For the libraries to perform their essential functions, they are commonly divided into various sections, units or departments, with the number and types of units or departments varying depending on the size and type of library. Catholic University of Mbeya Library (CUoM Library) has been divided into various sections that help give personalized services to the users; the sections cater for specific needs that the users may have, these sections are as follows;

• Technical Section

Technical services are services that concern themselves with the preparation of library materials, including electronic information, in order to make such materials or information accessible to library users. Typically, the section or department consists of subdivisions including Acquisitions, Serials, Special Reserve, and Cataloguing and Classification. This section is there to classify and catalogue library materials from the first stage to the last one. Apart from that, it also develops collection, ensure catalogue and indexes are kept up to date. It also supervises stocktaking.

• Special Reserve Section

In this section, highly needed books are kept. The books are used within the library only. Ph.D. Theses and M.Phil. Dissertations of the University and affiliated colleges are received and maintained by this section. The bibliographic details of the Theses and Dissertations are available on OPAC. The required Theses/Dissertations could be searched through OPAC and referred.

• General Collection

This is the most important section of the Library. Its function is to display and maintenance of books that are issued on loan. Members have the facility of open access to the collection available in this section. Books are arranged on the shelves according to Dewey Decimal Classification Scheme (DDC) 22nd edition. Each book is assigned a Class Number and an Accession Number. Class Number is assigned to a book according to its subject and the Accession Number individualizes a book among others having the same Class Number. In this arrangement, books on the same subject are kept together. Members are advised to check the availability of the books through the Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) which is available on our computers within the library. After obtaining relevant information through OPAC, the users can proceed to the respective stack or general collection area to take the books of their choice.

• Circulation/Lending Section

The Circulation Section at the entrance of the Library deals with security of library materials and circulation services. The term Circulation implies the activity of dispensing or receiving library materials. The term coming into more popular use is "Access Services." No matter what it is called, its concern is the flow of materials and control over the conditions under which materials are used. Circulation or Lending Department is one of the key sections of CUoM Library and most of the books on this section can be borrowed for external use.

• Periodicals/Documentation Section

CUoM subscribes to a number of local newspapers including Daily News, The Guardian, and Mwananchi newspapers. After receiving, the newspapers are stamped with an ownership stamp before being put on a newspapers' table for readers to read them. Both local and foreign journals currently subscribed and journals received as gift are displayed on the periodical shelves in this section. Newspapers and popular magazines are also available for reading. At present, 552 dissertations, journals and government publications are available at the Library.