FAQ’s

The UKZN Library is functioning remotely during this period and business communication will continue as normal.

Librarians remain available to provide virtual support for teaching, learning and research.,

The following services are available:

 

All UKZN Libraries are closed for the lockdown. You will not be able to return any books during the lockdown period.

Library material with due date 01 March and later were renewed until the end of the lockdown period.

All library fines accumulated during the lockdown period will be waived. This will not include bills for long overdue items and bills for lost/damaged books.

That won’t be possible during the lockdown as all campuses are off-limits. Please try and access eBooks that may cover your subject/topic. Some prescribed books are available in the eBook format.

Yes, the Interlibrary loan service is still in operation. All library users can place Interlibrary Loan requests online using the ILL button via iCatalogue or through your online Interlibrary loan account using your Library account login credentials

Should you not find an item on iCatalogue. The request can be sent directly to you relevant Subject Librarian. Please provide full bibliographic details with your email request. (Step-by-step help guide)

Please contact your campus library via email or telephone for all your enquiries .

Yes, Online training on library resources is being offered through Zoom or Skype for Business. Contact your Subject librarian to arrange a training session.

 

You may contact your Subject Librarian via email. Subject librarians contact details 

Go to the library home page, scroll down to “Online resources”. Click on “Database A-Z”. Click on a database to begin your search.

You will be prompted for your UKZN username and password the first time you click on a link on this page. You will not be prompted again for the rest of the session.

From the library home page, scroll down to “Online resources”. Click on “E-Books” or begin an item search using the eBook search box on the library homepage.

You will be prompted for your UKZN username and password when you click on an eBook link.

From the library homepage, scroll down to “Online resources”. Click on “Journals A-Z”. You can search by journal name, article title or browse by discipline.

You will be prompted for your UKZN username and password when you click on an Journal or article link.

You can reset you UKZN LAN login at https://federation.ukzn.ac.za/adfs/portal/updatepassword, alternately you can:

Please submit a request to ill@ukzn.ac.za OR contact your subject librarian.

During the lockdown UKZN staff and students should contact ICS to assist with downloading SPSS and NVivo:

Who can I contact for assistance with using EndNote

You may contact your Subject Librarian to assist you with EndNote. Subject librarians contact details 

VPN Client (Global Protect Client) is an application that allow users to connect to the UKZN network from their private/home network using their normal UKZN LAN log-in details.

An installation link to download this software is https://vpn2.ukzn.ac.za. Please see the details on the Global Protect Installation Guide. 

All registered students and staff who make use of Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom networks that access key website/specific URLs that are hosted within UKZN’s network will be zero-rated. 

Users are encouraged to use the VPN Global Protect Client when connecting to UKZN resources and zero-rated URL’s.

The first 500MB of any traffic type per day per subscriber will be zero rated. Thereafter, data consumed will be deducted from the remaining data balance on your SIM card.  No Video intensive applications are allowed, and usage is restricted to 500 MB per subscriber per day. For the purposes of interacting with educational material that is hosted on these servers, this should be sufficient.

This initiative means that subscribers will not be charged when they visit these specific UKZN sites. 

All registered students and staff who make use of Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom networks that access key website/specific URLs that are hosted within UKZN’s network will be zero rated.  The terms and conditions from the service providers are very clear in the type of content that can be served from these zero-rated websites.

The following are zero-rated resources.

URL

The library has to abide with the Copyright Act of South Africa and therefore may digitise prescribed chapters in books in certain cases through the blanket license obtained by the University. This is for the period during the COVID-19 pandemic. Academics are required to inform the UKZN Copyright Office of all material digitised and distributed.

General Library FAQ’s

Your student card, staff card, or visitor card serves as your library card. You can use this card to borrow materials from the Libraries.

To borrow a book, just take it to the Issue Desk together with your card and the staff will issue the material to you. 

Please see Table below on number of items and days a material can be borrowed.

Borrowing Quotas and Loan Periods

USER CATEGORY

BOOKS

JOURNALS

 

No of Items

Loan Period / days

No of Items

Loan Period / days

Permanent Staff

30

90

5

3

Staff >1 year appointment

30

90

5

3

Staff <1 year appointment

15

42

5

3

Student Undergraduate

6

14

5

3

Student Honours

15

21

5

3

Student Masters/PhD

20

42

5

3

Visitors

6

14

5

3

Subscribers

6

14

5

3

Academic Visitors

15

21

5

3

Your online library account will allow you do view your library record. You will be able to see all your checkouts, holds and charges that are against your library record.

The checkouts tab will list of all the library books issued on your account with their due dates.

