The library is the intellectual heart of the university. The mission of Birzeit University Library is to provide access to information and research materials for all members of the University Community and the Palestinian people.
Guided introductions are provided at the beginning of each term, or by appointment. Tours cover the general use of the library and location of material. For more information on when tours are offered, or to schedule a tour, please contact the reference services staff.
The library also plays a leading role in information provision in Palestine and beyond. Users from other Palestinian universities, schools, other institutions may have limited access to the library to assist them in locating the information required for their researches and studies. Birzeit University Library welcomes all users, however, the collection and resources are primarily for the use of the Birzeit library community, and outside users may face restrictions on the level of services they may receive.
The library is open during normal University business days. Check for special operating hours during vacations.
Monday-Thursday: 8 am - 5 pm
Saturday: 8 am - 5 pm
Friday:8 am - 1 pm
Sunday: CLOSED
The BZU library was established in 1924. The new "Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim" building of the current library was constructed in 1985 through a generous contribution from Alghanim Industries in Kuwait.
The library consists of four floors:
Ground Floor (1st floor): contains the periodicals, microfilms and microfiche room, media room, and staff offices for the Collection Development, Acquisitions, and Periodicals department.
Main floor (2nd floor): contains the entrance to the library, Circulation desk, Reference division, reference collection, reading hall, computer laboratory, and the staff offices for the Cataloging department.
Third floor: contains the Library Director's office, meeting room, reading hall, special collections, seminar room, books in science and engineering, LC classification Q - Z.
Fourth floor: contains books in arts & humanities, LC Classification A - P, reading areas, study carrels, seminar room, training classroom, and staff areas.
The library has several policies in place in order to help maintain discipline and order in the library. Users found violating these policies will be subject to disciplinary action.
The Birzeit University Library has a large collection of books and materials in English, Arabic and some other languages. Approximately 60% of the materials in the library are in English.
Collection Specifics:
The Library has four departments to help provide users with a high level of service. If you need further assistance, or information about the library, please contact one of the Department Heads listed below, or contact the Library Administration.
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS MESSION STATEMENT
The Special Collections unit of the Birzeit University main library has as its mission to provide research access to unique collections. These collections include materials that, because of rarity, source, condition, or form, are best handled separately from the regular collection. Access to the materials is provided by the OPAC, and the label SPC precedes the call numbers. The collections comprise of materials in the five languages presently approved for materials housed in the BZU main library: Arabic, English, French, German, and Hebrew, and they are interfiled within the collections. A knowledgeable staff is available to assist the patrons. The Special Collections room is located on the second floor of the Library, through the door near the photocopier.
HOURS
The Special Collections unit is open from 8:00 a.m. -- 4:00 p.m. Monday -- Thursday and Saturday. (Hours in the summer and during Ramadan may vary.)
ELIGIBLE USERS & RESTRICTIONS ON USE
The collections are for research use by BZU faculty, staff, and students as well as visiting scholars. Users of the collections must adhere to general restrictions:
CONTACT INFORMATION
Suhaila Abu Ghdeib supervises the Special Collections unit and she can be reached by e-mail at sabugdeb@birzeit.edu or by telephone at 298-2006.
THE COLLECTIONS
Palestine Collection
This comprehensive collection is the largest of the collections. It includes, but is not limited to, published materials of the Palestinian National Authority, local research institutions and universities, communiqués from various Palestinian political groups and public records or historical documents that are related to Palestine. Heavily used items from this collection comprise the various statistical series published by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics and reports issued by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation on specific Palestinian industries, e.g., stone cutting. Copies of the Oslo Accords, Hebron Protocol, Wye River Memorandum and Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum are available here. Among the notable items in this collection are census reports published by the Government of Palestine during the Mandate period, and a vast majority of communiqués issued during the Intifada by the United National Command. The materials in this collection have the designation PAL after the call number.
Rare Books
The Rare Books collection consists of books that are scarce, uncommon or unique thus must be provided more attention and care. These include early imprints, volumes with exceptional bindings or illustrations, and landmark works. Over 20 volumes of the Author’s National edition, published between 1899 through 1918, from the series The writings of Mark Twain are placed here. The Rare Books collection contains many books of historical interest in Palestine, religion and travel. The oldest book in the collection is an 1804 publication of The Holy Bible. All rare books have the designation code RBK at the end of the call number.
BZU Archives
This collection houses selective material published by Birzeit University and bestowed to the library. Publications found here are copies of Birzeit University yearbooks, and communiqués from the Student Council and other student political groups. These materials have the code BZU attached to the call number.
Pamphlets
Pamphlets are defined as short printed publications unbound or with a paper binding. Their purpose is often to inform on a specific subject or address a controversial issue. This collection contains pamphlets that are not related to Palestine (pamphlets on Palestinian issues are found in the SPC Palestine collection). Topics addressed include economics, education, travel and tourism, art and literature, religion, technology, and medicine. The majority of the materials, however, deal with historical, political, and legal issues. A monthly newsletter published by Amnesty International is located here, as are several issues of VOICE: Intelligence Report. Each issue from this series concentrates on a particular region, i.e., Middle East. In addition, this collection contains the complete papers presented at two separate conferences: the 2nd Conference (1978) on the History of the Greater Syria, and a 1982 conference of Arabization. Several Unesco and United Nations publications are also housed here. The designation code for pamphlets is PAM.
Students must obtain a University identification card in their first semester. All students must validate their card each semester of enrollment. This card is necessary to borrow any reserve or circulating materials. The cards should not be lent to others. Faculty and staff may borrow materials after presenting a valid University ID card. The library staff reserves the right to refuse to circulate materials if the proper identification is not presented.
All circulating materials are checked out and returned at the circulation desk.
The loan period varies between two and four weeks depending on the type of material and the status of the borrower. Materials can be renewed if no one has requested them. Students are expected to return materials when due.
The fine for overdue circulating materials is ½ NIS per day for regular material and 1NIS for reserve material. Students with overdue books or unpaid fines may not be able to register for classes or receive grades. Lost materials should be reported and the borrower is responsible for the replacement cost of the item or fined another copy.
RESERVE SERVICE: Faculty often put materials on reserve shelf for specific class assignments. These items are shelved at the circulation desk and are checked out with a valid library card for use in the library. Reserve books or materials are of two kinds:
Non-University users may be allowed to check out certain materials with presentation of proper identification and a monetary deposit. However, the Library staff reserves the right to refuse to check out materials if they feel it is not in the best interest of the library to allow the materials to circulate.
Reference books are those materials always available for use in the library. They include encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, documents, indexes, and other specialized sources. All reference books are listed in the computer, and have call number begins with a location note REF. These books do not circulate. Questions concerning how to locate legal materials and how to develop useful research strategies should be directed to the librarians working at the reference desk.
The computer room is located on the main floor of the library, right next to the stairs. In addition, there is a MINISIS terminal located on each floor.
The Library has three photocopy machines: one on the ground floor, one on the main floor and one on the second floor. Photocopy cards may be purchased at the cloakroom at the entrance to the library.
Last updated : 14-03-2000