Process Owner

Head of LRC

Prepared by

Head of LRC

Reviewed by

QAIE

BOT Approval

Approved

First Issue Date

20/09/2023

Last Review Date

25/11/2024

Modification History

Relevant to

DMU Stakeholders

Purpose and Scope

Purpose:

To oversee all services provided to students through the Learning Resource Centre and make sure it meet the learning process needs of DMU students. The Dubai Medical University Learning Resource Centre plays a key role in supporting students, staff, and faculty members as well as the other stakeholders connected with the university, by providing access to high-quality and authoritative information resources.

Scope:

• This policy applies to all students and employees using the Dubai Medical University Learning Resource Centre.

• The policy applies to all content and resources in print and electronic formats.

Abbreviations and Definitions

None

Policy

Policy Statement:

• The Learning Resource Center is committed to providing access to knowledge, supporting research, and supporting lifelong learning within DMU and the community at large.

• Access to the Learning Resource Center is open to everyone and shall not be restricted on the basis of ethnicity, religion, disability, or gender.

Procedure for Policy

•  Learning Resource Centre functions:

• To develop a comprehensive collection of current medical and health sciences literature in collaboration with the college and curriculum committee.

• To provide information in any format (print or electronic) to support the Dubai Medical University current and future programs.

• To become an active partner in support of research

• To provide training and information literacy sessions to help the users retrieve information ethically in a highly technical environment with information overload.

• To make the environment conducive to study

• Adequate space to offer conducive environment for study and research, accommodated individual study rooms, group study rooms, staff offices, and a seating area with ample ventilation and lighting.

Learning Resource Centre Timings Policy:

• The Learning Resource Centre shall remain open as per the following schedule:

• The Learning Resource Centre will remain closed on public holidays and other days of obligation.

• The LRC is open during lunch and prayer break also, for the sufficiency of students as they are normally free from their lectures in the break time.

• Separate library periods are also included in the daily schedule of the students so that they get proper time to search for the information they want.

• Saturday & Sunday library open as per schedule of M-Pharm clinical Pharmacy program

• Ramadan, Winter, Spring and Summer vacations have special working hours.

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Learning Resource Centre Location and physical facilities:

The library is located on the ground floor of DMU main building. The current library space is adequate with daylight and proper ventilation and staff offices.

Other facilities are as following:

  Number of seats =62

  Number of computers =19

  Wi-Fi facility = Available

  Adequate ventilation

  Adequate lighting

  Single study rooms = 5

  Group study rooms = 2

  Number of book titles = 4137

  Total number with multiple copies = 5913

  Total Number of databases = 8

  Total Number of E-Journals = 2500+

Queries related to the Learning Resource Centre can be addressed to the designated e-mail of the Head of LRC as published online.

Learning Resource Centre Usage:

• The LRC will serve all students, staff, and faculty members of DMU as well as with other stake holders associated with the university. 

• The use of the LRC may be denied for due cause. Such a cause may be failure to return LRC materials or to pay penalties, destruction of LRC property, disturbance of other patrons, or any other illegal, disruptive, or objectionable conduct on LRC premises.

Learning Resource Centre (LRC) Behavior Guidelines

To maintain a conducive and respectful study environment, the following behavior guidelines must be observed by all users of the Learning Resource Center (LRC):

1. Respect for Others

   • Be considerate of fellow LRC users. Speak quietly and refrain from disruptive behavior.

   • Respect others' study spaces and avoid unnecessary interruptions.

2. Maintain a Quiet Environment

   • Keep noise levels to a minimum. Headphones are required for audio content, and phone conversations should be taken outside the LRC.

   • Use designated areas for group discussions or collaborative work. Individual study areas should remain quiet.

3. Cleanliness and Order

   • Leave study areas and resources in the same condition as when you arrived. Clean up after yourself and dispose of trash properly.

   • Do not leave personal items unattended, and respect LRC furniture and equipment.

4. Food and Drink Policy

   • Eating and drinking are not permitted in most areas of the LRC.

