Opening Hours
| SEMESTER TIME | |
| Monday to Friday | 0800 hours – 0000 hours |
| Saturday and Sunday | 0800 hours – 1630 hours |
University students and staff
The University of Zimbabwe Library is accessible to registered students with a valid University of Zimbabwe ID,staff, academics and visiting researchers/fellows/lecturers or professors.The Library’s facilities, collections and vast online resources can be accessed by the University community either by physically coming inside the Library or remotely from the comfort of their home or office.
Non-University Clients
The University of Zimbabwe Library offers Approved Readership Membership to non-university clients at a fee. For detailed information clients can get in touch with Client Services Manager or the Office Manager on library@uzlib.uz.ac.zw. An Entry Pass is given upon registration at the Client Services Office Manager. This membership does not come with rights to borrow out of the Library resources. Members can use the resources in the Library only.
Who May Borrow?
Borrowing of materials is limited to registered students and staff members with a valid University of Zimbabwe ID.
How to Borrow Library Materials
Use Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) system on a computer to search a book by title, author, subject, or call number. Once you locate your title with the search, copy the call number and location to pull the book from the Open shelves. To retrieve books in closed access i.e. Core Textbook Collection, Reserve and Special Collections; or seek assistance from the Librarian on duty.
Books on Display can be borrowed upon request to the Subject Information Specialist or Information Consultancyon duty. The Display Cabinet is in the Library Main Hall.
| Materials Which May Be Borrowed | Materials Which May Not Be Borrowedout of the Library |
|
1. Open Shelve books 2. Core-text books 3. Reserve books 4. Special Collections books 5. Government Publications
|
1. Reference materials 2. Rare books 3. Current/unbound periodicals 4. Dissertations and theses
|
Loan Periods
| Books | Undergraduate | Post Graduate | Academic& Senior Staff |
| Ordinary Loan | 14 Days | 14 Days | 60 Days |
| Short-term | 3 Days | 3 Days | 3 Days |
| Reserve Books | Overnight | Overnight | Overnight |
| Core-Text Books | 3Days | 3 Days | 3 Days |
NOTE: Overdue Library resources will attract a fine. Users with outstanding fines will not be allowed to borrow Library resources until fines are cleared.
Study Spaces
The University of Zimbabwe Library offers a variety of research and study facilities which suit individual and collaborative learning needs. These are displayed below:
| Study Space | Purpose |
Location
|
| Upper Reading Room | Conducive environment for individual study | First Floor |
| Stack Room 3 Reading Room | Conducive environment for individual study | Second Floor |
| Q Section Reading Room | Conducive environment for individual study | Second Floor |
| New Collaborative Learning Centre | Offers space for collaborative learning, discussions and research consultations. It also provides cell phone booth for communication purposes whilst in the library without disturbing other users. | Ground Floor |
| Undergraduate Collaborative | Offers space for collaborative learning and discussions | First Floor |
| Postgraduate Collaborative Learning | Offers space for collaborative learning and discussions, group presentations. | Second Floor |
| Study Carrels | Private study rooms for postgraduate students | Second Floor |
Computing Facilities
The Libraryprovides computer workstations to support access toelectronic resources and computer related activities. Computer facilities available include:
- Personal Computers located in the Library Main Hall
- Research Commons located in the 3rd floor
- Undergraduate 24-Hour Study Facility in the basement of the Library
- Postgraduate 24-Hour Study Facility located in the Library basement.
- Postgraduate Computer Laboratory in the 2nd
Due to increased demand for the use of computers, undergraduate students are limited to two (2) hours to use the computers in the Main Library public laboratories.
Wireless Access
Wireless network access is also available in the Libraryto enhance accessibility of research and learning material using personal devices such as laptops, smartphones and tablets.
BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)
The Library has spaces where users can bring their own devices (laptops, smartphones and tablets) for research. These spaces have power sockets and one can connect to Wi-Fi.
Research Support Services for Learners With Special Needs
The University of Zimbabwe Library is committed to promote an accessible and inclusive learning environment that provide equal opportunities to all University of Zimbabwe learners and researchers in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities (CRPD) and the Zimbabwe National Disability Policy. To that end, the Library provides the following range of services to assist learners with special needs enhance their learning and research experience:
Access to Assistive Technology
The University provides access to a range of Assistive Technology to learners with special needs accessible through the Main Library and Disability Support Services Library. These include screen readers, text-to-speech software, magnifiers, Braille equipment, scan and read equipment and portable book players. For more information on available technology visit the link: http://library.uz.ac.zw/index.php/dissability-support-services-library/
One-on-One Research Consultations
Learners with special needs can book a one-on-one session with a Library staff who will guide them on how to use the Library’s resources and services, and providing assistance with research projects and assignments. Learners can also get advice on citation styles, referencing tools, and plagiarism prevention.
