University of Bahrain Library:  a brief description

 

Established in 1986, the University of Bahrain emerged from two separate institutions, The Gulf Polytechnic and The University College of Arts, Sciences, and Education.  Comprised of two campuses, Isa Town campus located approximately 10km from the capital of Manama.   The Sakhir campus is located just 15 minutes drive south of the Isa Town campus.  The University’s student enrolment numbered a robust 18,000 in 2006. 

 

The Library strives to improve both the relevance and effectiveness of its collections and its services in order to support and promote high academic standards in undergraduate and postgraduate courses and in research.  The University of Bahrain Library is made up of four libraries and a number of specialised branch libraries:

 

  • The Main Library, at the Sakhir campus, serves the staff and students of the Colleges of Business, Arts, Law, Education, and the English Language Centre.

  • The Engineering Library at the Isa Town campus accommodates materials and services to support the Colleges of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the Deanship of Scientific Research, and the Evening Programme.

  • The Science and Information Technology Library, at Sakhir campus, accommodates materials and services to support the Colleges of Science and Information Technology.

  • The Law Library provides materials and services to the College of Law.

  • Specialised branch libraries include the American Studies Centre Library, the French Studies Centre Library, the Japanese Studies Centre Library, the German Studies Centre Library, and the Centre for Transport and Road Studies Library.  

  

The Library is fortunate to be the depository for World Bank and United Nations publications, which are housed in all libraries depending on the subjects.  The libraries have study seats for nearly 1800 persons.  Library holdings exceed 170,000 items, and the library receives approximately 600 current journal titles.  The library lends 62,000 loans annually.  Membership of the Library is open to the staff and students of the University of Bahrain and to other persons upon special request. 

The library also subscribes to 23 electronic databases that include over 8000 full-text academic journals and 2000 e-books, that are made available to students and faculty from the digital library site.

 

In 1999, working with a donation from the National Bank of Bahrain, the Library selected the Horizon system (Dynix) as its library computing system.  The Library provides some 192 computing workstations for use by staff and students of the University.

 

The Library employs 65 staff that are administratively structured into four functional areas:

  • Library Services Division

  • Technical Services Division

  • Library Systems Division

  • Library Instruction Division

 

Library Services

 

Circulation

 

The Circulation Unit manages lending, re-shelving, and borrower enrolment. 

 

Information Unit

 

This Unit is responsible for providing assistance in identifying appropriate library resources, formulating research strategies, answering general and in-depth questions, and providing instruction on library resources.

 

Special Collections

 

The Special Collections Unit contains materials that focus on the countries of the Arab world with a primary focus on Bahrain.  Materials are collected, in Arabic and other languages, from international organizations, governments and research centers.  The Special Collections includes publications from the University of Bahrain, the Arab League, the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and other regional and international institutions.  Special Collections also collects theses and dissertations of students and faculty of the University of Bahrain.  Materials in the Special Collections are for reference only and may not be checked out of the library.

 

Periodicals Unit

 

The Periodicals Unit provides assistance to students, faculty and staff who are in need of the most current research available in the periodical literature.  The department maintains approximately 2300 periodical titles from a vast number of academic disciplines.

 

 

Technical Services

 

Cataloguing (Arabic and Non-Arabic)

 

The Cataloguing Unit processes several hundred items in many different formats and languages each month.  Every item receives a cataloguing record in the on-line catalogue that accurately describes the items and reflects its subject content.

 

Acquisitions

 

The Acquisitions Unit is responsible for selecting and acquiring all of the library materials contained in the University of Bahrain Libraries.  Among the tasks of the unit is the management of orders, check-in, invoices, and gifts. 

 

Library Systems Division

The Library Systems Division coordinates the library's technology-based services, including their development, operation and maintenance.

 

Library Instruction Division

The Library Instruction Division provides the Library users with the skills and knowledge necessary to locate and use the information they need using.