   • In designated study cubicles, only hot and cold beverages in spill-resistant containers with lids are allowed.

   • Exceptions to the food policy may be made for special events, which must be approved in advance by the LRC Unit Head.

5. LRC Resources

   • Handle LRC materials with care. Report any damage or issues with books, computers, or other equipment immediately.

   • Follow all guidelines for the proper use of computers, printers, and other LRC resources.

6. Personal Conduct

   • Respect the rights of others to study in a calm and focused environment.

   • Any behavior that disrupts the LRC environment or violates these guidelines may result in a request to leave the LRC or further disciplinary action.

Collection development and management policy

LRC Collection Assessment Procedures

Collection Evaluation:

Collection evaluation procedures provide the guidelines that help ensure the LRC maintains an appropriate level of currency, depth and breadth to support DMU’s mission, core themes, programs and services, wherever offered and however delivered. Collection evaluation shall be continuous. LRC staff will use needs assessment best practices.

Needs Assessment Aids

• Acquire course text lists from the bookstore at the beginning of each term

• Review DMU Student Inter Library Loans (ILL) and hold requests each month

• Review circulation and database statistics each year

DMU Collection Development Policy

The policies for collection development are defined by the Head Learning Resource Centre to guide the selection and acquisitions of materials in consultation with the LRC Committee. The goal of DMU LRC’s collection development effort is to build collections that support the needs of undergraduate and graduate programs, the faculty, and the entire university community. This collection development system reinforces the university and the LRC missions.

The LRC also recognizes its responsibility to respond to the research needs of the faculty. It will continue to do this through its commitment to providing access services including electronic databases, in addition to extensive onsite collections.

As no LRC / Library can supply materials to satisfy all the needs of its users, the DMU LRC encourages cooperative collection development agreements with other libraries in the Emirates. This policy provides a framework for the underlying principles and guidelines in the selection, acquisition, evaluation, and maintenance of library resources. It also helps to communicate the library policies concerning goals and methods to faculty, students, staff and users. As academic programs, information needs, and technology change, the LRC remains committed to meeting new information demands.

The procedure outlines Collection Development and Management of Information resources in print and electronic formats including guidelines for selection and deselection, acquisition, cataloguing, and preservation:

• The collection is developed according to the best practices and standards adopted by regional and international medical libraries.

• The collection comprises of e-resources, including e-books, e-journals, and databases. Print resources include books and multi-media.

• The collection includes electronic reference works and a wide selection of resources within the ambit of general reference such as atlases and thesaurus.

• Collection development and management is ongoing and in coordination with DMU colleges and library committee, to support teaching, learning and research at DMU.

• Special collections are maintained including rare books and recreational titles.

• The materials selection/collection development policy, like all other policies, will be reviewed and/or revised as the need arises.

• The ultimate responsibility for selection of library materials rests with the librarian who operates within the framework of the policies determined by the university. The latest publisher’s catalogues are circulated to the faculty members with a selection request for their relevant subject books. Upon completion of the selection process, the selected materials lists are compiled and rechecked with the current catalogue to avoid duplication.

• The library Committee prepares the lists obtaining approval from the Head Academic Support Department / Dean for the library materials to be ordered.

General Selection Criteria

The general criteria when selecting collection materials includes:

1. Relevancy to DMU courses of instruction

2. Quality of content and scope of subject

3. Balance of collection

4. Format and ease of accessibility

5. Currency of material

6. Library space and cost

7. Additional Factors to be considered are given below but not limited to when selecting and evaluating resources:

   • Individual merit of each item,

   • Popular appeal/demand

   • Suitability of material for the clientele

   • Existing library holdings

   • Available budget

   • When there is a choice, hardbound books should be selected.

   • Publication coverage

   • Format

   • Review and feedback

   • Number of copies/licenses to be acquired.

   • Publisher / vendor support.

How to Organize Selection

• Within the LRC: by the LRC Staff.

