Library

Library

Saqr library is an academic library with an essential collection of library materials such as books, eBooks, periodicals (print and electronic), references, and electronic journals and databases to support the university's instructional programs and educational goals.

The library collections are mainly in English, although there are items in other languages. SAQR library is open to all students, faculty, and staff, as well as to the RAK nationals and RAK business community. Access to collections, circulation of library materials, reference assistance and consultation, and library instruction are the core services offered to AURAK students, faculty, and staff. In addition, the local community may avail itself of the library's reference and information services, including document delivery, photocopying, and scanning. In such instances, an ID is required for statistical purposes only.

Located at the Building J, the staggering 35,000 sq. ft. SAQR Library is home to:

  • 26,000 printed books
  • 300,000 e-books and e-journals
  • 8 Faculty Reserved Rooms
  • 11 group study rooms
  • An Auditorium for 84 people
  • A Training Room with 36 seating capacity
  • 4 Meeting / Seminar Rooms
  • A conference room that accommodates up to 16 people
  • A Library Computer Laboratory with 30 workstations
  • A Special Collections Room
  • A Technical Processing Room
  • Dedicated staff working stations
Library small (1)

Our Library

SAQR Library is an academic library with a basic collection of library materials such as books, e-books, periodicals (print and electronic), references, and electronic journals and databases to support the instructional programs, and educational goals of the university. The Library collections are mainly in English although there are items in other languages. SAQR Library collections are well organized, following international information and library standards in work such as the Library of Congress Classification Scheme (LC) and the Anglo American Cataloging Rules (AACR2), etc.

The university has established a library building to further enhance the library space and facilities. It occupies 3 floors with 35,000 Sq.ft., within which are the library stacks, a Reading Area, Individual and Group Study Rooms, Staff Work Areas, a Computer Laboratory for library applications, Meeting Rooms, Training Room, Conference Rooms, Auditorium, Technical Processing Room, and Special Collection Room. The library seating capacity of 456 is adequate to serve the students and faculty of the university.

SAQR library is a place that is conducive to learning, it is well organized, air-conditioned, and well lit. The security of library collections is ensured through CCTV cameras, which monitor areas in all floors. Exit control systems are installed at the entrance and exit of the library with the RFID Security Alarm System.

Library Service Hours

Monday-Thursday: 8:00 am – 10:00 pm
Friday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Monday − Thursday: 8:00 am − 5:00 pm
Friday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday: 9:00 am − 5:00 pm
Sunday: Closed
Monday – Thursday: 8:00 am − 12:00 am
Friday – 8:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Monday – Thursday: 8:00 am − 5:00 pm
Friday – 8:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
A. Spring Semester
Monday – Thursday: 9:00 am ─ 5:00 pm
Friday, Saturday & Sunday : 9:00am-4:00pm

B. Semester Break
Monday – Thursday: 9:00 am ─ 5:00 pm
Friday, Saturday & Sunday : Closed

Contact us

American University of Ras Al Khaimah Library
United Arab Emirates P.O Box:10021
Tel:+971 7 2468856 / +971 7 2468857 / +971 7 2468858
Fax:+971 7 2210300
Email: library@aurak.ae

Mission

The mission of SAQR Library is to provide access to, and the effective delivery of accurate and timely information resources to AURAK students, faculty, and staff in support to the research, and instructional mission of the University.

Vision

SAQR Library is an active participant in the academic development of the university and responds to the needs of the learning community. The library facilitates access to information through the acquisition of materials, the use of information technology, the provision of quality information services and the sharing of resources at national, regional, and international levels. The library supports AURAK’s overall vision which is to promote strong partnerships with the university’s teaching and research endeavors, and to make direct and meaningful contributions to the civic, business, and social life of Ras al Khaimah and the region.

  • To support the university’s academic programs and curricula.
  • To facilitate access to its own collections and other forms of information through the use of information technology, library resource sharing networks and improved user services.
  • To expand electronic communication capabilities, to enhance library services, and to develop resource sharing arrangements to provide access to materials located in other libraries through national and international networks.
  • To provide facilities and services that are efficiently organized, well equipped and maintained so as to facilitate the productivity of staff and users.
  • To educate users about the library services and resources.
  • To hire and train friendly and qualified staff to support the University in its mission, vision and goals.
  • To identify specific technologies and unique collections that can best serve as a model for the wider Ras Al Khaimah community and that can form the basis of fund raising for the university.
E-Books Databases
E-Journal Subscriptions
E-Journal Databases
RAK Research & Innovation Center (RAKRIC) Resources and Publications

General Rules and Regulations

  1. Silence should be maintained in the library.
  2. An ID card must be presented for borrowing library materials.
  3. Eating, drinking, and other activities that distract other readers are not allowed.
  4. Online chatting and playing games are not allowed in the Library Computer Laboratory.
  5. Use of mobile phones inside the library is not allowed
  6. Do not leave your valuables in the library; Library staff are not responsible for the loss of personal valuables.
  7. Do not reshelf used library materials.
  8. Handle all library materials with care.
  9. Keep things in order. Arrange tables and chairs upon leaving the library.
  10. Keep the library clean.

