Library Services Catalogue
Processing Request
Welcome to AU Library Services Catalogue
This catalog will help you build and develop the essential skills you need to successfully use the library resources that will support your studies.
By the end of this online service you will have: -
Practiced using the library catalogue (OPAC).
Prepared a search strategy to effectively find the best information for your assignments.
Understand how to evaluate the information that you discover.
Learnt about library databases.
Practiced searching a database to find information for the essay set by your tutor and email them to your tutor.
Introduction to the Library Orientation
The Library orientation is designed to acquaint you with a number of Library services and resources which will be helpful during your course of studies at AU.
Library Web Site and Resource Access
The Library web site, at https://library.ajman.ac.ae/, provides information and links to Library resources. Through this site, you may locate books and e-books, digital journal, magazine, and newspaper, articles, reports, and other formats of information resources. In addition to the resources, contact information for Library staff is provided to help you use these resources.
Services and Facilities - Services:
The Library staff will help you answer any question to the best of our ability and refer you to the appropriate contact if needed. Most importantly, we will help with locating information and conducting research for any of your college projects and papers.
Google is great and easy to use, but it does not provide all information. The information content found through the Library is generally not available through Google and the open web.
Copyright protected material, as provided directly through AU Library and the Virtual Library of AU, cannot be made freely available on the web.
Another advantage of Library information source is that they are vetted by going through a publication process—many using an academic peer review. Open web sources, including Wikipedia, may vary extremely in quality and reliability. This characteristic puts the onus on the user to determine credibility. Therefore, instructors will at all times require you to take advantage of the digital and print resources we have made accessible.
The student ID cards are updated every academic year. It is important that you have the ID with you when you are on campus—it is required at the Library to borrow materials.
Interlibrary loan (ILL) is offered for materials AU Library does not have available through our collection or subscriptions. Print books and journal and magazine articles are included in the types of items provided through ILL. We will identify other libraries that own the needed items and send a request to obtain these materials.
Services and Facilities - Facilities:
We encourage you to use the Library spaces and available technologies. Study spaces are provided for your use to concentrate on reading, writing, and preparing for tests. Other spaces are designed for interactive group and cooperative use. In font of each Library, the Collaboration Hall is designed to allow groups to work together, share resources, and have discussions.
Computers with Microsoft applications and Internet access are provided. Printers are available, with no fees for printing.
At the Circulation Desk, you may check out Library materials. Instructors will at times provide materials for specific classes by placing items on Reserve for limited circulation intervals. These items are available at the Circulation Desk.
AU Library Service Catalogue
All AU Library requests, procedures, and processes are automated and accessible via Students Information Service Portal
The Library Services Catalogue lists all user-facing services in the Library. Each section contains a service description with details of who can avail of the service.
General help with Library services is available from the Ask A Librarian Service.
Books Borrowing
Service Description: Students and Staff of Ajman University can borrow materials for use outside the library. Other registered users may have borrowing rights. Most items borrowed are books. Detailed items and conditions specify how many items can be borrowed by each type of user, and for how long. Items in heavy demand or in particular formats may be offered to lend for shorter periods than other items. Items must be returned by the time specified, or be renewed if that is allowable. Items not returned on time will usually incur a fine. Items on loan but requested by other users must usually be returned to the library.
The circulation desk is responsible for all transactions related with borrowing and returning of books and periodicals, placing materials on reserve, recalling borrowed material, assessing fines et. Borrowing stops 30 minutes before closing time.
Students: 21- days loan period (15 books) - Checked out materials may be renewed once (unless overdue).
Postgraduate Students: 30-days loan period (20 books) - can be renewed unlimited amount of times throughout the semester.
Faculty members: 30-days loan period (20 books) - can be renewed unlimited amount of times throughout the semester.
Administrative Staff: 21-days loan period (10 books) - Checked out materials may be renewed once (unless overdue).
Reserves, Reference Books, and Textbooks: In library use only or overnight circulation unless faculty member gives permission stating otherwise.
Alumni: See library staff.
Community Patrons: 21- days loan period (5 books) - Checked out materials may be renewed once (unless overdue)..
Who can avail of the service? Ajman University students, faculty, and staff, alumni, and community members.
Link to Service: Circulation Service
Finding Books
How do I find out what books are in the library?
- Search the new AU Library Stacks Bento Search!
- One search provides one-stop searching for books, eBooks, journal articles, and more.
