A library is a collection of sources of information and similar resources, made accessible to a defined community for reference or borrowing. It provides physical or digital access to material and may be a physical building or room, or a virtual space, or both. Accordingly, Rift Valley University Library (RVUL) established to acquire, organize, preserve, retrieve and disseminate information to all university communities. It has one central library office and 50 branch libraries. The central library is accountable to the ICT and Library Directorate Director, while branch libraries simultaneously report to their respective deans and to the central library.

A. Opening Hours

However, each college library can be adjust its appropriate opening time based on users’
interest. But the total service hours shall not be less than 62 hours per week.

B. Types of Services
The RVUL services are divided in two major parts as follows.
1. Technical Services
1.1 Acquisitions of materials
1.2 Classification and cataloguing
1.3 Binding worn-out materials
1.4 Downloading and uploading e-books & articles
2. Public Services
2.1 Circulation Services
2.1.1 Access to digital books
2.1.2 Mobile based information services
2.1.3 On spot loan service
2.1.4 Long period loan
2.1.5 Reading area services
2.1.6 Facility services
2.1.7 Computer access
2.1.8 Reservation services
2.1.9 General stack services
2.2 Reference Service
2.2.1 Library orientation
2.2.2 Provide general reference materials
2.2.3 Users inquiry services
2.2.4 Inter-library loan services
2.3 Periodicals Services
2.3.1 Magazines and Newspapers
2.3.2 Institutional Journals
2.3.3 Subscribed Electronic Journals service
C. Authorized Users
The resources of the college libraries are open to the following users while subject to the rules and regulations governing their uses.
1. All University community (students, faculty and staff) of the university in their campus;
2. Graduate and Undergraduate students of other component colleges of the University;
3. Former members of the Faculty, alumni, and former students who were honorably discharged;
4. Scholars/Researchers and members of other educational institutions and agencies, and other private individuals, if permitted by the regulations of the library.

D. Access to Resources and Services
1. Condition
1.1 Civility and respect shall be observed at all times. Any user must comply with all rules and regulations in the use of the library;
1.2 Library clienteles have a right to access to electronic academic resources
1.3 In addition to online resources, the library practices the open-shelf system for post graduate students and faculty for maximum resources utilization;
1.4 All authorized users have a right to have access to e-journals and e-books freely;
1.5 All Users of the library shall have valid University ID card at entrance every time. The NO ID, NO ENTRY is strictly enforced to protect the interest of ratified users;
1.6 The ID card is non-transferable. Library privilege should be exercised personally;
1.7 The owner of the ID card is responsible for all materials borrowed by his/ her ID card;
1.8 The ID card is validated every semester.
2. Loan System
2.1 On spot Loan
2.1.1 Library patrons access to electronic academic resources without restriction by using library workstations Wi-Fi and smart phones in the library;
2.1.2 Permanent reserve books cannot be charged out unless the borrower is instructor and with the consent of the head of the circulation;
2.1.3 Temporary reserve books are reserved by instructors for one or two semesters behind the circulation desk and subjected to on spot loan. Number of students assigned to read a single temporary reserve book should not be excided thirty;
2.1.4 The library will duplicate temporary reserve materials if scarcity exists;
2.1.5 Every eligible user can borrow any book, journal or other information resources for on spot reading by depositing his/her ID card.

2.2. Long Loan for stack collections
1. Library clienteles have a right to download subscribed and open access articles, books and other electronic materials and make them their own property;
2. The reference staff of the library will orient users how to use e-resources and sources of information,
3. For stack collections the Library shall facilitate loan system including distribution of library pocket;
4. The number of library pockets will distribute to users are determined based on status of users, (Faculty, Postgraduate, undergraduate students and administrative staff.);
5. All Authorized users should sign the membership card before the issuance of the pocket;
6. Lost library pocket should be timely reported
7. The receiver of library pocket(s) is responsible for materials borrowed by his/ her pocket;
8. Lost Library pockets will be replaced after one month;
9. General reference books, pamphlets, serials, theses/dissertations and other restricted materials are for inside reading only;
10. Borrower must return or renew a borrowed material on a given time;
11. The library is authorized to charging overdue fine for overdue materials;

12. A lost book while on loan should be reported immediately to the librarian. The book should be either be paid or replaced with the same title or of later edition.

E. Connect to the digital library

• Switch on Wi-Fi found on your laptop or your mobile Phone
• Connect it with S.R.E. Digital Library
• Open chrome or Opera
• At the end of the browser, inter the library IP address that delivered to you
• Then press GO or Enter
• Then search by tittle/ author/subject

Then enjoy your digital library that contained more than 6, 000 books.