• Outside the LRC: users like deans, faculty members and students can recommend organizing the library materials in their special fields by filling in a Library Request Form available on the Circulation Desk/LRC website. Forms are available through the LRC website.

Electronic Resources Selection

Electronic resources can be suggested for acquisition through several channels. The below procedure will be followed:

• Demo of the resource and its features by the vendor

• Minimum one-month trial access of the resource

• On completion of trial survey and analysis to be carried out

• Upon approval for acquisition, resources to be budgeted for new academic year.

• Normal acquisition procedure to be followed as per procurement policy.

• Acquired resources to be integrated into library management system.

• Acquired resources to be integrated into library management system.

• Ongoing monitoring of electronic resources will be carried out.

Ordering Library Materials:

The Library Dubai Medical University should identify the correct source of ordering the library materials. The criteria to be followed to decide which method is suitable for ordering is:

• Books published by normal book trade publishers should be ordered from one supplier.

• Reports, documents, and conference proceedings published by organizations and institutions rather than publishers should be ordered directly from the organizations.

• UN priced publications should be ordered from the UN Sales agents.

• Books and publishers prohibited by the UAE Government/MOE/CAA should not be ordered.

• The Librarian should ensure compliance with all Government circulars regarding the selection and purchase orders of text and electronic collection.

Ordering Procedures:

• Checking: Once the initial selection is over each item is checked against the library catalogue and ordering has been made.

• Approved selected library materials quotation/quotations are sent to the purchase section to issue the purchase order for the concerned vendor/vendors. The purchase section processes the approvals from the higher authorities for the issuance of the purchase order/orders. The purchase section sends the purchase order/orders to the concerned vendors and a copy to the concerned departments. Vendors are then requested to provide the invoice to process the payments.

• Physical print books: 6-8 weeks for delivery after the Purchase Order is issued.

• Electronic resources: Selected after a one-month free trial access, during which usage statistics are evaluated before subscription decisions are made. Upon issuance of purchase orders electronic resources are usually accessible between 1-2 weeks.

•  After receiving a supply of library materials, a re-checking process takes place to ensure that the supply is proper and according to the order placed. Any differences are settled before the final payment.

•  Accessioning: All library materials received by the college’s library, whether they are a purchase order, gifts, or exchange to be checked against invoices or whatever. Each item must be stamped and processed accordingly.

• Payments:   Final invoice and purchase order with a cover letter signed by the dean/deans are sent to the finance department for the final settlement of the account.

Procedures

Cataloging & Technical processing of the library materials:

Library Print Collection classified as per Dewey Decimal Classification Scheme and catalogued in Follett Destiny Library software. The library is using Follett Hosted services for the Online Public Access Catalogue i.e., available round the clock 24/7. Follett library automation software provides internationally accepted bibliographic formats and conventions.  

Technical processing means to make a book ready for circulation or to make it ready for the shelving.  Following steps are involved to make a book technically ready for the circulation to the library borrower:

Classification of the book

• Entering the data of the book i.e. (Title, Author, Publisher, Place of Publication, Year of publication, etc.) in the library software (Follett Destiney).

• Assigning a unique barcode to each print material

•  Pasting barcodes on each book. Printing call numbers for the spine labels

• Spine labeling (pasting call numbers on the spines of the books)

• Shelving of the book

• Preparation of fresh arrivals list

• Circulation of fresh arrivals list

• Notice for students for the fresh arrivals.

Gifts and Donations

The library accepts gifts of books and other materials with the understanding that they will be added to the library collection only if appropriate and needed to fill the gaps in the library print collection with the approval of The Librarian. If they are not needed because of duplication, condition, or outdated information the librarian can dispose of them. The same criteria of selection which are applied to purchase materials are applied to gifts. It is desirable for gifts of or for specific titles to be offered after consultation with the library in charge. Book selection will be made by the librarian if no specific book is requested. The Dubai Medical University Library encourages and appreciates gifts and donations. By law, the library is not allowed to appraise the value of donated materials, though it can provide an acknowledgment of receipt of the items if requested by the donor.

