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History | RMU Library

Our Historical Journey

The first library was established in 1960 when the then Nautical College was relocated from the Flag Staff House to Nungua beach near the Mukwe lagoon. It was housed in the Administration building close to the sea. That very spot is where the Anchorage building now sits. In 1971, the library was relocated due to the sea erosion.

In 1983, the library's name was changed to Regional Maritime Academy Library following the regionalization of the college. Again, in 2007, the Academy library metamorphosed into Regional Maritime University Library after the Academy became a fully-fledged university by receiving a presidential charter in October that year.

The collection of the library is built to meet the teaching, learning and research needs of both faculty and students of the university. The collection is organized using the Library of Congress (LC) Classification Scheme.

📍 Original Location

1960-1971: Administration building near the sea at Nungua Beach
Current Site: Where the Anchorage building now stands
Relocation Reason: Sea erosion in 1971

📚 Classification System

Scheme: Library of Congress (LC) Classification
Purpose: Organizing collections for optimal access
Scope: Supports teaching, learning and research

Historical Timeline

1960
Library Establishment

First library created when Nautical College moved from Flag Staff House to Nungua Beach

1971
First Relocation

Library moved due to sea erosion threatening the original building

1983
Name Change

Became Regional Maritime Academy Library after college regionalization

2007
University Status

Transformed into RMU Library after receiving presidential charter

Library Functions

Core Mission & Purpose

The function of the library is to support the teaching, learning and research pursuits of the university. It is therefore the pivot around which academic life of RMU revolves. To enable it play its role properly, books, journals, e-resources, audio-visuals and other reading materials are carefully selected with the aid of academic departments in order to provide an effective and efficient library services for University community.

  • Teaching Support: Providing resources and materials to enhance classroom instruction
  • Learning Enhancement: Supporting student learning through diverse collections
  • Research Advancement: Facilitating academic and scientific research activities
  • Community Service: Serving the entire university community's information needs

Library Collections

Print Collections
Books, journals, magazines, and reference materials in physical format
Electronic Resources
E-books, online journals, databases, and digital archives
Audio-Visual Materials
Multimedia resources, recordings, and visual learning aids
Special Collections
Rare books, maritime archives, and historical documents

All collections are carefully selected in collaboration with academic departments to ensure they meet the evolving needs of our university community.

Explore Our Rich Heritage

Visit the RMU Library to experience our historical collections and modern facilities