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LEARN & MASTER

Library Tutorials & Guides

Step-by-step guides to help you make the most of our digital platforms

PLATFORMS

Our Library Systems

LibMS (Koha)

https://libms.ur.ac.rw/

Library Management System - Search, borrow, and manage physical books and e-resources

45,000+ Physical Books
15,000+ E-Books
8,420 Active Users
Catalog Search Borrowing Renewals

Digital Repository (DSpace)

https://dr.ur.ac.rw/

Institutional Repository - Access theses, dissertations, and research publications

12,000+ Theses
8,500+ Research Papers
3,200+ Heritage Docs
Full-Text PDF Theses Research
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDES

Master Our Library Platforms

Click on each section to expand the detailed tutorials

📚 LibMS (Koha) - Library Management System Tutorial

Getting Started Guide

1 Accessing the System

Go to https://libms.ur.ac.rw/ and click "Log in to your account" at the top right. Enter your Student/Staff ID and Password (your UR credentials).

2 Searching for Books
  • Use the main search bar to find books by title, author, or keyword
  • Advanced Search: Click the gear icon ⚙️ for more options (ISBN, publisher, publication year)
  • Filter results by:
    • Collection: Physical Books, E-Books, Journals
    • Availability: Checked in/out
    • Location: Specific campus library
3 Navigating the Dashboard

The homepage shows three main sections:

Section What You'll Find
Latest Additions New books recently added to the collection
Trending Books Most borrowed items in the last 30 days
Quick Links Direct access to e-books and journals
4 Placing a Hold
  1. Find the book you want
  2. Click "Place Hold" on the search results page
  3. Select your pickup location (campus library)
  4. Confirm the hold
5 Managing Your Account
  • View Checkouts: See what you currently have borrowed
  • Renew Items: Extend your loan period (up to 3 times)
  • View Fines: Check any outstanding fees
  • Update Contact Info: Keep your email and phone number current

Use LibMS for: Finding physical books, checking real-time availability, renewing borrowed items, and placing holds on popular titles.

📖 DR (DSpace) - Digital Repository Tutorial

Research & Thesis Access Guide

1 Accessing the Repository

Visit https://dr.ur.ac.rw/ and browse by Communities or use the search bar.

2 Browsing Collections

The repository is organized into these main communities:

  • Books and book chapters
  • Conference proceedings
  • Grey literature
  • RCE-VIHSCM documents
  • Registrar's office docs
  • Research works
  • Rwandan heritage
  • Theses & dissertations
  • Training materials
  • University archives
3 Searching Effectively
Basic Search:

Use the top search bar for keywords, titles, or authors. Results show most recent items first.

Advanced Search Tips:
  • Use quotation marks for exact phrases: "climate change"
  • Combine terms with AND/OR: "public health" AND Rwanda
  • Filter by date range for recent research
  • Sort by relevance, title, or date
4 Downloading Full Text
  1. Click on any title to view the full record
  2. Look for the download link (usually PDF format)
  3. For theses, you may need to accept a license agreement first
5 Understanding Records

Each item shows:

  • Author(s) and affiliation
  • Abstract (summary of research)
  • Keywords for related searches
  • Publication date
  • Citation information (APA, MLA, etc.)

Use DR for: Finding examples of past successful theses, accessing UR research publications, exploring Rwandan historical documents, and downloading full-text research papers.

📊 Quick Reference Card

Task LibMS (Library Catalog) DR (Digital Repository)
Find physical books ✓ Main catalog ✗ (Theses only)
Access theses ✗ ✓ Full-text dissertations
Check availability ✓ Real-time status ✓ Always available
Renew items ✓ Self-service N/A
Download PDFs (unless e-book) ✓ Full downloads
View trending ✓ Popular books ✓ Recently added

🎓 For New Students: First Week Checklist

  • Log into LibMS with your student credentials
  • Update your account with current contact info
  • Search for course textbooks and place holds early
  • Explore the DR for past theses in your department
  • Save this guide for future reference
Need Help?
• LibMS issues: Contact your campus library circulation desk
• DR questions: Email repository@ur.ac.rw
• Technical support: library.help@ur.ac.rw

🚀 Pro Tips & Best Practices

Use LibMS for finding physical books and checking real-time availability before visiting the library.

Use DR for accessing full-text research papers and theses - perfect for literature reviews.

Save searches in both systems to get email alerts for new content in your research area.

In DR, browse by advisor name to find all theses supervised by your professor.

Download Printable Version

Get a PDF version of these tutorials to keep for offline reference

Download PDF Guide