MALAWI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (MUST) LIBRARY
REGULATIONS
A. LIBRARY MEMBERSHIP
1. All registered students of Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST)
hereafter referred to as the University Students for the duration of their courses.
2. All Senior Staff of the University and their immediate family members.
3. Members of the University Council.
4. Members of the Support Staff of the University who have a valid University Identity
Card.
5. External members who shall make an application to the University Librarian and
upon being accepted shall be subjected to the following:
a) Registration shall be upon production of a valid identification such as
i. Passport,
ii. Driver’s License.
b) Clear condition for guarantor
c) A membership that shall be renewed at the beginning of every financial
year
d) Categorization of external members shall be:
a. High school students
b. Undergraduate students
c. Postgraduate students
d. Researchers
e. General (for reading only)
1e) The fees shall be determined by the University Librarian depending on
the type of use and categorization of the external member.
f) The type of library use by external members
shall be the following:
a. Reference
b. Access to books but not borrowing
c. Borrowing books and other items
d. Access to Electronic Library
B. BORROWING FROM THE LIBRARY
1. All persons entitled to borrow from the Library, and wishing to do so, must first
complete a membership registration card.
2. Authorized borrowers are allowed to borrow books as follows:
Support Staff 5
Undergraduate Students 7
Graduate Students 7
Part- Time Students 5
Senior Staff 10
External 3
Part- Time Lecturers 5
3. Library materials shall be borrowed upon the production of an acceptable
identification.
4. Unbound periodicals shall not be removed from the Library.
5. Bound periodicals may only be borrowed by Senior Staff for a period of two (2)
days.
26. Books placed on Reserve (Short Loan) may be borrowed:-
(a) For two (2) hours at a time, for consultation in the Library only.
(b) For overnight loan from two (2) hours prior to closing and up
to no more than two (2) hours after opening the following day.
7. Reference books shall not be removed from the Library.
8. Some Library collections which are appropriately marked NOT TO BE TAKEN
AWAY” or “MALAWIANA” or “THESIS” shall not be removed from the Library,
except under very special circumstances and at the discretion of the Librarian.
C. GENERAL RULES
1. All readers must enter and leave the Library through the Main Entrance.
2. Entrance into the Library building shall be upon the production of a valid University
Identity Card.
3. The following should not be taken into the Library: bags, brief cases, hats, top
coats, umbrella, radios and other electronic devices that can disturb library users
and any other items as may be determined by the Librarian.
4. Smoking, eating, and drinking are prohibited in the Library.
5. All multimedia electronic devices should be put in silent mode. Calling or taking of
calls in the Library is prohibited.
6. Library Staff have the right to check and search any Library user any time.
7. All hardcopy publications being taken out of the Library must be shown to the
Guard on duty at the ‘EXIT’ desk.
8. No person who already has any overdue materials from the Library may borrow
another library item from it.
9. Leaving of personal valuable items such as electronic devices, money, watches etc.
shall be at the owner’s risk.
310. Booking of reading spaces in the Library is not accepted. Library staff is mandated
to remove books and other materials used for such purposes.
11. Movement of Library stock from designated areas to other areas for selfish ends will
incur punishment based on the stipulated penalties.
12. All Library users will be responsible for any item appearing in their reader’s ticket
and/or Library Account.
13. Library Reader’s tickets are not transferable, i.e. they cannot be used at any other
Library apart from the home Library, nor by any other users.
14. The Librarian reserves the right to withdraw or refuse Library facilities to anyone
who contravenes the Library Regulations.
15. The Librarian reserves the right to restrict some services to certain categories of users.
D. OFFENCES
Offences and penalties under Library Rules and Regulations are as follows:
OFFENCE
1. Removing any
library material
or part thereof
from the library
without
permission.
2. Receiving or
retaining any
library material
which one
knows, or ought
to know, or has
reason to believe
to have been
stolen from the
library.
OFFENCE
TYPE
Theft
MEMBER
TYPE
University
Student
University
Staff Member
External
Theft
University
Student
University
Staff Member
External
PENALTY
Dismissal from the University in
addition to any other penalty
imposed by the University
Disciplinary Committee.
University Disciplinary Committee
will determine course of action.
Membership ban for a period
determined by the Vice-Chancellor
on recommendation from the
University Librarian.
Dismissal from the University in
addition to any other penalty
imposed by the University
Disciplinary Committee.
University Disciplinary Committee
will determine course of action.
Membership ban for a period
determined by the Vice-Chancellor
on recommendation from the
University Librarian
43. Mutilating,
marking or
disfiguring any
library material
Destruction
University
Student
University
Staff Member
External
4. Making noise in
the library or
acting in any
manner that
disturbs other
library users.
5. Moving library
stock from
designated areas
to other areas for
selfish ends Disturbance All types
Disorganization All types
6. Abusing ICT
equipment,
making,
distributing, or
watching
pornography Pornographic
Offence All types
Dismissal in addition to paying full
replacement cost and handling
charges. The Vice-Chancellor may
determine lesser penalty depending
on the facts on the ground.
University Disciplinary Committee
will determine course of action
Membership ban for a period
determined by the Vice-Chancellor
on recommendation from the
University Librarian.
Suspension from use of the library
for a minimum of three months in
addition to other penalties as
determined by the Vice-Chancellor.
Serious warning for the first
offender; and suspension from
library use for a minimum of three
months in addition to other
penalties as determined by the
Vice-Chancellor for the subsequent
offence of the same nature.
Suspension from use of the library
for a minimum of three months in
addition to other penalties as
determined by the Vice-Chancellor.
E. FAILURE TO RETURN BORROWED MATERIALS ON TIMES AND DATES DUE
1. Any person who fails to return any item in general circulation shall pay a fine of one
thousand kwacha (K1,000.00), or as determined by the University Library Committee, per
item per day until the item is returned or the person indicates that he or she has lost it.
2. Any person who loses any library item shall pay for the full cost of replacement of the lost
item, including 25% for handling and other incidental charges.
3. Any person who fails to return to the Library any Library item which has been duly recalled
within four days from the date in which the recall is made shall pay a fine of one thousand
kwacha (MK1, 000.00) or as determined by the University Library Committee per day per
item.
54. Any person who fails to return any short loan/reserve item shall be required to pay one
thousand Kwacha (K1, 000.00) or as determined by the University Library Committee per
hour per item.
G. MISCELLANEOUS
1. Any Library user who loses his or her Identity Card or Readers Ticket may be issued with
replacement card once for students and external library user provided that he or she pays for
the replacement.
2. Examination results of any student, who owes money to the University as a result of a fine
or fines imposed under these Regulations, shall be withheld until such fine or fines are paid
in full.
3. The fines provided for under these Regulations are subject to revision by the University
Library Committee from time to time, provided that Library users shall be notified of any
such revisions through a public notice.
4. Subsequent Revisions of Regulations will automatically supersede any other Library rules in
force in the University, whether general or specific.
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