The Library's mission is to serve the learning and information needs of the academic community (undergraduate and graduate students, academic staff, researchers and administrative staff), while maintaining within its scope the provision of information services to the broader scientific community of the country.

The Library has more than 267.289 books, with an annual increase of approximately 12.000 new titles. Important collections among the Library holdings include the Cyprus Studies Collection, Archaeological Collection and Turkish Studies Collection. The majority of books are already catalogued and can be retrieved from the Library Catalogue (ADVANCE/GEAC) from all connected computers within the University network, as well as from anywhere through the the Library web-based online public access catalogue (WebOpac).

In the last years the University of Cyprus Library has become practically fully electronic (function-wise) and hybrid (content-wise), since its collections include printed, digital and audiovisual material. Furthermore, the Library is capable of producing material in Braille format for visually impaired users. As of October 2000, the following subsystems and electronic information services are available through the digital-virtual library:

• Online Public Access Catalogue (WebOpac).
• Subsystem of 30.000 full-text e-journals.
• Subsystem of 230 databases.
• Subsystem of more than 50.000 e-book titles.
• Subsystem of 100 virtual collections containing 200.000 e-books, dissertations etc. on several websites.
• Subsystem of 400 useful links organized in structured indices.

All subsystems are accessible from any workstation (computer) that is connected to the University network through the University of Cyprus Library website (http://library.ucy.ac.cy/ENGLISH/index_en.htm). The website, which is updated on an almost daily basis, contains also information of descriptive nature, such as Library rules, services provided, Library hours, contact information, etc.
The Library has the following departments/branches:

• Main Library
• Periodicals Library
• Library Branches

• Archaeological Collection
• Turkish Studies Collection
• 167 Larnakos Avenue Branch

LIBRARY USERS

All members of the University of Cyprus (students, academic staff, researchers and administrative staff) are provided with a user identity card from their very first day at the University, so that they be able to use all Library facilities.

Reading rooms and the Library material are also available to external users who are not members of the University of Cyprus. External users wishing to borrow books and other Library material must subscribe as members on an annual basis, their subscription pending the Director's approval.

PROSPECTS

In the near future it is expected that the learning and information services provided by the Library through the World Wide Web will be integrated, and information literacy courses that will inform all categories of users about the Library's information subsystems will be organized systematically.