UNIVERSITY OF EMBU

TRAINING ON ACCESS
TO INFORMATION
RESOURCES

Welcome to the
Library
OBJECTIVES

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

i. Explain the role of information literacy in your academics
and other contexts.
ii. Explain the role of a university library.
iii. Compare and contrast different information sources
iv. Effective searching for Electronic resources and print
materials
v. Identify ethical issues related to your use of information
from various sources
Introduction to Information Literacy(IL)
• Information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to:
“recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate,
evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.” (American
Library Association, 1989)
• Information literacy is knowing how to find information and evaluate its
quality.
• In the digital age, there is a lot of information. Finding diverse sources
of information can become complex. To be able to cope with the
amount of information, individuals requires to be skilled not only in
using information itself to solve problems, but also in using the
search tools to find the required information .
• During IL the librarian provides guidance for students in locating
evaluating and using information resources effectively.
Quality sources of information
• Finding and using the best, most accurate, current and reliable sources
of information is absolutely critical to good scholarship.
Types of Libraries

1. School Libraries
2. Special Libraries
3. National libraries
4. Children's Libraries
5. Public Libraries
6. Academic Libraries
Academic Libraries
An academic library is a library that is attached to a higher
education institution which serves two complementary
purposes; to support the school's curriculum, and to support
the research of the university faculty and students
Academic libraries includes college and university libraries.
The main clients are:
a) Students
b) Academic staff
c) Research scholars
d) Administrative, professional and other staff of the
institution
Roles of Academic Libraries
1. Collect, organize and store the collection/knowledge for use by the
readers. This should include different formats of resources e.g. printed and e-
resources
2. Provide reading areas catering for different user needs eg. Silent reading
areas and discussion rooms, rooms for lecturers, etc.
3. Offer lending service appropriate to students, academic and non academic staff
and researchers;
4. Provide an active reference and information service.
5.Conserve knowledge and ideas for posterity.
6. Enhancing collaboration; working together with other sections/ departments
e.g.- Librarian working with the lecturers for achievement of the overall
institutions objectives
7. Provision of recreation or entertainment resources such as novels
8. Provision of ICT resources such as internet
10. Democratic spaces where students can select his/her reading materials.
11. Virtual resources centre e.g. through MYLOFT app
Physical layout of the Prof.
George Magoha library
UoEm LIBRARY OPENING TIMES

 Monday – Fridays 7.30 Am- 10 Pm

 Saturdays 9 Am-3 Pm
 Sundays 1.45 Pm- 6 Pm
Information sources
Information sources
 PRINT SOURCES; BOOKS AND JOURNALS
 E-BOOKS
 E-JOURNALS
 REFERENCE
 AUDIO VISUALS
 EXAM PAST PAPERS
 NEWSPAPERS : PRINT AND ONLINE
 ARTEFACTS
 THESES AND DISSERTATIONS
 REPORTS
 CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
 LIBRARIANS
Academic Library Services

i. Borrowing, retuning, renewal of information materials

e.g. books
ii. Access to electronic Information resources such as e-
books , repository , Online Public Access Catalogue
iii. Training students how to Access resources (Information
Literacy)
iv. Reprographic services e.g. Printing, photocopying,
scanning and binding
v. Selective dissemination of information- Sending
information to a targeted group
vi. Current Awareness services
vii. Provision of reading area
Library Organization
Library classification helps to organize library materials.
A library classification is a system of organization of knowledge
by which library resources are arranged and ordered
systematically.
One of the main classification system used in academic
libraries is
Library of Congress Classification scheme
Alphanumeric eg. HF5686.3- Accounting
LA534- History of education
QA- Mathematics
R131- history of medicine
21 classes
Library of congress cont.
1. Class A – General Works
2. Class B – Philosophy. Psychology. Religion
3. Class C – Auxiliary Sciences of History
4. Class D – World History and History of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, etc.
5. Class E – History of America
6. Class F – Local History of the Americas
7. Class G – Geography, Anthropology, Recreation
8. Class H – Social Sciences
9. Class J – Political Science
10. Class K – Law
11. Class L – Education
12. Class M – Music
13. Class N – Fine Arts
14. Class P – Language and Literature
15. Class Q – Science
16. Class R – Medicine
17. Class S – Agriculture
18. Class T – Technology
19. Class U – Military Science
20. Class V – Naval Science
21. Class Z – Bibliography, Library Science
Library catalogue
i. A library catalogue is a complete list of all materials
owned by the library. This list is descriptive and is
arranged in a definite order. It offers several
approaches of searching for information materials. It
is basically a key to finding information required.
ii. A catalogue is an organized set of bibliographic
records that represent the holdings of a particular
collection and/or resources accessible in a particular
location
There are different formats of catalogues such as book
catalogue. Card catalogue, Online public access
catalogue (OPAC), etc.
Searching the Online Public
Access Catalogue (OPAC)
 Search the catalogue by using the Title, author, subject, call
number, ISSN/ISBN on the catalogue search platform.
Shelving of books with the call
number order explained
How to read call numbers in
library

