about UNAM library

Opening hours

Semester

Monday - Thursday 08:00 - 22:00

Friday - 08:00 - 16:30

Saturday - 12:00 -16:00 

Sunday - 14:00 -20:00

Archives

Monday - Friday 08:00 - 16:30

Special Collections Section

Monday - Thursday 08h00 - 20:00

Friday - 08:00 - 16:30

The library is closed on public holidays. Any changes in opening hours will be posted especially during examinations.

General Rules

• Cellular phones must be put on silence before entering the library building.
• Laptop computers are allowed in the Library, and can be used in the Wireless Room located on the second floor of the building.
• All visitors and users of the library building are required to leave their bags (including laptop bags) at the security counter and to familiarize themselves with the conditions that apply.
• No person should cause a disturbance or inconvenience other users. Group discussions are strictly prohibited in general reading areas. All group discussions must be held in the designated Discussion Rooms located on the First and Second Floors of the building.
• Silence must be maintained in the building at all times.
• It is prohibited to smoke, eat or drink in the public areas of the Library building. Water in spill-proof bottles may be consumed in the Library.
• Persons who damage or tamper with University Library property will be held responsible. It is strictly prohibited to move around or rearrange Library furniture.
• Users must carry their Student, Staff or User Card at all times, and must show the same when requested to identify themselves to staff and / or security personnel on duty.
• Users must report loss of cards immediately at the Circulation Desk or at the Reference Desk to prevent unauthorized transactions.
• A valid student, staff or user card must be produced before items will be issued. User cards are not transferable. The owner of each card will be held responsible for items issued on that card.
• Renewals of loan periods may be granted on request for two further periods of two weeks for undergraduate students and special users, thirty days for postgraduate students and administrative staff and sixty and thirty day respectively for academic and research staff, only if the item has not been reserved by another user. An item may be renewed twice without being brought to the University Library. Requests for extensions must be made before the loan period lapses.
• Reservations may be made for items on loan to other users. The prospective user will be notified when the item is returned. However, reserved items will be returned to the shelf if not collected within five days of the user being notified.
• To ensure the availability of information resources, users must return material urgently required by the University Library within the stipulated period.
• A user is held responsible for the loss or damage of all items issued to him / her and is obliged to reimburse the University Library at the prevailing replacement cost. Where the price cannot be established, the user must pay a minimum replacement cost of N$551.00. The user also has the option to replace the item with an identical copy.

• Fines are charged for late return of materials. Overdue reminders are sent daily. After a third and final reminder, the replacement cost of the item will be claimed from the user. Failure to settle accounts will result in the suspension of the user's borrowing privileges. Student defaulters will be prevented from receiving their examination results while final year students will be prevented from receiving their graduation certificates until all accounts are fully settled. Staff defaulters will be referred to the Office of the Bursar for all out-standing amounts to be deducted from their salaries and / or other benefits.
• Electronic security systems and staff are in place to detect unauthorised removal of University property. Anyone found removing, or attempting to remove University Library material not correctly issued will be blacklisted and charged an on the spot fine of N$551.00, and steps for further disciplinary action will apply to anyone found to have mutilated, mutilating or attempting to mutilate any Library material.
• Persons under 16 years of age must either be accompanied by an adult or make prior arrangements with the Head User Services Librarian.
• Visiting groups must make prior arrangements with the Head User Services Librarian.
• No notices may be displayed anywhere inside and outside of the building without the prior approval of the University Librarian.
• It is a serious offence for any user of the Library to hinder the enforcement of any rule or regulation of the Library by either Library or security personnel through any act of intimidation, threat, abusive language, resistance, or any other method to achieve such purpose. It shall be regarded as a very serious offence for any user to utilize any computing facility in the Library building for the purposes of playing games, downloading and / or installation of unauthorised music or other software, or the accessing or display of pornographic material.
• Unless otherwise stipulated, a person who violates any of the rules above will be charged an on the spot fine of N$50 in addition to any other penalty / penalties that may be imposed on such an offender. Secondary offenders shall be made to appear before a Disciplinary Hearing Committee.
• Violations outside the jurisdiction of the University Librarian, will be referred to the relevant authorities for appropriate action.
• No animals except for guide dogs are permitted.

