Among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015, SDG4 is dedicated to education. Higher education is mentioned in target 4.3 of SDG4 which aims to by 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational, and tertiary education, including university

Since the ultimate function of the university is to provide youth with quality education, it has the responsibility to advocate the importance of SDGs in research, institutional culture, cooperation with other universities or organizations and preparing public-mindful leaders. Subsequently, the university must provide research knowledge, innovations and solutions towards achieving the SDGs. It must also advocate for faculty members to help students to set up projects, activities, campaigns… helping to promote the importance of being an active member of society. It must also cooperate with other institutions for higher education, and private and public organizations to identify educational problems and potential solutions in order to create a more sustainable, inclusive, and innovative world. Also, the university is a powerful institution that provide teaching. Learning inside the classroom isn’t enough to ensure graduates who can translate what they have learnt in books to real-word applications.

The Islamic University of Lebanon has adopted the strategy that aims at providing access to educational resources for almost everyone, starting from its national community (the Lebanese people) until everyone in the world and it provides access to educational resources for all the community of IUL as well as those who are not studying or working at it. Also, the university ensures a wide range of services such as research services via the online catalogue, books’ circulation, training sessions, daily newspapers and periodicals, free Wi-Fi services, photo copying and printing, etc.

In order to increase the number of people who profits from its services, IUL has created in 2017 a digital library with open free access for everyone. In this context, the digital library at the IUL is one of the most important libraries in the Middle East. One of the general strategies of Islamic university of Lebanon (IUL) is to provide access to educational resources for all people in the country. The IUL central library is one of the important units that provide this type of access to public and especially those not studying at the university for the purpose of best quality education. In addition of IUL Central Library, IUL also open in 2017 a digital library with open free access for all people. The IUL digital library is one of the important digital libraries in Middle East.

 

4.3 Lifelong learning opportunities
IUL provides lifelong learning education that is focused on personal development. Lifelong learning can help us to achieve personal fulfilment and satisfaction. It recognizes that humans have a natural drive to explore, learn and grow and encourages us to improve our own quality of life and sense of self-worth by paying attention to the ideas and goals that inspire us.

4.3.1 Does your university as a body provide access to educational resources for those not studying at the university?

IUL Library

The Library was established along with the university establishment in 1995. The Library or university libraries include the Central Library in Khaldeh and the branch libraries in Tyre, Balbeck, and Wardaneih.

Since its establishment, the Library has joined the Lebanese Library Association and the Arab Federation for Libraries and Information. In 2006, it became a member of the Arabic Union Catalog. The Library participates in meetings and specialized workshops locally, regionally and globally.

In 2011, a branch Library was opened in Tyre, and according to the plan of University campus in Wardaniyeh, there will be a separate building with five levels allocated for the University Library.

IUL Library received a Certificate of Appreciation for “excellence in quality” during the fourth conference of the Arabic Union Catalog (in 2011) for its commitment to the standards of cataloging rules.

LIBRARY VISION
The Library strives to provide distinguished library and information services to the university and the global community. It also looks forward to strengthening its role as a key partner in the learning, teaching, and research processes, and as an academic liaison.

LIBRARY MISSION
The Library provides a dynamic and quality user-centered library and information services that enhance teaching, learning and research, while cultivating lifelong learning skills and promoting human development in line with the university’s strategic planning.

LIBRARY OBJECTIVE
The Library objective is to support the academic community including instructors, researchers, students and staff through providing different types of information resources and quality services that meet international standards, in line with the strategic objectives of the University.
The Library aims at enhancing its role as an essential partner in the process of research and education and as a liaison between the members of the academic community. As such, the Library seeks, with its different logistic and moral routes, to encourage and support reading, intellectual interaction, teamwork, research production and information literacy.
IUL Library adopts and encourages open access to Information and Knowledge.

