The establishment of the UiTM Library began with the founding of Dewan Latehan RIDA on Jalan Othman, Petaling Jaya, in 1956. Initially, it was known as the RIDA Library, housing reading materials for courses such as bookkeeping, accounting, and preparatory courses for the London Chamber of Commerce (LCC) Examination. At that time, library operations were confined to a room on the first floor of the old Administration Building of Dewan Latehan RIDA. As the collection and the number of users grew, the library relocated to the ground floor of an additional block of the Administration Section at Dewan Latehan RIDA.
In 1965, the library was renamed Perpustakaan Maktab MARA, coinciding with the rebranding of Dewan Latehan RIDA to Maktab MARA. This year also marked the first time a qualified officer administered the library in the field of librarianship. The library's collection at that time included books, journals, magazines, newspapers, and other publications, all of which were in English and published internationally.
On October 14, 1967, Maktab MARA was renamed Institut Teknologi MARA (ITM). Soon after, the ITM Jalan Othman campus was unable to meet the demands of new professional courses, which resulted in an increased number of students. Consequently, in 1972, the main ITM campus was built in Shah Alam. At the main campus, the ITM library was housed in a specially designed four-story building, the design of which was developed in consultation with the Chief Librarian to meet academic library specifications.
The library was officially inaugurated by Malaysia's second Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak, on July 29, 1972, and was named Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak (PTAR) in his honour. During the 1970s, the library's collection largely consisted of printed materials and microform collections, including microfilms, microfiche, and 16mm films.
PTAR serves as the main library and is complemented by four Faculty Libraries at the UiTM Shah Alam Campus. The UiTM Library has expanded significantly, with 39 library networks across Malaysia, all focusing on core services to meet the needs of the university community. The development of UiTM Branch Libraries has paralleled the growth of UiTM branches, with the aim of providing library services to its users.
Chronological History of the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Library
| February 14, 1957 | The establishment of the ITM Library began with the founding of Dewan Latihan RIDA on Jalan Othman, Petaling Jaya. Initially known as the RIDA Library, it housed reading materials for courses such as Bookkeeping, Accounting, and preparatory courses for the London Chamber of Commerce (LCC) Examination. |
| 1965 | The library was renamed Perpustakaan Maktab MARA in conjunction with the rebranding of Dewan Latihan RIDA to Maktab Latihan RIDA. This year also marked a significant milestone as it was the first time a qualified librarian administered the library. The first Librarian, Mrs. Rugayah bt. Abdul Rashid (now Puan Sri Rugayah Abdul Rashid), held a degree in Library Science from the University of Hawaii. At that time, the library's collection consisted of books, journals, magazines, newspapers, and other publications, all of which were in English and published internationally. |
| 1972 | The ITM main campus was built on a hill in Shah Alam. At this new campus, the ITM library was housed in a specially designed four-story building. The design was developed in consultation with the Chief Librarian to meet academic library specifications. |
| July 29, 1972 | The library was officially inaugurated by Malaysia's second Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak. In his honour, the library was named Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak (PTAR). During this period, the library's collection primarily consisted of printed materials. Additionally, there was a significant collection of microforms, including microfilms, microfiche, and 16mm films. |
| 1994-2000 | This period marked a transformation in the library's internal processes, shifting from manual operations to automation. This shift was pivotal in modernizing the library's services and improving efficiency. |
| 2001-2005 | Further improvements were made in the library's operations, including enhancements to workflow processes, the establishment of centralized data storage, the acquisition of digital materials, and the implementation of asset control systems and security monitoring. |
| 2006-2010 | The library's services were transformed through knowledge management, integration with the university's main systems, and the introduction of innovative practices. These changes were aimed at aligning the library's services with the university's broader objectives. centred |
| 2011-2015 | The transformation of the library during this period was guided by the Core Strategy (ISP) of PTAR, with the goal of propelling UiTM towards becoming a Top Notch University. The library played a crucial role in supporting this ambition by enhancing its resources and services. |
| 2016-2020 | The focus of the library's transformation shifted to achieving global standards in its services. This transformation was driven by the primary agenda of positioning UiTM as a globally recognized institution while maintaining its local roots. |
| 2020-2025 | The library's ongoing transformation is centered on the goal of establishing UiTM as a Globally Renowned, Locally Rooted University. This vision reflects the library's commitment to excellence in both its services and its contribution to the university's reputation on the world stage. |
