The existing Ardhi University Library is a result of Institutional Transformation, Programme which has taken place over the years. Prior to its current university status, the library used to serve the information needs of the Survey Training Centre for training specialized land surveying techniques. In 1971 it served the Ardhi Institute, offering professional diploma level training. On October 24, 1974 Ardhi Institute was made a Parastatal Organization under the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development. In July 1996, it became a constituent college of the University of Dar Es Salaam, named University College of Lands and Architectural Studies (UCLAS) until March 2007 when the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H. E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete declared UCLAS an independent University, thus Ardhi University was born.
Therefore, the Library as integral part of the University owes its history from the growth and development of its parent institution now offering library information needs of undergraduate, and postgraduate students, lecturers, researchers, and practicing professionals within the framework of the existing university clusters/units such as: School of Architecture, Construction, Economics and Management (SACEM), School of Earth Sciences, Real Estates Business and Informatics (SERBI), School of Environmental Science and Technology (SEST), and School of Spatial Planning and Social Sciences (SSPSS) and for information needs of researchers in the aspects of human settlements, which are carried out and coordinated by the Institute of Human Settlement Studies (IHSS) and programmes of continuing education coordinated by Centre for Continuing Education (CCE).
The University Library is located in the four storey building facing the main entrance of the university nearby the administration block. It is organized into six departments namely: Library Coordinators in Institute, Schools, Units and Centres (Resource Centres Coordination), Acquisition and Cataloguing, Customer Services, Reference and Periodical Services, Preservation and Archiving Services, and IT and Training Services. The Ardhi University Library’s unique collections and resources are by and large made of print and none print materials like books, journals, newspapers, magazines; and computers, scanners, printers, a CD – Writer and other ICT equipment respectively.
Kiswahili