List of Library New Acquisitions of Books

Library Services

SAQR library is open to all students, faculty and staff, as well as to the RAK nationals and RAK business community.Access to collections, circulation of library materials, reference assistance and consultation, and library instruction are the core services offered to AURAK students, faculty and staff. In addition, the local community may avail of the reference and information services offered by the library including document delivery, photocopying, and scanning. In such instances, an ID is required for statistical purposes only.

CIRCULATION SERVICES AND POLICIES

Borrowing privileges are provided to all registered students and currently employed faculty and staff. A University ID card is required to check-out circulating items. ID cards are issued by the University IT Department. Periodical issues, reference books and some audiovisual materials do not circulate outside the library.
Faculty may borrow up to 20 items with one-semester loan period. Students may borrow up to 10 items for three week period. These may be renewed up to two times for both faculty and students. Staff and community borrowers may check out up to three items for three weeks. Videos, CDs, DVDs are limited to 3 items of each type and can be borrowed for three days.
Circulating items may be renewed online or at the library Circulation Desk. The borrowers may renew items twice in succession unless the item has been requested by another user.

Library users may recall any checked out item after a minimum of one week, regardless of the borrower’s status and standard loan period. They receive recall notices by e-mail and must return the item to the circulation desk by the revised due date to avoid fines. Any item checked out and needed for Reserve, will also be recalled

Type of Item Patron Status Loan Period Recall Renewals
Circulating Book Student/Staff 3 weeks After 1 week 2
Circulating Book Faculty 16 weeks After 2 weeks 2
Audio-visual item Student/Staff/Faculty 3 days After 2 days
Periodical Student/Staff/Faculty Item does not circulate
Reference Book Student/Staff/Faculty Item does not circulate*

*Note: Faculty may borrow non-circulating items for class use or development in coordination with the library.

All borrowers pay overdue fines for late return of the borrowed items. The fine is calculated from the day following the due date and includes the day of return. Days on which the Library is closed are not counted. Current overdue fines are:

AED 5.00 per day per item (circulating and reserved material)
*Note: Fines will be activated when the total enrollment of students exceeds 1000.
Library users are responsible for items checked out from the general or reserve collections. They must pay any fees associated with overdue, lost or damaged materials. Replacement fines for lost or damaged library materials are the actual price of the material.
All checked out library materials must be returned only to the Library Circulation Desk.
Students with unpaid overdue fines in excess of AED 150.00 and/or with more than 2 overdue items are placed on a ‘Restricted Privileges’ list. “Restricted Privileges” prevent a student from graduating, registering for classes, or obtaining official University transcripts. Once the student has returned all overdue items and/or paid all outstanding library fines or fees, the library will release the student from restriction.


RESERVE

Reserves are class reading assignments and materials temporarily placed on limited circulation by faculty for student use. Reserve items in print form are kept behind the Reserve Desk. Loan periods for these materials are established by the library in cooperation with the professor and are generally for two hour stays in the library.

REFERENCE SERVICES

The Library provides reference help for all students, faculty, staff and library visitors. Patrons are encouraged to contact the Librarian on duty for help in using reference services and sources, particularly the online resources. AURAK reference services include:

  • Assistance with answers to specific questions or provision of resources or methods to obtain information needed.
  • Assistance in the use of library information tools and resources including print, audio, audio-visual, and electronic-based resources.
  • Assistance with evaluation criteria regarding quality and reliability of Information sources. – Assistance in the verification and construction of bibliographic citations.
  • Directions for locating library materials and services
  • Assistance with and/or instruction in the use of related library services (e.g., circulation, document delivery services, reserves).
  • Email Reference service
  • Referrals to other libraries and information sources

LIBRARY INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES

Saqr Library provides a general orientation to all new faculty and students during the start of every semester and as needed. It includes a library tour and an overview of resources, services and facilities. Through this activity, students and faculty are given the opportunity to become familiar with different library resources, services, and policies as well as the general rules and regulations of the library. Participation raises awareness among students and faculty of a wide array of information services and related academic services.

Aside from library orientation, librarians also provide individual or group library instruction. Frequently, the library receives requests from faculty members for library instruction for individual classes. During such instructional sessions, the librarian emphasizes database and catalog access and usage.

PHOTOCOPY AND PRINTING SERVICES

Students can use the networked printer located at the Circulation Desk with their computer account provided by the IT Department. The library also provides a coin-operated self-service photocopier which can be used for photocopying purposes.

INTERNET SERVICE

Workstations within the library have internet access, as well as access to common productivity software applications. In addition to Internet access via the computer laboratory, the library offers wireless Internet access to facilitate the use of laptops.

LIBRARY SERVICES FOR USERS WITH DISABILITIES

The library provides services and accommodations for users with disabilities. The library facilities are well organized to ensure that all users including those who have disabilities are able to conveniently access and use the library resources and services easily and directly. The main entrance of the library is designed to accommodate wheelchair access. A Comfort Room, specially designed for patrons with disabilities, is also available in the library. The library has established an Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC), and subscribed to electronic resources (eBooks and E-journals) which could be accessed remotely from outside the campus by those who have difficulties or challenges visiting the library. With Document Delivery Services, library staff may scan a book chapter or journal article and send it via e-mail for those who are not able to visit or attend the library. These services are free for all patrons with or without disabilities. In addition, the Library staff are readily available to assist users with disabilities in locating library materials, conducting library search, and in using computers and other facilities available in the library.

Last Updated: 04 Aug 2023

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