Library Collections

Collection Statistics With over 125,000 print and electronic items in its collection, the AUS Library is one of the biggest of it's kind in the United Arab Emirates. Focusing on scholarly topics taught at AUS, the AUS Library offers a comprehensive collection to satisfy the needs of AUS students, and faculty. The collection can be broken down as follows: 95 000 items including books, CDs DVDs etc. 30 000 electronic books 485 journals in print 45 online databases and indexes accessible locally and remotely. Collection statistics are updated annually.

Physical Collections

The General Collection, approximately 90,000 circulating books, is housed on the top floor of the library. The print journal collection of approximately 485 print titles is also located here.  

The Reference collection is located on the first or middle floor and it contains 4,000+ encyclopedias, dictionaries and handbooks. Three additional library collections are also located on the first floor:  Special Collections, Arabic Collection and Media (music, DVDs and video). 

Virtual Collections

In addition to print materials, the library subscribes to nearly 30,000 e-books and provides access to thousands of online journals and 45 research databases through the library’s website. Off campus access is available via university login and password.

Collection Details

The AUS Library collection can be divided into the various sections detailed below:

General Collection

Located on the 2nd floor of the library, the General Collection holds the majority of titles in the library. Books located in the General Collection can be checked out at either of the following service points: 2nd Floor Self-Check, Ground Floor Self-Check or Circulation Desk.

Reference Collection

Located on the 1st floor of the library, the Reference Collection holds materials such as dictionaries, encyclopaedias, and handbooks. In most circumstances, materials located in the Reference Collection may not be checked out. Please ask a reference librarian for short-term loan possibilities.

Electronic Book (e-Book) Collection

The AUS Library provides a significant number of books in electronic format via our subscriptions with ebrary and Safari BooksOnline. Electronic books can be accessed by searching our library catalog and then clicking on the link to the specific book. Users are provided with direct access to material when on campus and are prompted for authentication when located off campus. A number of free e-Books are also available on the Internet.

Media Collection

Located on the 1st floor of the library, the Media Collection holds materials such as DVD's, VHS tapes, Music CD's and Audiotapes. Material located in the Media Collection can be checked out at either of the following service points: 2nd Floor Self-Check, Ground Floor Self-Check or Circulation Desk.

Periodical Collection

Located on the 2nd floor of the library, the Periodical Collection holds the print copies of the library's periodical subscriptions. Divided in two parts, Currents Issues and Periodical Backfiles, periodicals may be checked out by Faculty only for 3 days and are non-renewable.

Arabic Collection

Located on the 1st floor of the library, the Arabic Collection contains Arabic language material to support Arabic Studies courses. The collection holds a mixture of Reference and circulating material. The collection can be searched in Arabic at any library OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) station or any Arabic enabled computer.

Special Collections

The Special Collections Room has been established to store items whose value or content requires special handling.  Policies related to Special Collections can be found in the document, Policies for Selection, Storage and Circulation of Special Collections Materials, available from the University Librarian. 

Special Collections is open to all AUS students and faculty, other staff may use the collection with approval of the University Librarian. Students using the Special Collections Room must sign in and agree to the policies governing access prior to using the collections.  Special Collections is available at all times when the library is open. 

Archives

AUS Archives is a non-circulating repository for the institutional records of the university. These records represent the history, function, organization and structure of AUS. Archives’ responsibility lies in collecting, maintaining, classifying, and preserving these records, and also making them available to researchers as necessary. Archival material consists of documents, photographs, videos, posters, CDs and blueprints.  A recent addition to the Archives has been Masters Theses submitted to the various schools of AUS.

For more information, please see the AUS Archives page.