The library book catalogue is computerized with the Koha integrated library system, thereby giving the user more entry points into the collection than are available with a card filing system. Included in the library, in addition to books and journals, are audio and videotapes, Bible maps and other visual aids. Other resources include equipment designed to assist the visually impaired student. The library accepts outside members from the Christian community for an annual fee. Pastors and other church leaders are especially invited to become members of the library.  You can visit our online catalogue going to tcz.co.zw:8383. 

  LIBRARY HOLDINGS

The Theological College of Zimbabwe library holdings comprise books, pamphlets, journals, tapes and CDs. As of December 2008, the library had 14, 292 volumes of books, 161 number of pamphlets, 321 cassette tapes, 41 CDs, and subscribing to 30 different journal titles. Suffice to say that on top of the 30 subscription journals, the library also receives 5 journals on exchange basis, and 14 magazines as donations.

Breadth of holdings with reference to academic levels

The library exists to support the teaching, learning and research activities of the college. Therefore, the library’s holdings are so designed to reflect the academic goals of the college, namely: to ground students in the Biblical, doctrinal and historical content of the Christian faith; to promote scholarship and to develop critical discernment. Consequently, most books in the library are necessary for regular use in the present curriculum. To this end, library staffs regularly find-out from the teaching staff whether library holdings do satisfy information needs recommended for the academic programs on offer. Namely, Advanced Diploma; Bachelor of Arts; and Bachelor of Arts Honors. Furthermore, books in the library also reflect planned future developments of the curriculum.

         Breadth of holdings with reference to theological orientation

The Theological College of Zimbabwe is an Evangelical and inter-denominational school. Therefore, the library’s holdings reflect a strong bias towards the Evangelical orientation. In this regard, renowned evangelical scholars’ works such as John Stott, L. Berkhof, Kwame Bediako, B. Kato, Millard J. Erickson, and many more feature a lot in the library holdings. However, because the college seeks to promote scholarship and critical thinking among students, we have collections from non-evangelical persuasions, for example Catholicism, and Liberal theologians such as John Hick. Through this collection we encounter the challenges to evangelicalism, and it is helpful to for students to examine and defend their faith intelligently. Furthermore, as an inter-denominational school, the library collection also consists of books from different denominations. For example, the library has books on the Baptist Church, Brethren in Christ Church, Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church and many more. 

Library holdings: quantity versus quality

The basic consideration by which college librarians include materials in the collection is mainly by quality in terms of content and format. For example, the content matter of books is established by examining the author, editor, or publisher of the book. Thus, the reputation and theological persuasions of those responsible for a book is scrutinized before an item can be accepted in the collection. The content matter of books is also evaluated in terms of the item’s relevance and usefulness to the curriculum. With regards the format of materials as a measure of quality, the library generally prefers hard bound books as opposed to soft cover material. The reason being that, hard bound books tend to be more durable compared to soft covered books.   Therefore, the number of books that the library withdraws every year is a clear testimony that, the library does not compromise quantity at the expense of quality. Thus, the library holdings would rather be small, but of good quality.

Year	2005	2006	2007
Accessioned books at the end of the year	14,265	14,333	14,665
Books added during the year	302	579	208
Books withdrawn	234	245	791

As reflected in the diagram and the chart above, the library has experienced a steady increase in volumes added since 2005 to 2007. The on going exercise of in-putting all library books into the computerized catalogue has resulted in a number of books being withdrawn. For example, books which are torn beyond repair, or have not been accounted for a long period, or are simply irrelevant are being withdrawn during this process.

Below is a table which represents the Theological College of Zimbabwe library holdings as of December 2007:

500s                          Natural Sciences and Mathematics

600s                          Technology (applied Sciences)

700s                          The Arts & Recreation

800s                          Literature & Rhetoric

900s                          Geo., History & Biography

 

	Term Session	Vacation
Monday - Friday	8AM - 5PM	8AM - 1PM
Saturday	CLOSED	CLOSED
Sunday	CLOSED	CLOSED
Public Holidays	CLOSED	CLOSED

Faculty	20 books for 2 Weeks
Staff	20 books for 2 weeks
Students	10 books for 2 weeks
External Members/  Students	2 books for 2 weeks
Alumni	4 books for 2 weeks
External members dual membership	4 Books for 2 weeks

NB:  Books can be renewed once if not requested/reserved by another reader.

Inter Library Loan Service

Books and materials not available in the TCZ library can obtained through inter-library loan service.  Users who wish to use another library may request for an introduction letter from the library secretary. (not yet active)

Audio Visual Centre

The library has many videos, microfilms, microfiches and audiotapes that can be accessed in the circulation desk.  They appear in the catalog.  Access to the center through the circulation desk.

Reservation/Recall Service

You can reserve a book that is loaned out at the circulation desk.  As soon as a reserved book is returned the person who reserved shall be notified after 2 days, if not collected such shall be shelved.

Photocopying Services

Available in the library mostly for materials that cannot leave the library.

Rules and Regulations

Persons allowed to use the library

• All registered students of TCZ and their spouses
• All members of the staff/faculty and their spouses
• All Alumni
• Visiting faculty and their spouses
• Registered external members

All users of the library are expected to abide by the rules and regulations of the library.

NB:  To be allowed to use the library is a privilege, and the librarian may suspend any person from the use of the library for breaking the regulations.

• Silence must be maintained at all times in the library.
• Food and drinks are not allowed into the library.
• Personal effects/bags should be left at the place provided before the main entrance.
• No part of a book, journal, or newspaper should be removed. 
• Overdue books must be returned to a library staff member and may not be simply left on the Circulation Desk.
• Those with overdue or lost items shall not be allowed to borrow materials.
• Overdue books cannot be renewed until the fine is paid.
• Never underline, highlight or make notes in a library book.
• Children are not allowed into the main library.
• Mobile phones should not be used in the library.

• Fines for circulating overdue books are R1 per day.
• Fines for short loan reserved books shall be charged accordingy.

• Do not remove any item from its usual shelf space to shelve it elsewhere. This denies other people access to it. Leave all items on the tables.
• Security staff shall check all books/bags/Folders as you leave the library.
• Library materials borrowed from other libraries will be subject to conditions of the lending library
• The library management staff has power to modify the regulations as it may seem advice able and inform the users in good time on the notice boards and via e-mail.

Please co-operate with library staff as you enter, use and leave the library

The reading room shall be used to enhance TCZ’s goals and objectives. Therefore:

It shall be used only to access CD databases and Online Databases

• CDs are loaded on the intranet but others are in the library office (see Audio Visual catalog on circulation desk for a list of the CDs).
• The reading room will NOT be used for WORDPROCESSING or e-mail access. Consequently, no diskettes are allowed in the lab.
• Follow instructions on saving your work on DRIVE P or sending it as an attachment to your e-mail address