Makerere dons face salary cut over books
Jun 26, 2008
Makerere University lecturers who fail to return library books may have their salaries cut.
By Francis Kagolo
Makerere University lecturers who fail to return library books may have their salaries cut.
The chief librarian, Dr. Maria Musoke, in a June 10 letter to faculty deans and heads of department, said some lecturers had borrowed books from the main library and book banks last year but were yet to return them.
“During the 2007 stocktaking, staff observed that a large number of books were missing. We also noted that some teaching staff had turned university books into personal property,†the letter read.
“They must return the books by July 31 or else the library will cost the books and request the university bursar to deduct the money from their salaries.â€
Without stating the number of unreturned books and the names of culprits, Musoke described the vice as “a selfish act that retards the university’s research efforts by denying other lecturers and students a chance to use the booksâ€.
Musoke explained that library rules require defaulters to pay the cost incurred by the university in replacing the books and an additional administrative cost of sh10,000 each.
“A defaulter who fails to comply with the above rules shall in addition to the penalties, face the university disciplinary action,†the letter added.
A senior library official told The New Vision that the faculties of science, technology and veterinary medicine were the most affected.
“Science books are very expensive but you will always find people selling them cheaply on Kampala streets and you wonder where they get them from.â€
The Makerere university library serves as a national reference library and it is a legal depository of all works published in Uganda, including government publications.
Makerere University lecturers who fail to return library books may have their salaries cut.
The chief librarian, Dr. Maria Musoke, in a June 10 letter to faculty deans and heads of department, said some lecturers had borrowed books from the main library and book banks last year but were yet to return them.
“During the 2007 stocktaking, staff observed that a large number of books were missing. We also noted that some teaching staff had turned university books into personal property,†the letter read.
“They must return the books by July 31 or else the library will cost the books and request the university bursar to deduct the money from their salaries.â€
Without stating the number of unreturned books and the names of culprits, Musoke described the vice as “a selfish act that retards the university’s research efforts by denying other lecturers and students a chance to use the booksâ€.
Musoke explained that library rules require defaulters to pay the cost incurred by the university in replacing the books and an additional administrative cost of sh10,000 each.
“A defaulter who fails to comply with the above rules shall in addition to the penalties, face the university disciplinary action,†the letter added.
A senior library official told The New Vision that the faculties of science, technology and veterinary medicine were the most affected.
“Science books are very expensive but you will always find people selling them cheaply on Kampala streets and you wonder where they get them from.â€
The Makerere university library serves as a national reference library and it is a legal depository of all works published in Uganda, including government publications.