- OR, use the Libraries' Catalog, Catalog Plus, or go to EBSCO Discovery Service to find & locate books.
Sign in using your AU email address & password in order to:
- Renew items.
- Request books from other libraries.
- Save searches and lists of items.
How to locate books in the Library?
Books that are owned by AU Library are included in the Libraries' Catalog. You can search by author, title, keyword, or subject. When you find the entry for the book you want, it will tell you which of the libraries have the book, where it is located in that library, and whether it is already checked out.
How do I figure out where a book is on the shelf?
A call number is used to identify the exact location of an item on the shelf.
Items with call number beginning with A-Z are located in the general circulating collection hall shelfs.
New books are located in the technical services hall shelfs.
Link to Service: finding-books
Computer & Internet Use Policy
Due to high demand from AU students, community patrons do not have full computer privileges. We will allow public patrons to use the library computers only in the presence of a reference librarian and for a limited time.
quickly check email, print, and/or make photocopies. WIFI is available to those who bring their own devices.
Users are prohibited from:
Viewing Inappropriate or Unlawful Content: Content that is fraudulent, harassing, embarrassing, sexually explicit, profane, obscene, intimidating, discriminatory, hostile, suggestive, defamatory, or otherwise unlawful or inappropriate may not be downloaded or sent by e-mail or any other form of electronic communication (such as Internet postings, newsgroups, chat groups, voice mail, paging system, music, graphic and video files, etc.) or displayed on or stored in any AU IT Resource. AU has implemented Internet blocking software to restrict access to inappropriate Internet sites. The Internet is a worldwide network of computers that contains millions of pages of information, some of which may contain offensive or inappropriate material.
Circumventing Established Security:
Users may not attempt to circumvent AU data protection measures or attempt to uncover security loopholes. Users may not gain or attempt to gain unauthorized access to restricted areas or files on AU Information Technologies. Users should not tamper with any software protections or restrictions placed on computer applications, files or directories. Users must immediately report suspected network, hardware or software vulnerabilities. Users will not attempt to demonstrate or exploit suspected security vulnerabilities. Users may not download or use any unauthorized security or “hacker” tools or devices.
Violating Network Security:
Users will not conduct network mapping, discovery, port scans, traffic analysis, traffic logging or any other information gathering/discovery technique from any AU Information Technologies device unless that action is specifically authorized in their normal duties and responsibilities and approved by the AU IT Office.
In order to enforce these policies, the Information Technology Office may:
Implement Additional Security Measures:
AU IT Office reserves the right to impose additional security restrictions and procedures in the future as necessary.
Monitor Internet Use:
Monitoring includes, without limitation, any activity performed on an AU Information Technology Resource including Internet Sites visited, material uploaded/downloaded by Users to/from the Internet, and email sent and received by users.
Link to Service: computer-internet-use-policy
Document Delivery
Service Description: Graduate Students, faculty, and Staff of Ajman University can request books, theses, articles and other media that are not stocked or already made available electronically by the University Library Service. Only fully registered faculty, staff, and students of the University may use the Document Delivery service.
The service offers our borrowers access to a collection of materials - books, articles and other items - that is much wider than the collection of Ajman University Library. This will particularly benefit research and more advanced study. Requests can be made at any time via online form. These requests are processed as soon as possible during normal library opening hours. The length of time it takes for requests to be fulfilled depends on the external body supplying the material to us.
There are limits on the number of requests that can be made by each borrower each week. Some items - books or theses - may have restrictions placed on their use because of their rarity, value or because of copyright issues - i.e. borrowers may only be allowed to consult items within our library.
Who can avail of the service? Ajman University faculty, graduate students, and staff.
Inter Library Loans during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak
To reduce the risk of infection to our students, faculty, and staff, we will not be supplying print books from other libraries until further notice. We will continue to request electronic copies of journal articles and book chapters, which will be supplied by email.
Link to Service: Document Delivery Service
Electronic Databases
Service Description: Access to over 400 subject-based databases covering bibliographic and full-text sources. Accessible to all registered members of the University via an alphabetic listing from the Library Homepage or through the University Library’s Portal.
Facilitates access to electronic information resources available through the University Library. Service available 24/7, except for system maintenance. Access through the University Portal (EBSCO Stacks & EDS), directly from the Library Homepage (Databases page), or via the Library Mobile APP Service.
