University Library Service
Makerere University Library Service is made up of the Main Library and seven branch libraries. Two of the branch libraries are located off the main campus and these are; Sir Albert Cook Library serving the Faculty of Medicine at Mulago Hill and one serving Makerere Institute of Agricultural Research at Kabanyolo. The five other branch libraries are located on the Main Campus serving the School of Education, the Institute of Adult and Con-tinuing Education, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, East African School of Library and Information Science, and Makerere Institute of Social Research. The Main Library building which is centrally located on the Main Campus at Makerere Hill was completed in 1959. It was extended twice in 1962 and 1972 to provide more study space and an environment conducive to study. It has a seating capacity of 1100 readers including 60 research carrels for postgraduate students, staff and others engaged in research. The branch libraries provide an additional 500 seats.

The stock of the whole library service is approximately 615,000 of which about 350,000 are accessioned books, monographs, and pamphlets while bound periodicals, government documents, publications from the international organisations, manuscripts and serials constitute the rest. Each year around 4000 books are added to the collection to support teaching, learning and research at the University. With the exception of the Sir Albert Cook Library, all the other libraries use Dewey Decimal Classification. Albert Cook Library collection is arranged in a classified sequence based on US National Library of Medicine Classification Scheme. The great majority of books are on open shelves and are available for borrowing. Periodicals, reference works, text books and special collections are under closed access system and can only be used within the library. 360 periodical titles are currently on the standing order list of subscriptions. The collections relating to Africa especially East Africa, International Organisations, archives, theses, and Uganda Newspapers are particularly strong and comprehensive. Makerere University Library Deposit Act 1958 empowers the main library to receive a copy of every publication published in Uganda. The “Uganda National Bibliography” is produced on a regular basis.

All students and staff have access to the library computing facilities which range from CD-ROM Work Stations to E-Mail and Internet Service. Photocopying and Bindery Services are also available for students and other library users. New students are required to attend introductory tours of the libraries at the beginning of the academic year. Seminars intended for specific groups in the University are conducted every semester in the year and the library produces a wide range of printed materials which provide detailed information about the library resources and the services being offered. Members of the University Community are eligible to use the library while all other persons wishing to use the library must have their applications approved by the University Librarian. Staff on duty at the information desks are always ready to assist with any queries.

A library guide as well as library rules and regulations are separately published and are available from the University Librarian. Guides for each of the branch libraries are also available from their respective Librarians.

The Book Bank Scheme
Makerere University established a Book Bank Scheme in 1990 under which students would be provided the basic course text books and other essential books. This was in recognition of the fact that most students could hardly afford to purchase many of the recommended books or even have other means of accessing such books. The University has currently about 140,000 copies of books which are kept in Departmental Book Banks. They are loaned to students in accordance with the courses they are pursuing and the duration of each course.