Find answers to the most common questions about using the Richard Ondeng' Library. If you don't find what you're looking for, please contact us directly.
General Library
The Richard Ondeng' Library is located on the Ground Floor and First Floor of the Ken Birch Academic Building, Main Campus, along Lumumba Drive, Roysambu, Nairobi. There is also a Valley Road Resource Centre serving students at the Valley Road Campus.
Main Campus: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Closed on Sundays and public holidays. During interterm, hours are 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Valley Road Resource Centre: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM only.
The library primarily serves registered PAC University students, faculty, and staff. External users and PAC alumni may also access the library by obtaining a library pass at the applicable fee. See the Library Membership page for details.
The library offers private study carrels, a theatre, an e-resources computer lab, group discussion bays, print and electronic collections, and Wi-Fi access.
You can reach the library by phone on 0730 955 228 (Ext. 114 or 116), by email at librarian@pacuniversity.ac.ke, or by visiting the library in person during opening hours. You can also use the Ask a Librarian form on our website.
Borrowing & Returns
Registered members may borrow a maximum of 10 books for a period of 2 weeks. Reference books, newspapers, journals, and reserve materials must be used within the library and cannot be borrowed.
Yes. You can renew your books online by logging into your library account at library.pacuniversity.ac.ke, or by visiting the library in person. Renewal may not be possible if the item has been reserved by another user.
Overdue fines apply: KSh 10 per day for general collection books, KSh 10 per hour for reserve materials, and KSh 500 per book not returned by end of term. Lost books incur the full replacement cost plus a KSh 500 processing fee.
Yes. You can place a hold on a book that is currently borrowed through the library catalogue (OPAC). You will be notified when the book becomes available for collection.
No. Borrowing on behalf of others is not permitted. Each registered user must borrow materials using their own library account and college ID.
Electronic Resources & Off-Campus Access
You can access all e-resources from anywhere using the EZProxy remote access system. Visit ezproxy.pacuniversity.ac.ke and log in with your PAC University credentials. Contact the library if you need help with setup.
Past examination papers are available through the Ghala Repository under the University Exams Bank community. Visit repo.pacuniversity.ac.ke and browse or search by subject. A user guide is also available at the library desk.
Use the EBSCO search platform at research.ebsco.com to search across thousands of academic journals and articles. You can also use Google Scholar, CORE, and other free platforms recommended by our librarians.
Membership
For PAC University students, membership is automatic upon first-year registration — no separate registration is required. Faculty and staff should visit the library with their staff ID. External users and alumni must apply for a library pass at the applicable fee by contacting the library.
External users (non-PAC community) pay KES 5,000 per year for reading space access, with an additional KES 1,500 per year for internet access. Alumni of PAC University pay KES 2,500 per year for reading space, plus KES 1,500 for internet access.
No. Alumni and external users are welcome to use the library's physical and electronic resources within the library, but they are not permitted to borrow materials and take them home.
Research & Academic Support
Absolutely. Librarians are available to help you formulate search strategies, identify relevant databases, locate sources, and organise your references. You can walk in during library hours, call, email, or use the Ask a Librarian form on the website.
Yes. The library runs Information Literacy sessions periodically throughout the academic year, typically at the start of semesters. Sessions cover how to search databases, evaluate sources, avoid plagiarism, and cite correctly. Contact the library to find out when the next session is scheduled.
Always cite every source you use, whether you quote directly or paraphrase. Use a recognised citation style (APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago) consistently. Tools like Zotero and Mendeley can help you manage references automatically. The library offers guidance on citation — ask a librarian for help.
The citation style depends on your department or faculty. Check your course or module handbook, or ask your lecturer.
