Library Facilities 

The Founders Library comprises three levels of the West Wing of the Founders Library Building. The upper level is a 24/7 study area. The second level houses 7 group study room, 1 academic room, 3 computer labs with printing facilities, journal stacks as well as tables and cubicles for student use. The Library seats 300 students.

The information desk, online public access computers with printers and scanner, book collections (General, Reserve, Recreational, Theses and Recreational) are located on level one. There is an automated Library System. Access to the Library’s subscribed online resources and catalog is via the Library’s webpage on the University’s portal, Carenage, on and off-campus.

Library Services

The Library service opening hours are 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. during the Fall and Spring semesters and 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. during the Summer semester. Assistance with the Library’s physical and electronic collections; research and reference; reprographic (photocopying and scanning) services; interlibrary loans; ‘just-in-time’ document delivery; as well as printing and faxing services are provided.

Library resources

Founders Library provides research and reference services for SGU faculty, staff, and students during their time on the True Blue Campus in Grenada.

The Library acquires and provides access to a substantial quantity of print and online information relevant the teaching and research needs of the St. George’s University community. Relevant subscription and open access information resources are posted on the Library’s website and include  major medical and veterinary databases, such as Medline with full-text, Agricola, Veterinary Science and Animal Production. Other subscribed resources include Business Source Complete, PsycINFO, PsycArticles, Environment Complete, Research4Life, CINAHL, ERIC, Caribbean Search, Caribbean Ebooks, and many more.

These databases are fully indexed and Library users can link to abstracts or, full-text journal articles, videos and images relevant to their subject areas. There are both print and online access to journal titles. EBSCO Discovery Service is used to search across the Library’s subscribed resources as well as EBSCO’s entire platform of databases (primarily abstracts)

The Library stocks several copies of each course textbooks required for courses in the Library’s general and reserve collections which provide 1 or 3-week loans or short-term (4-hr) loans, respectively. Effort is made to provide the latest editions of textbooks.

Library Faculty and Staff

The information professionals at the Library consist of the Director (PhD and Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS)) and two faculty Librarians with MLIS degrees from fully accredited Library schools, each professional with over two decades of  Library experience. In addition, there are 13 experienced paraprofessional support staff and several student assistants (2 FTE).

Library Orientation

The Library provides face-to-face orientation sessions during orientation week. All students entering SGU are required to attend academic orientation sessions at the beginning of their first semester. These sessions are designed to promote success while at SGU. The Library hosts a booth at the Student Organization Fair and the SGA School of Arts and Sciences Day. The Director presents at the New Faculty Orientation Sessions and a narrated video of the Library is available.

Information Literacy Sessions and Academic Support

Library instruction is facilitated for students with hands-on introduction to information databases and accessing e-journals and e-books, on request. Students are also encouraged to come to the Library and ask for assistance in using Library resources to complete in-class research assignments throughout their tenure at SGU.

Additionally, faculty reinforce the use of library resources to complete assignments across the curriculum and are encouraged to request special library training sessions for their courses. Within the research components embedded in the various courses across the curriculum, faculty emphasize, encourage and assess use of information resources by students.

Archives and Records Management Unit

The Archives and Records Management Unit (ARM) is located on level one of Founders Library.  The Unit acquires, preserves and makes accessible materials that documents the history of the St. George’s University and its communities. Some of the materials in the collection include the University Senate records from 1978, minutes of board meetings, various school catalogues and other University publications. The Unit is staffed  by the Campus Records Manager (Master of Information Studies and Post-Graduate Diploma in Archives Management) and four (4) experienced paraprofessionals.

Dr Shamin Renwick
Director, Library Services

March 2020