The University Library

About the University Library

The University Library supports teaching, learning and research across all programmes. Guided by the University’s open and digital learning model, the Library brings its services to users wherever they are. Through its digital-first approach, distance is never a barrier to quality information. Learners, faculty and researchers enjoy round-the-clock online access to e-books, e-journals, subscribed databases, the OUK Institutional Repository and research and information literacy support. A resourced physical collection is also available on Campus.

Vision

To be Kenya’s premier University information hub of choice among the top university libraries in the country, providing inclusive environments for accessing, sharing and producing knowledge.

Mission

To advance the OUK’s Vision through enabling access to extensive collections of information sources, supporting intuitive discovery of information for learning, teaching & research, embracing and nurturing digital literacies for lifelong learning, digitization, curation, and showcasing of primary research data and research outputs of the OUK, while providing integrated, inclusive, and inspiring library spaces for learning, teaching, and research.

Services

a. E-Resources: Reach thousands of full-text e-books, e-journals and research databases, including EBSCO and quality open-access collections. All of them are available online, on or off campus, to support your coursework and research.

b. Institutional Repository: Discover and preserve OUK’s own scholarship. The repository at erepository.ouk.ac.ke gives open access to OUK theses, dissertations, research outputs and other scholarly works, and is where OUK authors deposit their work.

c. Similarity Checking: Check the originality of your work with Turnitin before you submit it. The Library supports students and staff in using the tool and in reading similarity reports, so they can uphold academic integrity.

d. Research Support and Information Literacy: Build the skills to find, evaluate and use information well. The Library offers guidance and training on search strategies, choosing credible sources, referencing and citation and avoiding plagiarism.

E-Resources and Databases

The University Library gives you access to scholarly content through subscribed databases, OUK’s own publications and carefully selected open-access collections. All resources are available online 24/7 and can be accessed remotely through single sign-on.

Borrowing and Access (Off-Campus Access)

All OUK students and staff can access subscribed e-resources off campus, 24/7. Simply log in with your OUK email address and password. If a database asks you to sign in, choose the institutional login option (sometimes labelled “Access through your institution”) and select Open University of Kenya.