Library Administration
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The library is headed by the Chief University Librarian, Dr. Muneer Ahmad[3], who reports to the Vice-Chancellor of Academic Affairs. The Office of the Chief University Librarian (CUL) sets policies and directs and supports the programmes and activities of the Library.[4] There are other program heads, each responsible for a specific area or function of the library. All policy must be approved by University council, the highest tier of decision making at the university.
The Law Library; located in the Western Wing of the 2nd floor, provides information services to all students lecturers, and researchers studying law or related fields. The law library holds volumes of books in closed access Law library open shelves.
Growth of the Library
Between 2002 when the law faculty begun and 2013, several additional important collections were acquired and in 2014 the new Law Library was constructed with open stacks; and the overall library had 8000 volumes.
Current Status
The law library remains the largest in Uganda, and continues to reinvent its self to meet the needs of the law school. In 2016 (again) when the Faculty of Law was elevated to the School of Law, the library also streamlined to meet this strategic initiative and currently we hold 6819 volumes in closed access and 71514 volumes in the Law library. These include legislations from different countries and secondary sources of legislations prepared under specific subjects of law which emphasize legal theory, research, concepts and practices which expose you to the diverse areas of the law so that you can discover your path to career professional success.
In 2017, the library acquired HEINONLINE terminal and TRADELAW GUIDE from (WTO) with tools and innovations (and add LEXISNEXIS). Also journals and Law E-books can be accessed from EBSCO host among others.
The library seeks to offer empirical research support, collect more interdisciplinary and international materials in support of Kampala International University Law School’s Programs of Study.
The Library’s collection is in Closed Access. The patron needs only valid library card to use any information material from that section. Users of this section can borrow the information materials for a period of three hours. However, the same material can be re-borrowed if no other person has asked for it to be reserved.
- Reference and Circulation Section
The Section is currently located on the Upper Ground Floor of the Main Library immediately after the Security check point.
It handles all inquiries related to the use of the library, the collections and the services. The section is also responsible for registering new users, clearing completing students and inter-library loan (library exchange services).
Staff in the Section
The section is administered by three professional librarians who are assisted by some support staff.
- Technical Services Section
This Section is located at the Lower Ground Floor of the Main Library and is responsible for receiving, processing, labeling and availing all library information materials to other sections. The section is also charged with automating the library collections and maintaining an efficient Open Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) System.
Within the section is a Bindery Unit where damaged books are repaired.
The section is out of bound to non-library staff.
Reserved Books Section (RBS) is located at the Eastern wing of the Upper Ground Floor. The Section has a collection of text books in all subjects taught at the university which have been recommended by the teaching staff excluding Law collections.
Accessing Text Books in the Section
This is a Closed Access (CA) Section, therefore information materials are served to patrons on request through Service Windows (SW). Patrons are allowed to borrow the information materials in this section on presentation of a valid library card. The text books are loaned out only for three hours and are read within the library.
RBS Catalogues
The section has two types of catalogues i.e. subject and author catalogues which help patrons to know available text books.
- Postgraduate & Research Library
This is mainly for Postgraduate students and KIU staff. The Library houses a special collection consisting of books on a wide range of postgraduate courses especially in research methods and statistics. There are also Government of Uganda publications, Journals of different types and News Papers.
The Library offers two types of services: Open Access and Closed Access.
The major collection in Closed Access are students’ dissertations and theses. These are loaned out on presentation of a valid library card and must be read within the library.
Kampala International University Institutional Repository
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Kampala International University Institutional Repository (KIUIR)[5] is an institutional repository which collects, organizes and allows retrieval of scholarly articles and books, theses and dissertations, conference proceedings and technical reports in an electronic format. The library uses DSpace software to work in conjunction with the Open Archives Initiative. All institutional researchers can submit content and copyright is according to either the publishing body or the content owner.