Our responsibility includes the acquisition of materials in accordance with Ajman Library’s Collection Development and Management Policy.
Who can avail of the service? Current University students, faculty, staff and other authorized affiliates. All AU students, faculty, and staff are issued with an ID and network password, which is used to access the online resources, both on and off campus.
E-Books
Service Description: The Library offers a growing collection of e-books (electronic books) covering a wide range of subject areas. The Library's databases provide access to over 351,184 full text e-books, reports and documents accessible via the Library Platform and titles are added continually in support of the University's teaching programs.
The service is available 24/7, except for system maintenance. Access is through the University Library’s Portal (EBSCO Stacks & EDS), directly from the Library Homepage, or via the Library Mobile APP Service.
Who can avail of the service? Current University students, faculty, staff, and other authorized affiliates. All Ajman University students, faculty, and staff issued with an ID and network password, which is used to access the online resources, both on and off campus.
Link to Service: Discovery Service
Electronic Journals
Service Description: Access to over 20,000 unique full-text journals, almost all are provided through University Library subscriptions. Accessible to all registered members of the University via a searchable database of titles from the Library Homepage.
Facilitates access to full-text electronic information resources available through the University Library. Service available 24/7, except for system maintenance. Access through the University Library Portal (EBSCO Stacks & EDS), directly from the Library Homepage (Databases Link) or via the Library Mobile APP Service.
Our responsibility includes the acquisition of materials in accordance with AU Library’s Collection Development and Management Policy.
Who can avail of the service? Current University students, faculty, staff and other authorized affiliates. All AU’s students, faculty, and staff are issued with an ID and network password which is used to access the online resources, both on and off campus.
Information Desk / Enquiry Service
Service Description: This service provides information and assistance for all AU’s students, faculty, and staff on issues relating to Library issues. This point-of-contact service is physically available in each Library, and provides support by telephone and emails as well.
Service provides immediate help for Library users to enable them to fully exploit the information resources within our Libraries. Enquiries that cannot be resolved immediately by the staff member of the Information Desk can be referred to the correct member of staff in order to be fully resolved. The service is available at all times within Libraries during Library opening hours. Users can access this service by visiting the Information Desk in person, by email, or by telephone.
Staff members on the Information Desk can deal with almost all queries that arise, or can refer to another member of staff in the Library who can resolve the issue - but in the evening or weekends, some problems may need to be referred to weekday/daytime staff to resolve.
Who can avail of the service? AU’s students, faculty, and staff, and all community members and visitors. It is not necessary that users must be an AU student, faculty, or member of staff. Access to this service is available to other users of the Library.
Link to Service Contact us: Library Staff
Information Literacy Skills Development Program
Service Description: Lecturer arranged classes to help students (both new and returning) make the most effective use of the full range of Library's information resources. These classes are pre-arranged by the lecturer during semester and are tailored to best meet the needs of students by agreement with the lecturer. The provision of these classes form part of a broader user education program to help students develop effective information skills. Depending on the facilities of the teaching room and the time available, the classes will include practical, hands-on exercises wherever possible.
Provides an overview to new students on what is offered by the Library, an awareness of the University's facilities and the help available in supporting them in their studies. While these sessions are standardized, they may be tailored to meet the particular needs of the students by arrangement with the lecturer.
Classes are delivered at a time and place which best meets the needs of the students and this includes delivery of classes in weekends and in the evening to support part-time students.
Arrangements for the delivery of these subject classes are made by the lecturer at appropriate times during the course to best meet the needs of the students.
Link to Service: Library Instruction Request
Online Catalogue
Service Description: Access to the bibliographic details on nearly 85,000 printed material held by the University Library. The Library Catalogue is freely searchable from the Library homepage by logging onto the University Library’s Portal or Blackboard Learn.
Facilitates access to details on what is available on the library shelves across each of the campuses and links to electronic books. Service available 24/7 except for system maintenance. Access/links to the Library Catalogue available from the Library website, through the University Portal (EBSCO Stacks & EDS) or via the Library Mobile APP Service.
Who can avail of the service? All AU’s current students, faculty, staff and other authorized researchers. Access is available on and off campus via any internet computer.
Link to Service Library Catalog
Study Environments including a range of Individual and Group Study Facilities
Service Description: A fundamental part of the library service is the provision of study environments within our Libraries. Most of the places available will be in open study areas. Within each Library, there are distinct areas without desktop student PCs. Bookable group study rooms are also available and can be booked online at https://library.ajman.ac.ae/room-booking. Our responsibility covers the provision of these areas and the maintenance of conditions that are comfortable and conducive to study.