LIBRARY COLLECTION
The Library collection includes more than 30,000 titles, or more than 40,000 items: books, periodicals, audio-visual materials, encyclopedias, dictionaries and other resources. These collections cover all the specialties in three languages: Arabic, French and English, in addition to few other languages.
The Library applies the open shelf system. Library services are managed by the Integrated Library System (ILS) “Symphony” from Sirsi-Dynix and the 3M Radio Frequency Identification system (RFID) for security and collection management.
In addition to the collection classified based on the Dewey Decimal Classification, the Library holds a collection of fiction, in different languages and a collection of Graduation Projects and theses.
The Library also provides a considered number of theses and dissertations with copies in full text via the online catalog.

Public Access:

 

Services

Research services via online catalog
The academic researcher can access the online Library catalog via the internet from anywhere in the world, and use it to search among all the Library collections. In addition to a range of search options in the online catalog, there are options to “Renew my materials”; “Recommend to order” and ask for online help through “Ask a Librarian”.

Reference service and guidance
The Library meets the needs of patrons by responding to inquiries and provides guidance on accessing information to meet their scientific needs, either by direct contact with the Department of Information and Circulation, or through telephone calls or via email. The Library also provides a special section for Reference, including various resources such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, guides and atlases.

Electronic resources
The Library provides a collection of Electronic Resources that include e-books, articles and theses, in both full texts and abstracts mainly from Open Access Resources.

Training sessions
The Library organizes training sessions for patrons throughout the academic year upon request. These sessions cover how to use the online catalog services and how to find and manage information resources.

Periodicals
The Library provides a wide range of academic journals, periodicals and scientific magazines in hard copy, covering all the different specialties at the university, and the collection grows continuously in accordance with academic needs.

Loan service
Internal loan or access to Library resources while inside the Library is free of charge and available for any visiting researcher from outside the university.
External loan allows Library patrons to borrow items for a specific period (see circulation policy- link).

Reservation
Academic reserve service allows a professor to reserve an article, book, or any other document to be used by his students inside the Library or to be borrowed for a specific period.
Reservation/ Hold service allows a patron to make a reservation if the book has already been checked out or is at another branch Library. The reservation/hold can be made via the circulation department at the Library or via the User Online Account on the online catalog.

Photocopying and printing
The Library provides a limited photocopying and printing service to Library patrons and/or visiting researchers free of charge for a limited number of pages.

Open WIFI service
Inside the Library building for all visitors.

 

Circulation policy

Information and Circulation department assists Library patrons with the location and circulation rules of Library materials. The purpose of the circulation policy is to provide clarification of the rules and regulations governing the circulation of Library items in order to meet the needs and expectations of its patrons in the most efficient manner.

Loan condition

Current University Identification Card (Faculty/ student/staff or guest)

Types of loans

• In house use: open to visiting researchers inside the Library, for all item category.
• Standard loan: vary according to patron category/item type.
• Short loan: Class loan, over weekend loan, for certain restricted item category such as references.
• Semester loan: for Faculty upon request.

Category		Number of items			Loan period	Renewal
Full Time Instructors		10			28 days	1
Part Time Faculty/Graduates		7			28 days	1
Undergraduates /Staff		5			14 days	1
Guests		5			14 days	0
Type of document/ Category/ /Quantity	Full Time Faculty		Part Time Faculty/Graduates	Undergraduates/Staff/Guests
Book	10		7	5
Magazine	3		2	1
Thesis	3		2	2
Audio-visual material	3		2	1

 

RENEWALS AND RESERVATIONS

Items can be renewed via online catalog, under “My Account” tab, “Renew My Materials” service; or by phone, or by visiting the Library.

Items can be reserved via online catalog, under “I need Material” tab, “Place Hold” service; or over the phone, or by visiting the Library.

An Email notice will be sent to patron on the arrival of reserved items.

 

CIRCULATION BETWEEN IUL LIBRARIES

Patron from branch Library can borrow items, from another Library, via the online catalog or by visiting his home Library.

Reserved items arrive to the patron home Library in a period of three working days.

OVERDUE NOTICES & FINES

Documents should be returned on time. The borrower is responsible for renewing or returning items on time.

In case of overdue materials, the Library has the right to charge the borrower with a fine of 1000 LBP per item per day.

