity
- Enhancing and populating content on the websites to promote library services and to enhance access to online resources.
- Provision of the following other support services to support researchers and students:
- Bindery and reprography Services
- Reference services rendered by professional librarians
- Feedback tools to enhance communication and continuous improvement
- Digital Library Services to supplement physical services
- Managing University knowledge through embracing digital repositories to improve access and preservation of information resources - http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/
- Conducting literature searches for faculty & students and forwarding to through email or other form of media to satisfy information needs of stakeholders.
- Scanning of chapters from books, journals articles for remote users and delivering the scanned documents on request through email.
- Online check in/check-out using modern technology such as the RFID technology.
- Embracing paperless work culture by applying communication software/platforms including Google Meet and Zoom to conduct virtual meeting, webinar, video conferencing and training among others.
- Increasing subscribed online information resources to address information needs of remote users.
- Facilitating access to digital version of local newspapers and magazines that can be read using any convenient digital devices, and archiving the same for later use.
- Promoting open access resources on Library website by including links for e-books, e-journals, e-databases to increase electronic information resources and promote usage.
- Enhancing the website to support and guide library users on queries related to access to information resources through;
- Identifying research materials and uploading to the repository to populate university online repository
- Digitizing materials of historical value and uploading on repository for research, learning and teaching.
- Uploading all databases subscribed annually and ensures the links are working to enhance online access.
- Uploading updates/news on library guides/presentations/videos to inform users on current information updates, guide users and sensitize users on research tools to enhance integrity and visibility.
- Compiling frequently asked questions on library website and responding to queries to guide users
- Compiling open data and open access resources and uploading on the website for research use and to increase online research materials
- Uploading high impact journals on website to guide researchers on quality journals they may publish in.
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