The holds tab will indicate the status of all items that you have requested

The charges tab will list all the charges you have against your library record

Watch: Online library account video 

For help accessing your online library account email: library@ukzn.ac.za.

Go to: https://ukzn.on.worldcat.org/myaccount to access your online library account. Sign in using your student/staff number and own created password.

Watch: Online library account video (add library account video)

For help accessing your online library account email: library@ukzn.ac.za.

Go to: https://ukzn.on.worldcat.org/myaccount

Click on the link “set/reset password”

In the user name field, Enter in your student or staff number click on “request new password”

A confirmation message will display, an email will be sent to the email address on your library account.

This email will have a link to create a new password. This link will expire within 24 hours of being sent. Should you require a new link, repeat the process to create a new password.

Click on the link received to create a password

In the user name field, Enter in your student or staff number

Enter in a password of your choice. Create a password that conforms with the password guidelines

Click change password

Watch: Online library account video (add library account video)

For help accessing your online library account email: library@ukzn.ac.za.

Go to: https://ukzn.on.worldcat.org/myaccount

Click on the link “set/reset password”

In the user name field, Enter in your student or staff number click on “request new password”

A confirmation message will display, an email will be sent to the email address on your library account

This email will have a link to create a new password. This link will expire within 24 hours of being sent. Should you require a new link, repeat the process to create a new password.

Click on the link received to create a password

In the user name field, Enter in your student or staff number

Enter in a password of your choice. Create a password that conforms with the password guidelines

Click change password

Watch: Online library account video (add library account video)

For help accessing your online library account email: library@ukzn.ac.za.

You can renew items either personally at the library Issue Desk, telephonically or electronically via your online library account. 

For help accessing your online library account email: library@ukzn.ac.za.

Go to: https://ukzn.on.worldcat.org/myaccount to access your online library account. Sign in to ‘My Library Account’; using your student/staff number and own created password.

The checkouts tab will list of all the library books issued on your account with their due dates. To renew your books click on the renew button next to each title. For successful renewals a new due date will display.

Watch: How to renew my library books online (add renewals video)

For help accessing your online library account email: library@ukzn.ac.za.

Books may be renewed three (3) times including the initial due date. But there are no renewals for videos, CDs, DVDs, Theses and Journals. Books reserved (placed on hold) by another user may not be renewed. The Library reserves the right to shorten the normal loan period and to recall library material before due date if the material is reserved or urgently required by other users.

Please contact your faculty administration to check the status of your registration.

Library Items can only be renewed once you update your registration for the current academic year. 

In order to stop fines, you should return your items and re-borrow them once you have registered for current academic year.

Go to: https://ukzn.on.worldcat.org/myaccount to access your online library account. Sign in using your student/staff number and own created password. Click on the “charges tab” to view all the charges you have against your library record.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal Library does not accept cash payments for Library fines, Lost items, Membership fees etc. Payment can be made at the University Cashiers, by EFT or Bank deposit.

Please ensure that you know the exact amount before making payment. NO refunds will be done at the Library.

  1. Payments can be made at any of the University Campus cashiers. University Cashiers do not accept cash deposits greater than R500,00 (Five Hundred Rand).
  2. Electronic payments and deposits can be made to the following bank account:
  • Bank:                                 Standard Bank
  • Branch Code:                   045 426
  • Account Number:           053 080 998

Cheques should be made payable to the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Reference numbers should be used for payment. They must reflect on your receipt/proof of payment:

  • Reference for library Fines: 2064 – 11857
  • Reference for ILL fines: 5251 – 30352
  • Reference for lost books and Admin Fee: 2076 – 30354
  • Reference for Subscription and Membership fees: 2064 – 60302
  • Reference for library cards: F1011 – 1817

Please present proof of payment either at the relevant library issue desk or fax or e-mail proof of payment to the relevant campus library. The fine will be cleared from your record on presentation of proof of payment at the Library during office hours Monday – Friday 08h00 – 16h30.

Contact your relevant Head of Circulation to lift your holds. Holds are lifted from your record once all library debt has been settled. You should provide proof of payment.

Contact your relevant Head of Circulation to report that the item has been lost.

Contact your relevant Head of Circulation to report this.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal Library Interlibrary Loans service requests information resources that are not available in our Libraries, in print or electronic format. The Interlibrary Loan service is available to registered students, researchers and staff.

You can place Interlibrary Loan requests online using the ILL button via iCatalogue or through your online Interlibrary loan account using your Library account login credentials.

Should you not find an item on iCatalogue. The request can be sent directly to ill@ukzn.ac.za. Please provide full bibliographic details with your email request.

Watch: How to place an Interlibrary loan request online.

