Subject information specialists (Faculty Librarians)

Do you need assistance with finding information for your research, assignment or project?

Please consult you subject information specialist. There are six subject information specialists, each responsible for the needs of a particular faculty or group of departments. There is also a professional librarian based at the Main Campus Library, dedicated to providing full librarian services in the evenings and after hours.

Library Information Literacy

Library induction programmes are designed to provide practical assistance to those new to the university or postgraduate work. The purpose is to introduce new clients to the physical library, facilities and services offered by the library and ensure that users have adequate information retrieval skills to exploit information. Subject information specialists are responsible for planning, conducting and delivering all information literacy programmes of the library to empower clients. This includes the following:

• Library induction session for Postgraduates
• Library induction for new students
• Training on using library databases.
• Using the Internet for research
• Advanced information retrieval skills

Contact your subject information specialist to make an appointment.

Inter-Library Loans (ILL) Service

Masters and Doctoral students are entitled to an inter-library loan service if they need books, theses or articles that are not available in the Vaal University Library. The preferred method of requesting inter-library loans is via e-mail, or electronically by registering with Sabinet. Please contact your subject information specialists.

For further information please contact Ms Nthabiseng Matunda or your subject information specialists.
Contact details for Ms. Nthabiseng Matunda:
Phone +27 16 950 9653 or e-mail: nthabisengm@vut.ac.za
Location: Third floor, 1^st office from your left – Main campus library

General lending collection

This collection is made up of a wide selection of books and other material that is available for normal loan at all VUT libraries. These books are issued for 14 days to Diploma students. It is located on the 2nd and 3rd floor at Main Campus, and is in the main public access area at other libraries. It consists mainly of circulating books that can be borrowed for home/external use.

Reserved collection

This collection has been created for special publications and books in great demand but in short supply. It consists of prescribed books, recommended books for assignments and projects, special reports, lecturers’ notes and other items. This collection can only be used for period of two hours renewable, and it is for in-house use only. It is also referred to as “short loans section”.

Journal collection

A journal is a magazine or other periodic publication. “Journal or periodical” usually refers to a “scholarly journal” published by an academic discipline and contains reports of research conducted in that field. The VUT Libraries have hard copies as well as electronic journals. At Main Campus this collection is found on the ground floor of the Library, while at other campuses these are kept at main service counters.

Electronic or online collection

Electronic resources are collections of information e.g. online databases, electronic encyclopedias, e-dictionaries, e-journals, e-books, etc. These are accessed on electronic devices or computers. Online databases provide online access to journal articles, books, reports, and other publications via the Internet. The Library subscribes to more than 40 databases that provide access to full-text articles, books and annual conferences. The Library currently subscribes to the following databases: Emerald, EbscoHost Online, SABINET databases, SpringerLink, IEEE, ScienceDirect, ISI Web of Knowledge, InformaWorld, McGregor, JSTOR, among others. Subjects covered include management, health, arts, fashion, science, engineering, computer sciences, business, law, food, sports, education, and more.

Reference collection

Reference sources are books that are useful for answering research questions. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, yearbooks, almanacs etc. are found in this collection. They cannot be checked out and are shelved in the reference sections on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Main Library. All reference books can be identified by the letter “R” in front of the call number on the spine. The reference collection may be used only in the Library.