LINUS July 1995
Lim-Yeo Pin Pin, LINUS Editor
Due to the richness of the Library's collection, many have sought to use the collection for research needed by their organisation or for their own personal needs. This is especially so in the Law Library which is frequently used by lawyers including those involved in legal research, and the Medical Library where doctors and those involved in medical research will have a special need for its collection. Hence, external membership is given to them.
Before 1969, the Library provided library services without charge to all persons, University graduates as well as others who sought to use its resources and facilities. However, due to the high cost of developing and maintaining the collection, the Library revised the rules regarding library privileges to non-University users. Two categories of non-University borrowing members were instituted in 1969, deposit-paying and non-deposit paying. All registered members were entitled to borrow books for home use.
Corporate membership was started in July 1984 to foster closer links between the University and industry especially those organisations with staff working on research and development. At the same time, the Library switched from manual to computerised recording of membership statistics.
In February 1994, alumni membership to the Library was offered, where graduates of NUS and its predecessor institutions could join the Library at half the normal subscription. The structure of membership fees was also revised to annual subscriptions without deposit.
In May 1995, a new category of corporate membership was introduced, where only one card is issued and can be used any member of the organisation. Presently, external members form nearly a quarter of the Library's total members.
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LINUS July 1995, NUS Libraries