UBD set to improve library services

UNIVERSITI Brunei Darussalam (UBD) Library is set to improve their computerised operation and information services with the construction of a new wing to the existing structure.

The expansion project will hopefullly encourage the new batch of students to take advantage of the digital resources to support their learning, teaching and research, commented Chief Librarian Dr Suhaimi Abdul Karim recently.

"Universiti Brunei Darussalam Library is one of the largest and possibly the most sophisticated library in the country. Our information resources are hybrid, with a mixture of electronic as well as conventional paper based resources which may not be available when you were in your secondary education," said Dr Suhaimi.

Hesaid that currently there are 30 major e-journal databases, covering 30,000 electronic journal tiles, 60,000 available e-book titles and over 200 electronic journal titles of various disciplines taught in the universiti. He added that they have subscribed to about 400 printed journals titles for which students may use either in house or through remote access.

The information services of the library offers a mix of traditional 'inter-personal' library services such as lending, reference and information services, Brunei Study collection desks which is blended together via a sophisticated digital library service offered by the university's digital library system called 'Dilibrary@ubd', said the chief librarian.

Providing acess to millions of records through the library's range of systems, the chief librarian stressed that students must learn how to operate the catalogue system to search for books in the library and also how to access the e-books via the Word wide web, understand the Brunei study collection and Bruneiana digital collection works; how to search the thousands or millions of record subscribed by the library through discovery tools available at Dilibrary portal; how to get articles or books not available in the library through the interlibrary loan; and to understand function of DilibraryUBD portal in accessing high quality resources for research.

"We also want to encourage you to use the Bruneiana Digital Collection on Brunei, we want you to use explore the facilities offered by ECLIK OPAC, self check systems, e-resources/ejournal to help your study," said Dr Suhaimi.

He noted that the students may communicate with the library administration through various means such as email, call, text, and and even through Chat with the librarian widget available at Dilibrary portal and the Bruneiana digital collection.

He explained that the services is available 24/7 and accessible in and outside campus. Facebook as well as twitter has also been made available for source information.

"This is also a start of the four challenging years that will help to determine your future career, improve you career path and professional expertise," said the chief librarian. The Brunei Times