Welcome to Rhodes University Library!
Our Library provides you with access to a variety of books, journals and online databases, as well as computer labs, silent study zones, and collaborative workspaces. The friendly and knowledgeable staff are on hand to help you make the most of these resources and achieve your academic goals.
Use this guide as a starting point to find out about the Library services and resources available to you.
Contact your Faculty Librarian for all your library and information queries, for example, Short Loan, Refworks, Search All and Database Assistance etc.
For additional information and assistance, explore the LibGuides
Access Other Useful Guides to RUL Services:
The Library is a hub of systematically organized, searchable, and accessible learning resource, designed to align with the RU academic programmes and it offers customized services for undergraduates, postgraduates, staff, visiting scholars and surrounding communities. All services are designed to support the academic project i.e. learning, teaching, research and community engagement endeavors of the University.
RUL is made up of four libraries and three affiliated libraries. These are; the Main Library, the Cory Library for Humanities Research, the Alistair Kerr Law Library and the Sound Library. The affiliated libraries are the Margaret Smith Library at SAIAB, the Teacher Resources Centre, and the International Library of African Music (ILAM). Click here for more information on each of these libraries.
Purpose Statement
Rhodes University Library and Information Services is committed to supporting the mission of Rhodes University in the pursuit of knowledge by students, researchers, scholars, and surrounding communities, by providing quality learning resources, client-centered services, the skills required to effectively participate in the information society and knowledge economy and, a conducive physical and virtual learning environment, that enhances intellectual creativity as well as the free and open exchange of knowledge and ideas.
VALUES
The Rhodes University LIS adheres to the Institutional value system as outlined in the Institutional Development Plan 2018 -2022. Further to these, the LIS values:
We design and deliver client-centered services that foreground the users’ needs with the aim of enabling the pursuit of knowledge and contribute to life-long learning
We strive for both the discovery of, and the provision of access to knowledge, by eliminating as many barriers to information as possible, so as to enable the free and open exchange of knowledge and ideas in an enhanced physical and virtual user environment
We embrace the concept of a learning organization by encouraging continuous professional development and learning for both personal and organizational development
We affirm the principle of openness which embraces a willingness to listen openly and to react honestly to the messages of others, promoting communication and the free flow of information between employees within the workplace. Other benefits of open communication include transparency, team building, and better understanding for all.
We will foster respect for the rights and dignity of every person, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, religion or belief, or any other identity. We embrace the open expression of ideas where all parties are able to express themselves to one another freely, through interaction to foster a culture in which we engage each other with mutual respect that is essential to the development of a scholarly and academic community.
We place a high value on executing our work with professionalism and integrity emphasizing individual conduct on the job and taking responsibility and accountability for our actions.
The library takes seriously its social responsibility role and recognizing the value of internal and external collaborations and partnerships and the importance of community engagement projects.