Tom Mboya University
Libraries – Tom Mboya University

Library

Library

Life at Tom Mboya University is enriching, exciting, and energizing.

Charles Obat, HOD Library Department
Charles Obat, Head of Library Department

Message from the Head of Department

Welcome to Tom Mboya University Library, established in 2016 when the institution was founded. What began as a modest collection of books has grown into a vibrant academic resource center with over thirteen thousand processed volumes actively utilized by our community.

Our comprehensive collection spans diverse disciplines including Linguistics, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Business, Humanities, and more. Through our subscription to the Kenya Libraries and Information Services Consortium (KLISC), we provide access to an extensive range of electronic resources to support your academic journey.

The library takes pride in its team of qualified and dedicated professionals committed to delivering exceptional service to both students and faculty members. We continuously enhance our offerings to meet the evolving needs of our academic community.

The Library Department warmly welcomes you to Tom Mboya University.

Vision & Mission

Guiding Principles of Our Library Services

Our Vision

To be the premier academic hub for information provision, knowledge dissemination, and cultural preservation.

Our Mission

To deliver exceptional information services that empower teaching, learning, and research excellence.

Core Aspects

Essential Components of Our Library Services

Library Staff

  • In Charge Library Section: Charles Obat
  • Email: cobat@tmu.ac.ke
  • Head – User Services
  • Head – Library ICT Section
  • Head – Technical Services Section

Opening Hours

Our library is open to serve you during the following hours:

  • Monday – Thursday: 8:00 a.m – 8:00 p.m
  • Friday: 8:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m
  • Saturday: 9:00 a.m – 4:00 p.m
  • Sunday & Holidays: Closed

* Extended hours during examination periods

TOM MBOYA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY LENDING POLICY

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Category of users Short Loan Long Loan
No. of items Duration No. of items Duration
1 Teaching staff 1 7 days 5 30 Days
2 Non-Teaching staff 1 1 day 2 14 days
3 Undergraduates/diploma/certificate 1 1 day 4 14 days
4 Postgraduate 1 7 days 5 30 days
5 ODEL students 1 7 days 5 30 days
6 Management & Council members 1 7 days 5 30 days

RULES ON THE USE OF THE DIGITAL LIBRARY

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CLEARANCE

  1. All users are required to clear from the library before leaving the University.
  2. All borrowed books should be returned before the user is finally cleared

LIABILITY

Users are required to ensure that valuable items (such as money, laptops, phones etc) are not left at the baggage area. The library will not be held responsible for loss of any property left unattended in the library by users.

RULES ON THE USE OF THE DIGITAL LIBRARY

  1. The following will constitute unacceptable use of computers and the internet.
  2. Booking or reserving PC machines shall not be allowed
  3. Users are not allowed to transmit or receive any material that infringes copyright, contains obscene material, pornographic material or protected material.

LIBRARY SECTIONS

  1. Technical Processing Section - where all documents are acquired and processed
  2. Circulation Section - For issuing and returning documents.
  3. Periodical Section - Journals, magazines, newspapers
  4. Reference Section - Reference materials including encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, etc.
  5. Stack Section - Main book collection
  6. Study Room Section - Quiet study spaces
  7. IT Section - Computer workstations and e-resources
  8. Back Volume Sections - Archives of periodicals
  9. Special Collection Section - Unique collections
  10. Braille sections - Resources for visually impaired users

LIBRARY SERVICES

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Lending Regulations and Penalties

  • Only registered students and staff are entitled to borrow materials
  • Valid Student/Staff ID must be presented for borrowing
  • Lost or damaged materials must be replaced at market cost plus KSh. 500 processing fee
  • Overdue regular loans: KSh. 5 per day
  • Overdue short loans: Ksh. 2 per hour

Fines and Penalties for Library Offences

No. Offence Fine/Penalty
1 Delays with long loan library book(s) KSh. 5 per day; borrowing privileges suspended
2 Delays with short loan library book(s) KSh. 2 per hour; borrowing privileges suspended
3 Theft or attempted theft of library items Twice replacement cost + KSh.500 fee + possible suspension
4 Defacing or damaging library materials Replacement cost + KSh.500 fee + possible suspension
5 Using library card under false pretenses Suspension up to one semester

INFORMATION LITERACY

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Tom Mboya University College conducts training sessions in Information Literacy Skills for its users. These sessions cover:

  • Critical engagement with digital information
  • Effective information discovery and evaluation
  • Ethical use of information
  • Professional communication in academic work
  • Assessing credibility and authority of sources

Regular workshops are scheduled throughout the academic year.

RESEARCH TOOLS

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Essential tools for conducting academic research:

REF-N-WRITE Academic Writing Tool

A Microsoft Word add-in that helps with academic writing by providing phrase suggestions and templates.

Statistical Analysis Tools

Reference Management

Plagiarism Checkers

SUBSCRIBED ERESOURCES FOR 2024

Access to Information

Bridging knowledge seekers with academic resources

Students accessing library resources

Students accessing physical and digital resources at the TMU Library

What We Offer

The library provides access to a comprehensive collection of academic resources including books, journals, theses, e-resources, and newspapers. We maintain up-to-date, well-organized collections in both physical and digital formats to support the entire academic community.

  • Extensive print and digital collections
  • Current periodicals and newspapers
  • Specialized academic databases
  • Open-access institutional repository

Support for Learning & Research

Empowering academic success through expert guidance

Academic & Research Assistance

Our dedicated library staff provides comprehensive support for all research needs. From initial literature searches to final citations, we offer personalized assistance to help students and researchers achieve their academic goals.

Research consultations
Citation management
Research assistance in library

Research support through one-on-one sessions and resource discovery tools

Information Literacy Training

Developing essential research skills for academic success

Library training session

Skill Building Sessions

Our information literacy program equips students with critical research skills through workshops and orientations. Participants learn to effectively search, evaluate, and ethically use academic information.

Workshop Topics Include:

  • Advanced database searching
  • Evaluating information sources
  • Academic citation styles
  • Plagiarism prevention

Schedule:

Monthly sessions scheduled throughout the academic year. Custom workshops available for classes and research groups.

View workshop calendar →

Preservation and Archiving

Safeguarding knowledge for future generations

Maintaining Academic Records

Our preservation initiatives ensure long-term access to valuable academic works. We archive institutional publications, theses, and rare materials in both traditional and digital formats.

Thesis and dissertation archive
Digitization of rare materials
Archiving and digitization

Staff scanning and cataloging rare documents in the digitization section

Reading Culture & Community Engagement

Fostering a vibrant literary community

Library community engagement

Engaging Beyond Books

We cultivate a dynamic reading culture through diverse programs that connect the university community with literature and ideas.

Literary Events

  • Author talks and book signings
  • Student poetry slams
  • Reading challenges

Community Programs

  • Book discussion groups
  • Annual book fair
  • Children's story hours
View upcoming events →

Library Catalog Search

Contact the Library Department

Email: library@tmu.ac.ke

Location: Tom Mboya University Main Campus

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