Who can avail of the service? AU’s students and faculty staff, and to a lesser degree AU’s staff.
Link to Service Room Reservation
Donations of Books and Other Research Materials
Donors contribute significantly to strengthening the collections and fulfilling the mission of AU Library through their gifts of books, manuscripts, and other library materials, which are an indispensable resource for the teaching and research activities of Ajman University Library. Gifts of books and other materials play a crucial role in building the collections of AU Library.
The Library continues to welcome gifts of materials that support the Library’s mission, with particular interest in scholarly, current, or rare items in good physical condition. However, the Library must also consider the cost incurred in evaluating, processing, cataloging, preserving, storing, and providing access to contributed materials.
For these reasons, the Library cannot accept all offered gifts of materials. Once gifts are received, items become the property of AU Library. The Library reserves the right to use or dispose of such materials in any manner deemed appropriate, without any obligation to the person making the donation.
The Library staff will evaluate potential gifts in terms of institutional value and consider whether materials support the collection development goals for a particular subject area when assessing a gift.
How to donate to the Library:
We very much appreciate all offers of gifts. However, before sending us any items, please read the following information:
- All donations are accepted without obligation to the donors and on the understanding that upon receipt the material becomes the property of the University Library.
In general, the following factors are considered:
- Value for teaching or research.
- Relevance to existing collections.
- Physical condition.
- The currency of the edition. For most subjects, only the latest edition will be accepted.
- Duplication of existing materials (only if material is in particularly high demand, duplicates will be accepted).
- Associated costs of cataloguing, processing, conservation requirements and storage. Although the Library may not be paying for the acquisition of items, it still incurs costs associated with housing materials, and these must be considered. These factors may also mean that the Library is unable to give immediate priority to the cataloguing and processing of donated items.
- Local, national and international significance.
- Copies of books written by Ajman University academics are welcomed.
- The Library regularly reviews its collections and reserves the right to dispose the items that do not meet these factors at any time.
- Larger donations will normally be dispersed throughout the Library rather than kept in separate, discrete collections.
If you are considering donating please contact the Acquisitions Team via d.mahana@ajman.ac.ae and include the following details:
- Approximate number of items (either numbers of books or measurement of the total space the books occupy if on shelves).
- A list of titles.
- Age and condition of the books.
- Your contact details.
- If you wish to donate issues of a journal, please contact the team with details of the volumes concerned.
AU Libraries will not offer or accept the following:
- Items that fail to add value to the Libraries' Collection scope or holdings.
- Magazines or newspapers.
- Incomplete sets or any items that are missing parts.
- Used older textbooks or material with highlighting or handwriting.
- Material that contains outdated information about health, science, business, travel guides, technical books, etc.
- Reader's Digest condensed books.
- Mass market (pocket) paperbacks, advertisements, flyers, pamphlets, postcards, and other promotional material.
- Damaged material.
- Titles associated with censorship.
Acceptance Guidelines:
- When the staff accepts a gift, it becomes the property of AU Library. Only staff in Collection Development and Acquisitions can approve a gift for acceptance.
- AU Library reserves the right to determine whether the gift will be retained, where it will be located and how it will be cataloged and circulated.
- The University Libraries welcomes book donations and other formats that enhance the Library ability to support the teaching and research missions of the University.
- Gifts are accepted with the understanding and agreement that the University Library make all necessary decisions as to retention, use, and discard or donate again.
- A list that includes title, author and date of publication must be prepared by the donor for the Library to check for duplicates already in the collection before any items can be accepted. The list should be emailed to d.mahana@ajman.ac.ae. The only exception is if the donations are already housed in a faculty office or elsewhere inside AU campus where a library liaison can physically examine them prior to possible transfer to the Libraries.
- Materials dropped off at the Libraries without previous communication with Collections Development and Acquisitions Team or Unit will not be added to the collections.
Appraisal and acknowledgement:
Staff of the University Libraries cannot provide appraisal of value for books or other materials. Written acknowledgement will be provided on request.
Delivery and pickup:
Pickup is not offered beyond the AU campus. Campus pickup may be available but must be negotiated.
Any items not added to Library collections or subsequently withdrawn from collections will be either donated to other institutions in need for them or disposed of through sustainable routes.