Weeding

The process of systematically and strategically removing materials from an LRC’s collection. The purpose of weeding is to ensure that a LRC's collection remains relevant, up-to-date, and of high quality. Weeding is a critical aspect of collection management and is essential for maintaining a useful and appealing LRC collection. Here are some key aspects of LRC weeding:

1. Weeding Criteria: Libraries typically establish specific criteria for weeding materials. These criteria may include factors such as:

2. Physical Condition: Materials that are damaged or in poor condition may be candidates for removal.

3. Relevance: Materials that are outdated, obsolete, or no longer align with the LRC's collection goals and user needs.

4. Usage Statistics: Items that have not been checked out or used in a long time may be considered for removal.

5. Duplicates: Multiple copies of the same item may be reduced to a reasonable number.

6. Accuracy and Authority: Materials with outdated or inaccurate information, or those from untrustworthy sources, may be removed.

7. Space Constraints: If the LRC is running out of space, weeding may be necessary to make room for new materials.

8. Weeding Process: Once materials are identified for removal, librarians follow established procedures for weeding. This may involve reviewing each item individually or using automated tools to analyze circulation data and other factors. Items are then marked for withdrawal.

9. Disposition: Libraries can dispose of weeded materials in several ways, including selling, donating, recycling, or discarding them. Some materials may be sold at LRC book sales, while others may be donated to community organizations or other libraries. Irreparably damaged materials may be recycled, and materials with sensitive or confidential information may be securely discarded.

10. Record Keeping: It's important to maintain records of the weeding process, including the reasons for removal and the methods used. This helps in tracking collection changes and justifying decisions.

11. Public Awareness: Libraries often inform their patrons about the weeding process to ensure transparency. This can include posting notices about upcoming book sales or explaining the rationale behind deselection.

12. Withdrawn materials will be handled in a similar manner and under the same authority as donated materials.

Weeding is a necessary practice to keep LRC collections vibrant, current, and user focused. It allows libraries to free up space for new materials, improve the overall quality of the collection, and ensure that users have access to the most relevant and accurate resources.

Interlibrary Loan

Because of limited budget and space, the LRC cannot provide all materials that are requested. Therefore, interlibrary loans are used to obtain from other libraries those materials that are beyond the scope of DMU LRC's collection.

In return for utilizing interlibrary loan to satisfy the needs of our patrons, The Dubai Medical University LRC agrees to lend its materials to other libraries through the same interlibrary loan network and try to have its current holdings listed in a tool that is accessible by other libraries. The LRC may charge the patron whatever the cost may occur to obtain the LRC materials through Interlibrary loan. DMU LRC has established contractual agreements with several national and international libraries.

Development of Partnerships

DMU LRC shall conduct a needs assessment involving faculty, students, and administration to identify areas requiring partnerships (e.g., research collaboration, academic exchange, resource sharing) and potential partners (universities, colleges, industry) whose goals align with the university’s mission and can provide mutual benefits.

DMU shall formalize the Partnerships through interlibrary loan (ILL) agreements specifying deliverables, timelines, funding arrangements, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

Continued evaluation of its partnerships

The direct impact of these partnerships on LRC users is evaluated based on several criteria. The following table outlines the evaluation criteria used to assess the effectiveness and impact of the ILL agreements.

Circulation Policy

Registration

Students at the university are automatically registered with the LRC upon receipt of their student ID cards. Students ID cards serve as LRC cards also. For any borrowing from the LRC ID cards need to be presented to the LRC staff for barcode scanning. Students without student ID cards will not be able to borrow any LRC materials.

Borrowing Privileges Loan Periods

• All students at DMU

• All staff actively employed in the university.

Note: External users associated with the University can use the LRC onsite in person.

• Generally, reference books do not circulate. Upon request, some reference materials may be checked out overnight.

• Interlibrary loans are due on the date indicated by the lending library.

• Books may be renewed if not reserved/requested by another user.