When items are overdue, IUL libraries will send up to three overdue notices. As these notices are a courtesy, failure to receive an overdue notice is not license to keep materials beyond the date due or to avoid paying fines.

In case the item is lost, the borrower must replace it by the same title, or he/she will be charged the price of the item, in addition to the fine.

In case of item damage, the borrower will be charged with paying repair fees or buying a new copy in cases where repair is not possible.

*** EACH STUDENT SHOULD GET A CLEARANCE SIGNED BY THE LIBRARY UPON HIS/HER REQUEST OF A GRADUATION CERTIFICATE OR GRADES CERTIFICATE***

 

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT & MANAGEMENT POLICY

The aim of the Collection Development Policy is to provide a framework for the maintenance and development of the University Library collections; to indicate priorities; to establish selection criteria across the range of different subjects, languages and media; and to create a consistent and coherent basis for the future development of the collections. Library collections are periodically evaluated in order to determine their strengths and weaknesses. Maintenance procedures, such as binding, repair, weeding and inventory, are carried out when necessary.

Acquisition

• The primary responsibility of the Acquisition Department is to purchase the Library materials needed to support the educational and research needs of the Islamic University of Lebanon.
  • Faculty members can request to order materials needed for their courses; in accordance with the applied procedures.
  • Students can suggest to order materials needed for their study, however the Library administration maintain the decision of the purchase, in case materials are essentials to Library collection’s enrichment.

Gift & Exchange

The Library welcomes gifts of books, theses, and other materials that are considered to be within the scope of its collection. The Library reserves the right to make all necessary decisions with regards to these items as to their retention, location, cataloging treatment, and other considerations regarding their use and disposition.

Deposit

Theses and dissertations (+E-copy on CD) must be deposited at the Library in one copy, paper and electronic.

 

TECHNICAL STANDARDS

The Library applies the latest technologies and adheres to International standards and rules in its cataloging and classification of materials acquired by the Library.

The Library uses the integrated Library system “Symphony” from Sirsi-Dynix, which includes their online catalog, circulation, cataloging and acquisition modules. In addition, the Library applies the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system from 3M, and the Digital Library Assistant (DLA), for the management and security of the collection.

For descriptive cataloging, the Library applies the Anglo-American cataloging rules, (AACR2) and Machine Readable Cataloging MARC21. As for subject cataloging, which is prepared in three languages- Arabic, English and French- the Library makes use of the following subject and authority sources: Arabic Union Catalog, Library of Congress, and Bibliothèque Nationale de France.

For classification, the Library uses the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system mainly for the non-fiction collection.

Most Library collections are available to access via open shelves.

 

High Council for Scientific Research & Publication (HCSRP)

Vision

High Council for Scientific Research & Publication “HCSRP” is a multi-disciplinary body whose mission is to promote and stimulate research stages at the university, and to ensure its academic and research participation internally, regionally and internationally. Further, it provides studies for governmental and non-governmental institutions in all areas of the Council’s jurisdiction. The HCSRP consists of:

• Strategic Orientation Council
• Strategic Orientation Council
• Scientific Council
• Scientific Council
• Studies and Scientific Research Center
• Studies and Scientific Research Center
• Publishing Center

 

The HCSRP consists of three research units, each of which consists of laboratories that bring research teams together in the fields of:

• Humanities and Social Sciences
• Humanities and Social Sciences
• Science & Technology
• Science & Technology
• Law and Political and Administrative Sciences

Mission

The HCSRP endeavors to:

• Activate scientific research and enhance its theoretical and applied levels in all fields.
• Work to achieve university research quality.
• Link the university research movement with the research centers and laboratories across the world.
• Facilitate exchange of information and studies.
• Build research capacity of university students and faculty members.

Al Kitab Book Fair.

Visit the Book Fair, and the University Pavilion is waiting for you.

 

Civilization Book Fair.

International Arab Book Fair.

 

Celebration of Our Library.

Hey Guys, we’re launching a new competition on social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) in celebration of our Library, visit and follow our pages, participate and share it. Lot of prizes to win including a new Samsung tablet.
More info will be posted later, stay tuned.