AUB Libraries:
New Faculty Orientation
Fall 2011
Lokman I. Meho, Ph.D.
University Librarian
Associate Professor of Political Science
February 8, 2012
Libraries
 Jafet Library (Main Library)
 Saab Medical Library
 Engineering and Architecture Library
 Science and Agriculture Library
Facts & Figures
 One of the largest academic/research libraries in the Arab world
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1,000,000 volumes of monographs and periodicals
150,000 e-books
80,000 full-text journals & conference proceedings
250 databases
 Have a substantial number of local and regional journals,
newspapers, and magazines going back to the late 19th century
 1,400 manuscripts (some appraised as museum pieces) and a
growing collection of rare books
 1,800 maps and 45,000 photographs of unique/historical nature
Facts & Figures, cont’d
 Budget: one of the largest in the Arab world and larger than
many peer institutions in the U.S.
 Staff: largest in the Arab world (ALA)
 19 librarians with Master degree in library or information
science (some with PhD or a second master degree – 8 vacant
librarians positions)
 10 assistants to the librarians
 52 support staff members and over 20 student assistants
Opening Hours
 Monday-Friday:
7:30 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
 Saturday:
8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
 Sunday:
12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
 24/7 during the two week reading and exams periods in fall
and spring semesters
 During the summer the main library and SML close at
8:00pm and the science and engineering libraries at 3:00pm.
All libraries are closed on Sundays.
Services for Faculty
 Borrowing and renewing books
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Up to 100 items for a loan period of one year
Online renewal
Borrowing by proxy is allowed
Book delivery service
 Recalling books
 Ordering new books
 Online form
 Automated tracking/notification system
Services for Faculty, cont’d
 Ordering articles and other research material
 Document Delivery (worldwide) and Interlibrary Loan Services
(local)
 Ordering journals/databases
 Serials and Electronic Resources Librarian
 Identifying new acquisitions: library homepage
 Print Reserves: send list of book titles to Circulation Desk
 E-Reserves: send hard/electronic copies to Circulation Desk
(libreserve@aub.edu.lb)
Services for Faculty, cont’d
 Instruction for faculty (one-to-one)
 Get to know about resources relevant to your research
 Learn about the impact factor of a journal
 Know who or which papers cited your work
Services for Faculty, cont’d
 Research Guides and customized help sheets that can be integrated
into your courses
 Library tours to learn about library facilities and departments
 Getting help with research at the Reference Desk
 Citation management software for you and your students
(RefWorks)
 Carrels for your graduate students and research associates
Services for Faculty, cont’d
 Instruction for your students (one-to-one and group)
 E-Classroom
 Sessions are customized to suit your students’ research needs
 SML’s 2-credit hours course
 Students will have a hands-on session in using specialized resources
related to their courses/research
 500 sessions for 8,000 students per year
Technology
 Wireless Internet connection
 Four computer labs with 100 state-of-the-art PCs
 Networked printing and photocopying services
 Remote access available for the great majority of online resources
 Computer technicians are available in the libraries during opening
hours for troubleshooting
Current & Future Plans
 Renovate the Reference Room, E-Classroom, Computer Lab in
Jafet Library
 Secure the entire University Libraries’ collections and discontinue
checking users’ bags at the exits of the libraries
 Acquire movable shelving system to create space for student group
study
 Develop a new study room for graduate students (40-50 students)
 Redesign AUB libraries’ homepage
Current & Future Plans, cont’d
 Design and create a database for Arabic periodicals
 Index and digitize major Arabic newspapers, magazines, and
journals
 Digitize the UL’s manuscripts collection
 Design a software to automatically collect AUB faculties’
publication data
 Develop a digital repository of AUB scholarly publications
(AUBScholarWorks)
Overview of the
University Libraries’ Webpage