University of Pretoria Library Services

University of Pretoria Library Services serves the students, faculty and researchers of the University of Pretoria. The library of the University of Pretoria is regarded as one of the university libraries in South Africa. It provides a comprehensive information service for the university's approximately 39 000 undergraduate students, 25 000 postgraduates and 4 000 full-time staff members.

University of Pretoria Library Services
Established1908
Branches6
Collection
Size1.522 million volumes[1]
Other information
DirectorRobert Moropa
WebsiteUniversity of Pretoria Library
Map

History
The Old Merensky Library

The original library was initially established and housed in the Old Arts building in 1911 before being relocated to the Old Merensky Library, University of Pretoria. The construction of the Old Merensky Library was made possible through a generous donation of £10 000 by geologist Dr Hans Merensky, as well as donations from the Jewish Community of Pretoria, donations from University staff and students, a contribution from the City Council and an anonymous friend of the University.[2] The cornerstone of the building was laid by General Jan Smuts on 11 October 1937.[3] Despite expansions to the Old Merensky Library, University of Pretoria in 1957, it soon became too small and the firm Lou, Marais, Marquard and Kuhn was appointed in 1969 to design a new library. Construction on the Merensky II Library started in November 1971 and the building was inaugurated by the Vice Chancellor, Prof E.M. Hamman on 26 March 1976. [4]

Libraries

The Merensky II Library (Main campus library) includes the Learning Centre, Technical Services, a Research Commons, a Digital Scholarship Centre and the following faculty libraries:

- Economic & Management Sciences
- Natural & Agricultural Sciences
- Engineering & Built Environment
- Humanities (incl. Music)
- Theology

The Oliver R Tambo Law Library is housed within the Faculty of Law building on the main campus. The other faculty libraries, which are spread over four different campuses, are the Education Library (Groenkloof), the Mamelodi Library, the Jotello F. Soga Veterinary Science Library (the only Veterinary Science Library in South Africa), and the Health Sciences Library.

In addition to the traditional library services, the Library Services include, e-Books; e-Journals; customised faculty library web pages; UPeTD database; UPSpace (the University's institutional repository); Ask-a-Librarian (an online reference service); and openUP (a collection of full text research articles published by UP staff, students and affiliates).

References
  1. http://www.ais.up.ac.za/quality/docs/ContributionToUPExcellence2009.pdf Library Services Retrieved April 28, 2011
  2. Lee, Magriet (12 October 2012). The Merensky Story. Pretoria, South Africa: University of Pretoria. pp. 37, 46. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  3. Lee, Magriet (12 October 2012). The Merensky Story. Pretoria, South Africa: University of Pretoria. p. 46. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  4. Lee, Magriet (12 October 2012). The Merensky Story. Pretoria, South Africa: University of Pretoria. pp. 52, 55. Retrieved 30 April 2019.

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