University of Namibia Library Establishment

 Library and Information Services are recognized world wide as indispensable contributors to education, research, knowledge creation, knowledge management and knowledge dissemination. The Library of the University of Namibia is a national information support system for providing access to high quality information and knowledge necessary to support the academic programmes and the curriculum of the University - it is a knowledge hub that underpins research and education.

The structure of the University of Namibia Library is inspired and guided by the long term national development goal of ‘Vision 2030’ as well as the short term national development goal ‘NDP3’ and ETSIP that set out the very ambitious target to join the ranks of higher income countries by the end of 2030 and afford all its citizens a quality of life that is comparable to that of the developed world.

With emphasis on enhancing the quality of life for all Namibian, Vision 2030 calls for rapid economic growth to be accompanied by equitable social development. These twin goals of growth with equity are to be pursued within a broader strategic framework of transforming Namibia into a knowledge-based economy in which institutions of higher learning are responsive to the skills needs of the country. The University of Namibia is expected to rise to the challenge of producing graduates that are fully equipped with all skills to support the social and economic demands of the labour market. The University Library is a national support system for knowledge creation and knowledge management, providing access to relevant, appropriate and timely information in support of the mandate of the university. Access to high quality and relevant information services and facilities will enhance effective utilization of knowledge, resource-based learning and teaching, research and development, and rapid transfer of skills. The library thus underpins a knowledge-based economy.

Our Mission

To facilitate excellence in teaching and learning, create an appropriate study and research environment, anticipate and respond to student learning and research needs, contribute to positive graduate outcomes and provide an information infrastructure necessary for ground-breaking teaching, learning and research.

Our Purpose

To deliver client-focused innovative information products, services and programs of the highest quality that are integrated with, and central to, the University’s teaching, learning, research and community service activities.

Our Values

Commitment to Excellence

To work together as a team committed to provide the best possible service to our clients. We opt to maintain a safe, quiet, supportive and welcoming study, reading and research environment.

Transparency and Accountability

We use resources in an effective, ethical, transparent and responsible manner.

Innovation

We provide training opportunities for all our staff to develop their knowledge and skills, and encourage innovation and respond creatively to new challenges. 

Open Communication

We promote open, appropriate and timely communication to engage and inform students, staff and all our clients

Diversity

We embrace diversity and treat each other and our clients with respect and dignity.

Our Vision

is that all library staff, services, collections and facilities become tools that meet the information needs of users in order to achieve the national goals now and in the future.

The University Library’s mission and vision will be realized through the following goals:

Goals

• Secure adequate facilities and resources and manage these creatively to serve as an intellectual home to students and staff and the community at large.
• Provide greater access to digital collections while continuing to build and improve collections in all formats to meet research, teaching and learning needs of the University.
• Recruit, hire, and retain quality staff with expertise in delivering excellent service in response to the rapidly changing needs of the University.
• Provide an easily accessible, user-friendly and safe environment that fosters research and study, teaching and learning for both library users and library employees.
• Apply appropriate technological innovations and promote innovative adoptions of emerging learning technologies to achieve productivity and efficiency.
• Communicate library services to raise awareness and promote partnership with other libraries, educational institutions and local community.
• Create a forward thinking, dynamic staff that is responsive and flexible in order to achieve the library mission and goals.
• Continue to improve the library’s effectiveness through systematic, ongoing outcome assessment.
• Offer formal and informal instructions to promote information literacy.

In order for the library to follow the principles of the mission, vision and goals outlined above, the library has articulated its structure with the basic staff compliment with the levels of skills and expertise to initiate, innovate, plan, implement and pro-actively deliver an information service that meets or exceeds the needs of the academic community.

Thank you for visiting out library site, enjoy exploring!