Library Orientation Presentation for the 2009 First
entering students: 18th January – 22 January 2010
Objectives of the presentation
 To introduce you to UL Library and its resources, floor plan,
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study rooms and other important areas
To inform you about library hours, rules, regulations and
policies that you should adhere to
To show you the service areas where you can get help
To introduce you to the library online catalogue that will lead
to the basic materials
To show you the shelving areas and the organization of
materials on the shelves
To encourage you to use the library regularly
What is a library?
 The library is a collection of information sources
organized for effective use
 These information sources include books, journals,
CD Roms, Videos and the Internet
 The University library is the main supplier of these
resources to support learning, study and research
 The University library is thus referred to as the Heart
of the University
LIBRARY
SCIENCES, HEALTH & AGRIC
MANAGEMENT SCIENCES & LAW
HUMANITIES
SCHOOLS
Layout of the University of Limpopo Library
 North Wing which is the 24 hours
reading room commonly known as
Lapologa
 East Wing which consists of
Ground Floor and first floor
 Ground Floor: Photocopy section,
Circulation, Reserve and
Information Desk
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West wing which consists of:
Ground Floor: Africana Collection
First Floor: Law Collection
Second Floor: Government
Documents Collection
 Third Floor: Sciences, Health and
Agriculture Collection
 Fourth Floor: Accounting,
Economics and Management
Sciences Collection
Library Hours
During term
 Monday - Thursday: From 07h30 – 22h00
 Friday: 07h30 – 16h30
 Saturday: 08h00 – 16h00
During holidays
 Monday - Friday: 07h30 – 16h30
 Sunday and Public Holiday: Closed
Information Desk
 For any information query that you have, please consult
the librarian at the information Desk.
 This is a service area where information is provided.
Finding books in the library
 To find books in the library, always use the library
catalogue
 The library catalogue is the key to the library
collection
 It list all the information sources the library has
acquired
 Its purpose is to provide you with the location
number
 The location number is used to trace books on the
shelves
 The UL library uses the Online Catalogue
How to search the Online Library Catalogue
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If the Computer is off. Switch it on and
Enter your USERNAME
Enter your PASSWORD
Click on START button on the PC
Click on PROGRAMS
Click on INTERNET EXPLORER
Then go to the University website www.ul.ac.za
Click on Libraries
Click again on Online Catalogue
The following Screen will appear
SEARCH THE CATALOGUE
Library Information
View Your Patron Record
Suggestions for the Library
Books the Library should Acquire
Other Libraries via Z39.50
Searching books from the catalogue
 Click on SEARCH THE CATALOGUE
 There are several ways or entries through which the catalogue may be
searched by the:
*Author of a book
*Title of a book
*Subject
* Words in title etc
 This entries may be chosen from the following screen after clicking on
SEARCH THE CATALOGUE
Search the Library Catalogue by:
AUTHOR
TITLE
SUBJECT (LC)
MEDICAL subject
WORDS in title
CALL NUMBER
AUTHOR/TITLE
JOURNAL title
RETURN TO MAIN MENU
Searching the catalogue
 Choose the entry on which you would like to search for a book
 Type in either the author ‘s surname and initials, the title or
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subject of the book and press the enter key
A call number will appear, e.g. 320.968 ADA
Write it down so that you should not forget it and proceed to
the shelves
The call number is the number that you are going to use to
locate a book on the shelves
The call number is written on the spine of the book
If the book is so thin that the call number may not fit on the
spine, it is written on the front cover of the book
Finding books on the shelves
 When you arrive at the shelves, please take note of the shelf
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guides that are pasted on the top corner of each shelf
The shelf guides indicate the range of call numbers within a
particular shelf, e.g., 320.1 – 325.222
The books on the shelves are arranged from left to right and
from top to bottom within the shelf units
The books are arranged numerically by call numbers, followed
by the first three alphabets of the Author ‘s surname, e.g.
321.5 SHA
After locating a book from the shelves, you may use it in the
library or proceed to circulation desk to borrow it.
Circulation Desk
 This is where books are borrowed for a specified period and
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returned after use
Under-graduate students are allowed to borrow a maximum of
five (5) books for fourteen (14) days
Post-graduate students can borrow eight (8) books for thirty (30)
days
Please always check the return date on the date slip
Failure to return books on or before the due date will result in a
fine of R1, 00 per book per day, which accumulates according to
the number of days kept
Renewal of a book is allowed, only if nobody has placed a hold
on it.
The library, however, reserves the right to recall the book if it is
on demand
Reserve Desk
 Scarce and frequently used books/pamphlets/newspapers are put at the
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Reserve / Short loans section by lecturers/library staff.
There are four short loan areas in UL library, namely, General Reserve,
Africana, Law and Government Documents
At these sections you are allowed to borrow two (2) books/ pamphlets at a
time for two (2) hours
Extension of loan period is also allowed in case the books is not in demand
At the General Reserve, you are also allowed to borrow books for overnight
and over weekends
Booking in advance is required for overnight and over weekend loans
Reference Materials
 In case you require information on a given topic/assignment or
need a definition of a word, a Reference Source is an ideal
source to consult.
 Reference sources include dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases,
maps, etc.
 These sources are to be used within the library only.
 However, you are allowed to make copies in the Photocopy
section.
PHOTOCOPY
 The photocopy machines are card operated.
 These cards are sold in the Photocopy section.
 Please ensure that you deposit enough money into your
photocopy card to be able to make copies.
 Photocopying rules and regulations must always be observed.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER
 Always consult the Library Catalogue.
 Always have a call number when going to the shelves.
 Always produce a valid student card when borrowing materials.
 Always return books on time to avoid penalties.
 IF YOU NEED HELP IN ANY PART OF THE LIBRARY ASK THE
LIBRARY STAFF
THANK YOU