Your online interlibrary loan account allows you to view all your Interlibrary loan requests in a single portal. You will be able to view the details and status of your requests, your items’ due dates as well as links to article PDF’s.

For help accessing your online Interlibrary account email: library@ukzn.ac.za.

Go to: https://71337.account.worldcat.org/profile/ to access your online Interlibrary loan account. Sign in using your online library account login credentials.

For help accessing your online Interlibrary account email: library@ukzn.ac.za.

You can log onto your online Interlibrary loan account to check the status of your request. The library will also communicate with you via email.

There is no charge to request information resources from University libraries and some Southern African libraries, however there is a charge for international requests.

You can pick up your Interlibrary loan books at your UKZN Library circulation desk.

Once available you can access your Interlibrary loan article request via your online Interlibrary loan account. You may save/download articles to your personal device. The link to these materials is limited to 30 days or up to 5 views.

Yes, You can place Interlibrary Loan requests online using the ILL button via iCatalogue or through your online Interlibrary loan account using your Library account login credentials.

 

Should you not find an item on iCatalogue. The request can be sent directly to ill@ukzn.ac.za. Please provide full bibliographic details with your email request.

LibGuides are online webpages created by Subject Librarians in the various subject areas. Subject LibGuides can be used as your one stop library subject resource. These guides are primary library resources, which are easy to use. LibGuides contain information, resources and links relevant to subjects, courses, or general topics.

iCatalogue is the UKZN Library online catalogue and resource discovery tool. iCatalogue is integrated suite of cloud-based management that allows for “A one stop shop” for all your library material.  It allows library users to conduct a single search and links users to a wealth of information from books, e-books, journal articles and much more, both within their own library as well as worldwide libraries.

A database is an online resource that contains articles and information from newspapers, journals, books and theses. These databases you to search through different journals, books and newspapers to find articles and information on a particular topic.

The UZKN library subscribes to eBook collections and purchases individual eBooks.

You may access eBooks using the following links:

You may use the following resources to get relevant electronic resources for your assignments:

You can use the iCatalogue to find journal articles or to search for a specific article that has been recommended to you.

ResearchSpace is an institutional repository of the University of KwaZulu-Natal that stores Theses and Dissertations, Research Articles, Chapters in books, Conference Proceedings and Sound Recordings.

For more information visit: http://libguides.ukzn.ac.za/c.php?g=771187&p=5531742

You can access completed theses and dissertations in the electronic format at https://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za/. On this platform, you have the following search options: search via author, title, date, and community.

You can access other thesis collections at: https://library.ukzn.ac.za/databases-for-theses/ .

 

Open Journals @ UKZN is branded at UKZN to represent and store open access publishing – scholarly works. Open access is a publishing model for scholarly communication that makes research information available to readers at no cost, as opposed to the traditional subscription model in which readers have access to scholarly information by paying a subscription. UKZN has a collection. A list of journals can be accessed at the following link: Open Journal @UKZN 

‘Referencing’ means acknowledging all the sources of information you have used to produce your own piece of work. These may be books, individual chapters in books, websites, articles, journals, newspapers and any useful resources for your assignment.

EndNote is the preferred method of referencing and Users can download the EndNote software through contacting the ICS helpdesk via email ITStudentHelp@ukzn.ac.za. You may consult the subject LibGuides, or contact your Subject Librarian for more assistance

You may contact your Subject Librarian to assist you with EndNote. Subject librarians contact details: https://library.ukzn.ac.za/contact-subject-librarians/.

Yes, you may contact any of the Subject Librarians if your Subject Librarian is unavailable to respond timeously. Generally, Subject Librarians are experts on subject areas and databases relevant to their subject areas and can help students navigate these resources effectively and efficiently.

Please get in touch with your Subject Librarian. If you are a differently abled library user who needs resources in an accessible format, we will do our best to continue to provide these wherever possible.

Library Services are available now to you, no matter where you are in the world. The Library has online access an extensive range of resources including e-books, articles, streaming audio and video, maps, and more. Explore the Libraries’ vast electronic collections through the Library webpage. You may contact your Subject Librarian for help to finding sources or accessing library materials and services.

Students must only use their UKZN e-mail addresses to create an account and each student must only have one Turnitin account. You need to contact the School Administrators for further details. A step by step guide is available through the following link: https://learn.ukzn.ac.za/pluginfile.php/594417/block_html/content/Turnitin%20student%20help%20file.pdf

Academics may order eBooks that are not prescribed.

Please contact your Subject Librarian to help you to create a list of book titles recently published in your subject area.

E-Books can be ordered, and these are presently the preferred format for the Library. This also depends on availability.

The UKZN library has the following self-help videos available: