The system has been installed at the library, the information backbone of UAE University, and is currently in the testing phase, said Dr Husam Mohammed Sultan Al Ulama, Dean of Zayed Central Library.
The Millennium system also paves the way for cooperation between the libraries of Zayed University, the Higher Colleges of Technology and UAE University in setting up combined electronic databases.
These databases will be developed, maintained and used by the three institutions.
They will not only save individual effort, time and finance but also enable students, teachers and researchers to access material using laptops and desktop computers from wherever they are.
Dr Husam said that a foreign company has installed the tailor-made system which will be fully functional in January 2003. It has been acquired through a contract signed by the three institutions, he said.
"We have a committee that operates under the umbrella of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and holds meetings every two months, discussing different issues for enhancing mutual coordination."
Dr Al Ulama |
In the beginning, the Dewey Decimal Classification method was adopted and the work in cataloguing and public service was done using traditional manual methods. The library started automated services in 1988 by establishing a computer centre and automated system for circulation.
In 1990, the library became University Libraries Deanship and two years later it launched a major modernisation project and adopted a fully integrated library system in order to cater the needs of researchers and students.
The ZCL on Tuesday completed the re-classification of all of its material and resources in accordance with the American Library of Congress.
Dr Husam said the urge to meet international standards continued and a study was conducted around a year ago. This study revealed that most of the libraries, operating under the ZCL, are functioning in a traditional way and cannot meet the future requirements.
The study highlighted the need for a strategic plan that was later prepared. "This three-year plan has given us a vision and direction to enhance the working of the libraries. We started the project last year and it will complete in the year 2004."
Under this strategic plan, he said, a number of committees and subcommittees have been established to enhance the databases, cataloguing systems, resources, technology, staff training, and services.
This plan, which is found very useful, will be re-evaluated and re-designed at its completion to incorporate further requirements.
"Our mission lies in identifying, organising, preserving and making accessible resources which will serve the needs of the university faculty and students, and the community at large," he said, adding that the ZCL also cooperates with other universities and research centres in the Gulf to further improve regional collection and resource sharing.
| Students of UAE University using the Zayed Central Library. @Gulf News |
Electronic resources are available at each of the libraries, and the Web Gateway can be used in the libraries or through the Internet to find whether a book is available or not, as well as the number of copies and its distribution in the libraries system.
The library currently has a collection of 81,000 titles (234,000 volumes) of Arabic Books, 48,000 titles (114,000 volumes) of non-Arabic books, 700 titles of Arabic periodicals, 1,450 titles of non-Arabic periodicals, and 900 manuscripts.
"We have about 500 databases available to us, either on the Internet or on electronic databases through the library homepage, many of which contain some full-text," said the dean.
The library is using different methods to enhance its collections and keep the resources updated. A faculty member or a student can also help the library by filling in an online form to inform the library about a new book or a journal.
The library has an annual budget of around Dh6 million. "We are not satisfied with the amount as we need more finances to keep the pace of new developments. We divide the total budget for different sections but around 80 per cent of it goes for buying English journals," he explained.
It has been subscribing to 1,000 such journals out of which 300 are publishing electronically. "We have a plan to increase the subscription of English journals to 2,800 in the next year and they will be fully available electronically."
Dr Husam said the library is being fully encouraged by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor of UAE University, and Dr Hadef bin Jouan Al Dhahiri, Vice Chancellor of the university, to send staff abroad for advance training.
"We sent six staff members to the USA. This training process will continue in the future," he said.
People from different institutions, organisations and departments from other emirates he said come to the ZCL in search of material and information.
The library participates in three book fairs such as Sharjah Book Fair, Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, and Cairo Interna-tional Book Fair every year.
Rendering community services is also an objective of the library. The ZCL regularly conducts seminars, lectures, and workshops for teachers, librarians and other people and organisations to help them acquire latest knowledge and know-how in their respective fields.
People from the general public can also become members to use the rich material of the library.
The library has separate times for male and female students and operates from six different locations. The main office is located in Al Sulaimi District of Al Ain. It has an arts and a science library in Al Maqam for women only, two libraries for men in Al Muwaiji, and Al Jimi districts and another inside the Islamic Institute.
The library will move to its new location inside the planned University Town in Al Maqam District after its comple
