The Role of University Libraries in Advancing Scientific Research and Meeting the Needs of Researchers and Students

Abstract

This paper examines the role of university libraries in supporting scientific research as academic institutions whose function extends beyond preserving and providing access to collections toward direct participation in knowledge production and in serving researchers and students. It begins by defining university libraries, their mission, and their core functions, then discusses the nature of scientific research, its types, and researchers’ information-seeking behavior, emphasizing the close relationship between library service quality and the effectiveness of the research process within the university. The paper also reviews examples of services and activities offered by selected Arab and foreign university libraries in support of research, including reference services, interlibrary loan, information retrieval networks, and technology-based services.

It argues that the effectiveness of university libraries in meeting user needs depends on the development of collections, the quality of organization, rapid access to information, the provision of databases and technical facilities, and stronger resource sharing and library cooperation. The paper further discusses the obstacles that limit this role, such as insufficient resources, service limitations, the pressures of information growth, and the need to improve both technical and human capacities. It concludes with proposals for developing university library services in ways that strengthen their ability to support researchers and students and position them as active partners in advancing scientific research in higher education institutions.