Botswana Library

IDM Botswana Library advances access to knowledge for learning, training, and research and consultancy with a view to developing intellectually independent learners.

Each campus has its own fully-fledged library, consisting of collections contacting working library and older collections.

29,195 Printed Volumes:

750 Aggregated eBooks

Access to over 4000 e-Journals, 10,000 e-Journal Articles in Subscription-based Research Databases

Access to over 8000 Open Access e-resources

Services

• Circulation
• Interlibrary loans
• Reference and Information
• Digital Document Delivery
• e-Alerts on pertinent research pursuits
• Photocopying at a cost
• Abstracting and Indexing
• Subject Liaison, where library staff collaborates with consultants to build content relevant to programme offerings
• Library Instruction and Research Database Navigation Skills Training
• Institutional Repository:  Access to IDM Digital Archives at: https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/123456789/7139

Opening Hours:             

Monday to Thursday:

0830 hrs - 1730 hrs Semester Time

0830 hrs - 2000 hrs Examination Time

Friday & Saturday

0830 hrs - 1630 hrs

Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays

Library Staff

Subject Liaison Officers focus on IDM’s offerings qualified in library & information and archives & records management skills.

Library Customers

Library customers include:

• Undergraduate & Graduate students
• Academic
• Administrative staff
• IDM External Consultant

Membership

Membership is free to all IDM bona fide IDM students and staff. External consultants however, borrow materials through their Course Directors. Visiting IDM partners will be assisted as and when need arises. In order to borrow material users are required to complete a membership form.

Services

• Circulation
• Interlibrary loans
• Reference and Information
• Digital Document Delivery
• e-Alerts on pertinent research pursuits
• Photocopying at a cost
• Abstracting and Indexing
• Subject Liaison, where library staff collaborates with consultants to build content relevant to programme offerings
• Library Instruction and Research Database Navigation Skills Training

Circulation (Lending & Inter-lending)

The front desk handles all library transactions: loans, returns, renewals, course reserves and short loans.

Reference and Information

Quick and general enquiries as well as indepth research enquiries are received by library staff who deliver print and digital content to clients.

Literature Searches

Researchers are guided on how to carry out literature searches through research database navigation training.

Digital Document Delivery

Based on clients’ research enquiries, library subject liaison staff deliver full-text digital articles, e-books, research papers and multimedia electronically.

Photocopying

Self-service photocopying is offered at a cost. Purchase and recharge your copying card at the circulation desk.

E-Alerts on Pertinent Research Pursuits

Library subject liaison officers create electronic alerts on current research trends as expressed by consultants and students and deliver relevant full-text content to researchers.

Abstracting and Indexing

Local content made up of articles and research papers is indexed accessed through the online catalogue (IDMBCAT) on the intranet.

Subject Liaison

Library staff works with faculty to train clients to navigate research databases and assist with in-depth research questions

IDM Library Collection

The library holds Scholarly Books; Book chapters; Journal Articles; Newspaper Articles; Research Papers; Research Reports; Conference Papers and Proceedings; Multimedia; Undergraduate and Graduate Research Projects.

Borrowing of Library Materials

Books

Undergraduate participants are entitled to borrow two (2) items for a period of one week. Graduate participants are entitled to three (3) books for a period of two (2) weeks. However, under special circumstances and after due consultation with the borrower, the Library may recall a book(s) before it is due for return.

Borrowed library items may be renewed once only provided they have not been reserved by another user. Research databases enable clients multiple access.

Borrowable e-resources will disappear from a client's gadget after a period of two (2) weeks after which the client may access it again for use.

Audio visual /multimedia material including CDs and DVDs will be available for viewing in arrangement with Course coordinators.

Penalties

Participants will be required to replace any lost or damaged books. The Library will assist by obtaining quotations to determine the cost of the book, plus 12% administrative charges. In the event that the book is out of print, the Library will advise on the best replacement title. Failure to abide by this regulation will result in the participant's results not being released. The library system charges a penalty fee per day for books returned after the due date.. Lost or damaged borrowing/photocopying cards will be replaced at a fee to be determined by the Library. Anyone found attempting to remove library material not issued to them would be subject to strict disciplinary action which may include suspension of library membership, withholding of examination results, imposing of a fine to be determined by the library or any other appropriate action including suspension or dismissal from IDM.

Electronic Resources

The IDM Virtual Library provides access to more than 750,000 electronic -books and 4000 electronic journals. The library subscribes to the following Research Databases.

Exciting Academically Credible Websites

February 2018 Edition

Search engines (such as Google, Bing and Yahoo, among others), are easier to search than information gateways. However, the researcher ends up overwhelmed by unmanageable and irrelevant information. They are indexed by robots. Information Gateways and portals offer useful information to researchers. They are indexed by library and information specialists. Below find a select list of sites for full-text electronic journal articles (e-Journals) or electronic books (e-books). We subscribe to EBSCOhost, ProQuest Products (Central & Ebrary), Emerald Insight e-Journals and MyiLibrary (eBooks). Academically credible sites would have such suffixes as: “.edu” or “.ac” (short forms of education or academic). There is nothing wrong in citing internet sources. It is important to know what you are doing. Stick with credible sites. Ask the library staff for sources that would show you how to cite information retrieved from internet sources. Request your lecturer for the ‘referencing style accepted for your course.

Subscription-Based Research Databases