​​​​Services​

Membership​

  • ​Membership to Aga Khan University GSMC Resource Centre is open to all registered university students, faculty and staff of the university / Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi

  • All users register with the library to be able to borrow materials or access resources online.

Membership Categories and Privileges

The following user categories have been identified:

  • Faculty

  • Registered Students.

  • Staff of AKU / AKUH

  • Alumni of the university

​​​Alumni of the university, visiting health professionals, interns, volunteers and locum staff have access to the above services except borrowing. Fees may be levied on some services.

Circulation

  • Faculty borrow up to FIVE (5) books at a time for a period of 30 days (one calendar month).

  • Students and staff may borrow THREE (3) books at a time for a period of fourteen (14) days.

  • All loans are renewable subject to demand.

  • Books on high demand will be lent out for a shorter period (Short Loan) as designated

  • Books designated reference and study collections are for use within the Resource Centre only.

  • Journals and other non-book material will not be lent out.

  • The Resource Centre reserves the right to recall material on loan and may restrict circulation of any book in the Resource Centre.

  • Overdue charges will be levied on books not returned on time. These are payable on demand and are currently Kshs. 50 per book per day for normal borrowing and 100/- per day per book for books on high demand. 

    ​​- Declared public holidays or notified closure of the library will be discounted.

​Reservation

  • Members may ask to reserve (hold) information resources that are already out in circulation. Material so reserved will be lent out on first-come-first-serve basis.

  • Members will be informed when reserved material become available and must collect them within 24 hours of the notice.

Reference service

Librarians are available to offer assistance to information users in order to aid them gain access to the information materials in response to their queries. This includes guiding users to locating information materials, accessing online and digital resources, providing particular information as requested, assisting with documenting information and imparting other life-long information skills.

Reference services are complemented by trainings, workshops, and information literacy programmes, which provide orientation tours, scheduled workshops on specific topics, and course-related sessions.

For additional information please visit the library or enquire by email or phone.

​Information literacy

The Resource Centre will provide training services to equip users with skills that enable them to identify, find, access, retrieve and use information effectively and efficiently and thereby better meet their personal, professional and social information and decision-making needs. Training courses include: 

  • Library orientation

  • SAFARI OPAC search

  • Introduction to Online databases and online searching

  • ​Research 
    - Producing an authentic information product
    - Understanding the ethical and legal implications of applying information to avoid plagiarism and/or infringement of copyright regulations

  • Reference management
     - EndNote reference management software
    - Turn-It-In

  • Critical Appraisal

​Inter-Library Cooperation

  • GSMC Resource Centre is part of the AKU library network and enjoys all the privileges available to the other libraries in the network. The AKU library is a member of Kenya Libraries and Information Services Consortia (KLISC), United Nations/World Bank/University Libraries Forum and the Kenya Library Association.

  • Through the networks the library has interlibrary arrangements with several libraries. Details of the service are available on request.

  • The library also coordinates its services with the sister institutions in Uganda, Tanzania, Karachi and London.

​Reprography     

  • Photocopying and printing services are available at a fee

  • Members are allocated a pin number against their payment. This enables them to personally operate the photocopier or send their work directly from the PCs.

  • Members will be inducted and supported on the basic functionality of the photocopier / printer.

  • Members will be expected to ensure security of their pin numbers.

  • All photocopying is subject to copyright law. It is criminal and punishable by law to infringe on copyright regulations.​​​