By Timothy Okurut
In today’s digital age, libraries have evolved to become vibrant centres of learning, innovation, and collaboration. At the heart of Uganda Christian University(UCU), situated behind the main gate’s fountain, the Hamu Mukasa Library rises with its magnificent architectural design leaving a lasting visual impression to all who set eyes on it as they enter the university. It’s not just an ordinary store of books, it is an inclusive space offering an extensive array of e-resources, IT facilities, and other modern tools to support students, lecturers, and researchers in their academic and professional endeavors.
The Hamu Mukasa Library was officially opened on the 28th of October, 2011 by the Late Ambassador Jerry P. Lanier, one of the former US ambassadors in Uganda and a serving US diplomat in Sub Saharan Africa. It was named after the former Chief of Kyagwe County in the Kingdom of Buganda for his contribution made through the donation of the land where the university now sits.
Ms Annet Namoyo, the Senior Assistant Librarian told this publication that the Hamu Mukasa building has three levels, each with a distinct variety of readings, offices and learning areas.
Level One which is the ground floor is the reference section. It is also meant for registration, clearance for students completing their study and circulation of books. It contains periodicals like journals, magazines, government publications and newspapers. It also has a reference section with Bibles, year books, encyclopedias and maps.
There are also stationed liaison librarians here attached to different schools and faculties. Namoyo who also serves as a liaison librarian for the School of Education highlights the services they render to both the students and lecturers in the University.
“We make sure the students are trained, follow up on their collections, and we carry out orientation for both new students and lecturers.” She adds that the role of establishing the book collection is done by both the librarians and students because the students make suggestions of the books they need. “As librarians we expect them to give us what they want and then we can buy,” she says.
Level one also has a workroom meant for classification and cataloguing of books. To this effort, the collection of books across all UCU campuses is reflected in the library website under the catalogue section.
Level two contains a study carrel for students and lecturers meant for small group discussions and online lectures. It also has a PowerPoint and seminar room that serve the purpose of meetings, seminars and related engagements. These are available for students after a booking has been made. The former learning commons room has now been cordoned off as a room for quiet reading.
A key pillar of the learning experience for students in UCU is the Writing Center headed by Mr. Martin Kajubi which facilitates students with writing skills, research, CV writing, and emailing among others. The third floor on the Hamu Mukasa building has a similar study carrel to that on level two coupled with a book section. The collection contains books for the School of Law as well as Sciences like Agriculture, Engineering, IT, Nursing and Midwifery. This area also has the University ICT Services (UIS) office, the media lab and an e-learning centre. The UIS centre is one that’s primarily charged with managing the Moodle and Alpha online platforms.
Away from these levels, the library has three other sections outside the three floors of the Hamu Mukasa library. These include the archives building, Bishop Danstun Bukenya Library and the Children’s Library.
The library services are also open to people who are not predominantly part of the UCU community. “We have a service that we call external user service that allows the community around UCU to come and use the services that we offer,” Namoyo explains. Former students and staff make an annual contribution of Shs80,000 while other people contribute Shs150,000 annually. This money however can be paid in installments across the different quarters in the year depending on the needs of the users.
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