From the Online Catalog to the

Shelf
Electronic resources available
for users at University of Embu
Electronic resources are grouped into
1. Paid for electronic books databases. Examples of
databases for books are Proquest, EBSCO Host Research.
*full list on Myloft and Library Website
2. Paid for Electronic Journals databases.* See full list on
Library website or Myloft app.
3. Free and credible resources (open access resources.
4. University repository
5. Past examination papers
Accessing the e- resources at
University of Embu library
website

The E- resources may be accessed through

1. IP addresses – When one is within the university
https://library.embuni.ac.ke/index.php/eresources
2. Access via MyLOFT- when one is off campus
https://app.myloft.xyz/
Institutional Repository
This is a digital service that collects, preserves, and distributes digital material.
Repositories are important tools for preserving an organization's legacy; they
facilitate digital preservation and scholarly communication.

The link is http://repository.embuni.ac.ke/

 Searching the Institutional
Repository

 May be searched through Search bar

 Browse all of UoEm Repository
 Communities & Collections
 By Issue Date
 Authors
 Titles
 Subjects
 Accessing papers through
Myloft

 Past papers are now available at Myloft. Follow these steps from
your phone if you have downloaded myloft
 Click Myloft app on the mobile phone
 Long press the box at the bottom of the app next to name home
 This action will take you to all e- resources
 Click on the arrow next to exam bank
 Click on the past examination papers
 Select the year that you prefer
 Click on the year preferred.
 The papers are displayed. Type the code or the title of the unit
 Download and save the paper.
 Accessing papers through
Myloft

 Past papers are now available at Myloft. Follow these steps from
your phone if you have downloaded myloft
 Click Myloft app on the mobile phone
 Long press the box at the bottom of the app next to name home
 This action will take you to all e resources
 Click on the arrow next to exam bank
 Click on the past examination papers
 Select the year that you prefer
 Click on the year preferred.
 The papers are displayed. Type the code or the title of the unit
 Download and save the paper.
 Accessing Past Papers through The Website
*Visit the Library Website at https
://library.embuni.ac.ke/
*At the E-resources Services ,
Click on Past Papers button

*It will redirect you to MyLOFT web Version.

*Choose your institution (University of Embu)

* Input your login Credentials (Your university
email and Password).
*Tab on the eResources Menu drop down.
*Click on Exam bank
 Accessing e-resources through
MyLOFT
Off campus Access – all the subscribed electronic
resources can be accessed from any network. (at home,
cyber, other information service providers) away from
University of Embu intranet through My Library at My
Finger Tips MyLOFT app.
Link: https://app.myloft.xyz/
For more information watch the video “Introducing
Myloft - 'My Library On Fingertips” on this link
https://
library.embuni.ac.ke/index.php/news-and-events
Accessing e-resources through
MyLOFT
Options for Accessing the E- Resources
a) Use of A- Z List
b)According to the subject area
b)According to the subject area
Searching the databases
You can use
i. Search bar
ii. Simple
iii. Advanced

Advanced search

Search bar
Refine search
Saving
Options
PLAGIARISM
When you write your research
papers…
• DON’T PLAGIARIZE!!!!
• What is plagiarism?
• It is stealing the words of other (without
acknowledging the source).
• When you write your research papers, you are
supposed to do research, and quote your sources…
• …but be sure to enclose any quote within quotation
marks and cite the sources correctly.
 LIBRARY SUPPORT DESKS
Information and Library Help
Desks
Located next to Ground floor issue desk

Ask for help on

 Myloft activation
 Quick guide on access to
electronic information eg past
papers, e books,
 Use of OPAC/catalogues to locate
books
ISO 27001:2013 Certified Knowledge Transforms ISO 9001:2015 Certified
 Caution
◦No Valuable items such as money,
Laptops, Mobiles; should be kept in
your bag while keeping them in
Luggage Counter
◦Do not leave your
laptop/any valuables
unattended!

ISO 27001:2013 Certified Knowledge Transforms ISO 9001:2015 Certified

 Contact Us
Visit Library Help/ Information Desk
in the library
Live chat
Email; library@embuni.ac.ke
askalibrarian@embuni.ac.ke

ISO 27001:2013 Certified Knowledge Transforms ISO 9001:2015 Certified

 THANK YOU
Q&A ?
ISO 27001:2013 Certified Knowledge Transforms ISO 9001:2015 Certified