Research Support Desk
Learners can visit the Research Support Desk in the Main Library to get quick answers to their research questions and assignments. They can also contact the Research Support Desk by Chat through the WhatsApp number +263 717 888 696.
Tailored Training Workshops
The Library provide tailored training sessions to learners with special needs. These sessions have been custom-made to the individual needs of the learners, and are focused on providing guidance on how to use the Library’s resources and services. Learners can book for free workshops on various topics related to research skills; such as literature review, database searching, reference management, and systematic reviews.
Available Assistive Technology
The University of Zimbabwe Library provides various Assistive Technology solutions for learners with special needs to support delivery of inclusive teaching and learning
| # | Type of Solution | Purpose | Specific Devices Available | Who uses it? |
| 1 |
Screen Reading Software
|
Screen reading software uses a speech synthesiser or braille display to read the text displayed on the computer screen. A screen reader acts as an interface between the user and the computer’s operating system and applications. To accomplish a task, a user makes use of various combinations of keys on the computer keyboard to send commands to the software. The user is verbally informed about changes taking place on the computer screen.
|
JAWS (Job Access With Speech)
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Designed for persons living with visual impairments whose vision loss prevents them from seeing screen content or navigating with a mouse. It can be used to navigate web pages, read emails, write documents, create presentations and read electronic documents.
|
|
NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access)
|
An open-source screen reader that enables the visually-impaired learners to use computers. NVDA support major applications and web browsers such as Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome.
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| 2 |
OCR Scan and Read
|
Optical Character Recognition(OCR) enable users to convert printed documents, scanned paper documents and PDF files into editable formats which can then be read aloud in speech. |
Open Book and Pearl Reading Camera
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Designed for learners with visual impairment and learning challenges.
|
| 3 |
Braille Printers/Embossers
|
Using Braille translation software, Braille embossers translate documents into Braille and then print on to Braille paper
|
Heavy Duty Braille Embosser
|
Used for the production of documentation in Braille and converting study material into Braille to assist the visually impaired in accessing learning material.
|
| 4 |
Book Readers & Voice Recorders
|
Hardware devices used to record lectures, meetings, and playback audiobooks, music, voice recordings, and text files.
|
Blaze ET (an advanced multi-player with OCR for books, music, documents, podcasts, recording, and DAISY).
|
Ideal for learners with visual impairment and learning difficulties.
|
|
Sensory PBRW (a portable multimedia player, e-book reader and voice recorder).
|
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| Book Sense (a portable and audio device which can play digital books audio file, text files and MP3). | ||||
| 5 |
Electronic Magnifiers
|
Technology that uses a camera to project a magnified text image on a built-in monitor or a computer monitor
|
Merlin Desktop Magnifier (Merlin Desktop Camera offers a wide view and display of text).
|
Designed for people with low vision to access printed material.
|
| Ruby Handheld Magnifier (a portable video magnifying device). | ||||
| 6 |
Screen Magnification
|
Screen magnification software allows users to enlarge text and graphics on a computer screen using a different set of features like colour, text size and pointers.
|
Magic Screen Magnification
|
Useful to persons with low vision who want to use a computer.
|
| 7 |
Talking Scientific Calculator
|
Scientific calculator designed to perform a comprehensive set of advanced mathematical and statistical functions.
|
SciPlus Scientific Calculator
|
For use by persons with visual impairement for their statistics and other mathematical related courses.
|
BINDING SERVICES
The Library offers binding services for students’ Theses and Dissertations at a cost of USD$10.00 per copy or the ZWL $ equivalent at the prevailing Interbank Rate. Other books or materials requiring binding will be assessed before given the cost.
LIBRARY RULES AND REGULATIONS
Library users:
- Must not bring into, or be in possession inside the Library building of the following:
- inflammable or explosive substance
- weapons such as firearms
- Any pet animal
- Must put mobile phones on silent when in the Library and speak at designated places in the Library
- Should leave bags and satchels in the baggage area.
- Will not be granted access to any UZ Library building if he/she is under the influence of liquor or drugs.
- Must not put on hats, caps, and overhead hoods.
- Are responsible for all items borrowed on their ID card and for knowing the date when they should be returned.
- Must never attempt to remove material which has not been issued to them.
- Must not deface, mutilate or damage any item of Library Material.
- Must not smoke, eat or drink in the Library.
- Must respect the rights of others