• 3 days for cassettes, audio books, and compact discs.

• 3 days for videocassettes CD-ROMS.

• Audio Visual materials are nonrenewable.

• The Librarian may establish the loan period for special collections, materials which are temporarily in great demand, such as for student projects, or materials added to the collection which are in a new format, e.g., computer CD-ROMs, software.

Reserves

Reserves may be placed by patrons either in person or over the phone. Patrons will be notified by telephone when the materials are available. There is no charge to the patron for placing a reserve or for interlibrary loan services.

Borrowing Process:

Issuing LRC Materials:

LRC members can borrow LRC materials according to the criteria mentioned above under the section (Borrowing Privileges Loan Periods). To borrow any LRC material presence of the LRC member is required with student ID card. LRC members are not allowed to borrow books on behalf of other LRC members. LRC members need not be present when returning LRC materials, and anyone can return them on their behalf.

Fines and charges

There are no fines for overdue materials. First notice is sent after the material is due. If the material is not returned within a designated period, a bill will be sent for the material with the cost of replacement of the material and a service charge for processing, cataloguing and postage. Patrons who have been sent an overdue notice shall be denied borrowing privileges until those overdue materials are returned or paid for if lost and/or damaged.

Lost/Damaged materials

LRC patrons shall replace lost resources at their own cost within 7 days of receiving the invoice. If materials are damaged to be judged by the LRC as being unsuitable for the collection, the patron must pay the replacement cost. A notice of these charges will be sent to the borrower; a sample of the notice follows:

Dear____________________________

At the time a LRC patron borrows materials from the Medical and Pharmacy College LRC collection, the patron assumes the responsibility for the care and timely return of the materials. Recently materials checked out on your LRC membership number were returned to the LRC damaged beyond the point of being usable in the LRC’s collection. The titles and costs of these materials are listed below:

---------------------------------- AED---------

Your assistance in clearing this matter promptly will be appreciated and will be necessary to retain your borrowing privileges.

Thank you in advance for your prompt response to this matter.

Sincerely,

[Further borrowing privileges of such borrower will be determined by the LRC committee on case-by-case basis)

Renewals:

Renewals can be done only for books. A maximum of two consecutive renewals is allowed unless someone else has placed a hold on them. Renewals cannot be done.

Returning LRC Materials:

Issued LRC materials can be returned anytime during working hours and through anyone. If an LRC member cannot come, he/she can send the LRC books with anyone else. It is not incumbent to the LRC to provide proof of return.

Restrictions for Checking out LRC Materials if:

• The borrower reached the maximum number of items allowed.

• The borrower reached the renewal limit for an item.

• The borrower has one or more overdue or recall items.

• The borrower membership has expired.

• The borrower violates any of the conditions in the LRC Circulation Policies

Staff and Students Who Leave the college or the organization:

All staff and students must return all LRC materials before going on leave. Or if anyone is leaving the college, or the organization permanently should take clearance from the LRC. 

Services of the LRC

The LRC provides materials and resources for information, entertainment, intellectual development, and enrichment of the students at the University. The LRC should attempt to:

• Select, organize, and make available necessary books and materials.

• Provide guidance and assistance to the students and faculty members.

• Sponsor and implement programs, exhibits, displays, book lists, etc., which would appeal to the students and faculty members.

• Cooperate with other community agencies and organizations.

• Secure information beyond its own resources when requested. (Using interlibrary loan and other resource sharing methods provided through the system).

• Lend to other libraries upon request.

• Maintain a balance in its services to senior students, junior students, and faculty members.

• Cooperate with other colleges and institutional libraries.

• Provide service during hours which best meet the needs of the students and faculty members.

• Computer workstations are available in the LRC for students' use and connected with the multifunctional self-service machine, which includes printing, scanning, and photocopying. Users must obtain a PIN Code from the accounts section to use the machine for reproduction.

• LRC users can check with the Circulation Desk for any personal items that may have been left in the LRC.

• Regularly review LRC services being offered.

