General Collection - Books on Open Shelves
The General Collection comprises of books from the Open Shelves. Books from the open shelves can be used inside the Library but can also be borrowed for use outside the Library. A book on loan from the General Collection may be recalled by the Librarian responsible for the particular section at any time.
Short Loan (Reserve) Collection
The short loan collection is a closed access collection of items suggested by course lecturers for their particular courses and are, therefore, in great demand. Items in the short loan collection are to be used within the Library for a two-hour loan period. Special permission from the Readers Services Librarian/or representative is required to take a short loan item outside the Library before 18.00 hours.
Reference Materials Collection
Reference Collection comprises various sources of information that provide background information or quick facts on any given topic. Any item marked ‘FOR REFERENCE ONLY’ is not to be taken out of the Library. Journals/periodicals/serials are not to be taken out of the Library. Audio-visual and multimedia items, electronic equipment, computers, and software are not to be taken out of the Library.
Malawiana and Special Collections
Malawiana materials are all items published/written on Malawi and /or by Malawians. The Malawiana and Special collections is a closed access collection comprising printed and electronic material about Malawi, past papers, bound newspapers, etc. Special Collections include rare materials, artifacts, bequeaths, Mzuzu University historical documents, and photographs. All items in the Malawiana and Special collections, are to be used within the Library only. Keeping Malawiana and Special Collections items overdue is not permitted. Infringement of this clause attracts a fine for every 2 hours or part thereof from the time the book was due for return.
Children’s Library Collection
The Mzuzu University Children’s Library collection is designed to promote a reading culture and information literacy among young users by providing engaging and age-appropriate materials. The collection is primarily composed of print materials and audio-visual resources geared towards primary school-aged children. The key components of the collection include:
Books: This forms the core of the collection, encompassing a variety of genres and subjects suitable for children between the ages of 6-16. The Children’s Library stocks:
- Pictorial books
- Fiction and non-fiction books for example children non-fiction books like English books, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, primary school text-books, etc.
- Reference sources like dictionaries and encyclopaedias adapted for children
- Books that introduce young readers to various facts and general knowledge
- Reading materials in different levels to support reading development
Audio-Visual Materials: The library incorporates modern media to engage children and support learning through various activities such as video shows and computer games. While the main University Library has a dedicated Malawiana Section for resources about Malawi, the Children’s Library incorporates relevant local content including story books written by children themselves and other storytelling resources as part of its cultural programming.
American Corner Collection
The American Corner Mzuzu provides free access to resources on the United States to the general public at Mzuzu University. Its collection focuses on American culture, history and education. It offers education advising materials for standardized tests like TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT etc. It also stocks a range of print materials like English language dictionaries, psychology—critical thinking; English Language conflict resolution, Communication, Leadership, Nursing, Business Management, Technology and Education. Apart from the print collection, American Corner also offers electronic resources through its eLibraryUSA, where numerous e-journals and research databases like the Academic Premier, ProQuest, EBSCOhost and other electronic databases can be accessed. Users need to be registered to access the electronic resources.
Reprographic Section
The Reprographic Section is a library section that specializes in the duplication and reproduction of printed and graphic materials using mechanical or electronic means. The primary purpose is to enhance accessibility to information, aid resource sharing, and assist in the preservation and security of original documents.
Services Offered in a Reprographic Section:
Photocopying: The most common service, allowing users to make immediate paper copies of book pages, journal articles, and other documents while adhering to copyright laws.
Printing: Providing high-volume digital printing services from various electronic formats (like PDFs or email attachments) often submitted by users from library computers or personal devices.
Scanning: Converting physical documents, manuscripts, photographs, and other materials into digital file formats (e.g., word-searchable PDFs) for easy storage, sharing, and access.
Binding and Finishing: Offering options to professionally finish documents, which can include electronic pagination, lamination, creating custom covers, and various types of binding.
Document Preservation and Restoration: Creating copies of rare, old, or fragile materials, so the original can be secured while the copy is made available for general use.