Off Campus Online Access

The DMU LRC provides various services to cater to the needs of its users, such as book renewals, book requests, study room bookings, off-campus access, video tutorials, reserves, virtual reference services WhatsApp connectivity, and database guides.

Print Collection: The LRC’s main collection contains carefully selected 4026 titles of books covering medical and health sciences subjects. The LRC usually considers purchasing multiple copies of books that are of popular interest and in high demand. The LRC print collection is cataloged in Follett Destiney Software and the Online Public Access Catalog is available 24/7. The online public access catalogue provides enhanced searching options to the LRC users to check the LRC holdings.  

Reference: Reference collection contains dictionaries, encyclopedias, Pharmacopeias etc. and is supposed to be used within the LRC.

Reference books are not circulated out of the LRC.

Off Campus Collection: DMU LRC subscribes to different online databases which can be accessed on campus as well as off campus remotely for DMU students, staff, and faculty members only. Currently LRC subscribes to the following databases and Follett as library management system:

• UpToDate

• Access Pharmacy

• Lexi comp

• Medline Ultimate (e-journals)

• AMBOSS Institutional Access

• EBSCO e-Books clinical collection

• Clinical Key Student Foundation

• Follett Destiny

UpToDate: A clinical point of care reference tool providing peer-reviewed topic reviews and recommendations for diagnosis and treatment. UpToDate is an e-resource designed to provide physicians access to current clinical information. It addresses specific clinical issues in the form of topic reviews. Topic reviews include very specific clinical titles. Text includes embedded links to MEDLINE abstracts of referenced studies and other related topic reviews. Reviews may also include links to charts, X rays, photographs, movies, and drug information. UpToDate covers primarily internal medicine and its subspecialties.

Access Pharmacy: Access Pharmacy from McGraw-Hill Medical is designed to meet the changing demands of pharmacy education and practice today. Updated regularly and optimized for viewing on any device, this comprehensive, content rich online pharmacy resource allows users to explore leading pharmacy 177 references, search curriculum topics, and research drugs and supplements. Access Pharmacy gives students instant access to videos, Q&A, and leading pharmacy textbooks that establish an important foundation for learning and allows practicing pharmacists to get information instantly about drugs, herbs, and supplements and consult features and editorials concerning the vast array of current pharmacy publications. Access to medical, clinical, and basic sciences texts, thousands of images and illustrations, interactive self-assessment, drug information, case files, patient education, diagnostic and point-of-care tools. This multi-media database includes several online textbooks, which can be searched or browsed by curricular topic or organ system. Drug monographs treat names, generics, classes, and patient information. Case studies, lab tests, calculators, videos, and effectiveness statements are also available.

Lexicomp: Point-of-care drug information, including dosing, administration, warnings, and precautions, as well as clinical content, such as clinical practice guidelines and IV compatibility information. A hospital-wide solution for pharmacists, physicians, and nurses, Lexicomp provides clinicians access to two drug information resources within a single interface. Features include drug identification, drug dosing calculation, AHFS content, patient education materials, and more.

MEDLINE Complete: Medline Complete is the leading full-text database of biomedical and health journals. It is the largest companion to the MEDLINE index, providing full text for thousands of top medical journals with cover-to-cover indexing. It is an essential research tool for doctors, nurses, health professionals and researchers. Medline complete contains more than 2300+ journals and these journals can be accessed through username and password provided by the LRC to the DMU LRC patterns.

AMBOSS: AMBOSS is a medical learning platform that helps students around the world to study smarter and score higher in their exams. Designed and curated by over 60 international physicians, AMBOSS uses intelligent learning features to guide you through your studies and into your medical career.

EBSCO e-Books clinical collection: The eBook Clinical Collection includes over 2,000 recent titles covering general practice, various specialties, topics in nursing and allied health, and supporting sciences. Content is updated quarterly, and all titles are available with unlimited user access, particularly helpful in healthcare settings for users with time-sensitive research needs.

ClinicalKey Student Foundation: ClinicalKey Student is an interactive education platform that supports students and faculty by enhancing the learning experience with tools tailored to develop and assess the medical knowledge of aspiring professionals. includes 200+ acclaimed textbooks covering 50 medical specialties, including Gray’s Anatomy for Students and Medical Physiology. 1,500+ quick access summaries of common diseases and topics. Access to 85,000 high resolution images, unlocked and discoverable for visual learning. Copyright cleared images. Access to 850+ videos ranging from practical demonstrations of anatomical dissections to instructional clinical examination examples.

Follett Destiny^® Library Manager: Follett Destiny^® Library Manager is a complete library management system that can be accessed from anywhere, 24/7, helping to strengthen the crucial bond between the LRC, the classroom, and home.

Open Learning Resources Centre

The Open Learning Resources Centre of the LRC is equipped with 19 computers fitted on hexagonal tables for students, faculty and LRC staff to perform searches and study, a projector, and a screen for LRC staff to give or arrange database trainings and information literacy sessions. All computers are equipped with multimedia kits and internet access browsers. The latest Microsoft Office application packages are available.

A self-operated Printer/photocopier/scanner is available in the LRC. With nominal charges LRC users can use this printer by getting the PIN from the accounts after charging their accounts.

Information Literacy/LRC Trainings: All new students receive an orientation to the DMU LRC and its services during their induction week. It includes a general introduction to the collection and its services, rules, and regulations on access to resources, and other essential information. During the academic year, students receive practical training on databases and special modules such as basic LRC skills for the effective use of the learning management system, bibliographic and full-text discovery tools.

Revision of LRC Policies

The LRC policies shall be subject to review and the revision needed will be done on recommendations of the LRC committee as and when required as per the policy for policy change of DMU.

Reference Service Policy

The LRC:

• provides information in the form of short answers to specific questions and guidance in locating material for patrons who appear in person, call on the telephone, or request information through correspondence.

• Assists patrons in the use of the LRC and teach basic research methodology, when appropriate (this includes providing help in developing a research strategy and advice on whether a trip to the LRC would be worthwhile for individuals who telephone);

• provides bibliographic verification of items both in the LRC and not owned by the LRC and assists patrons in obtaining materials through interlibrary loan, when appropriate.

• may refer LRC users to other agencies and libraries in pursuit of needed information.

• may use not only the LRC’s resources in printed form but consult appropriate digital resources as well as the regional resource library and other agencies by telephone in pursuit of "ready reference" information.

Image Reproduction and Copyright Policy

The LRC provides image reproduction facilities using the Fair Use Policy which is according to the UAE Federal Law (protection of intellectual works and copyright).

What is Fair Use:

The user can only copy:

• A chapter from a book

• An article from a periodical or newspaper

• A short story, essay, or poem

• A chart, graph, diagram, cartoon or picture from a book, periodical, or newspaper.

• The following is strictly prohibited in the LRC:

• Making multiple copies of different works that could substitute for the purchase of books, publisher’s reprints, or periodicals.

• Copying the same works from semester to semester

• Copying the same material for several different courses

• Copying more than nine separate times in a single semester.

The same copyright protections exist for the author of a work regardless of whether the work is in a database, CD- ROM, bulletin board, or on the internet. If a copy is from an electronic source, such as the internet for personal use, it is under fair use. However, if a copy is put in a personal WWW site, it is not considered fair use.

Rashid Medical Library:

• Students can use the Rashid Medical Library during their training which is fully electronic and according to the international practice. The library supports the needs of the students and faculty members as appropriate to its mission.

The Rashid library is well equipped and serves the whole community of DH. Being a major facility, all their resources are clearly articulated on its website. site. http://web.dohms.gov.ae/medlib/ 

Responsibilities for Application

• Vice Chancellor - Academic Affairs

• Head Academic Support Department

• College Deans

• Associate Deans of Academic Affairs

• Curriculum Committees

•  DMU LRC Committee

• Learning Resource Centre