RUMC Library is proud to announce the launch of RUMC’s first integrated online library management system, KOHA. RUMC President, Professor Karen Morgan, RUMC Dean, Dato’ Professor Abdul Rashid, Acting Registrar Dr Devaki and representatives of RUMC Student Association along with staff and students attended the launch on September 26th, 2023.

“KOHA is an online integrated library management system (ILMS) project connecting to the library’s strategic initiative to bolster student engagement,” shared Ms. Evelyn Anand, the lead librarian. “The ILMS facilitate the streamline of the University’s learning resources.”

The project included three coordinated tasks: evaluating the print collection, the core collection development, and introducing a new classification system. The existing textbooks are catalogued according to the Dewey Decimals system and then migrated onto the KOHA system while customising the different modules to meet the University’s requirements.

Now, you might be wondering, what is KOHA and what does it do?

KOHA Library Management System developed in New Zealand in 1999, is an open-source cloud-based application comprising core modules on acquisitions with EDI, cataloguing, circulation and comprehensive reporting functionalities.

With KOHA’s intuitive system, students can browse the core collection and select from the wide range of recommended reading books. The online features offer end-users excellent search capabilities and allow end-users to loan, reserve and renew books. The lengthy and tedious task of collection assessment, classification and migration of the collection into KOHA would not have been possible without the commitment and hard work of library assistants, Ms. Sharbana Azmi and Ms. Shithra Muniandy.

The Library hopes to continue the strategic initiative of building the core collection to enhance the learning experience of end-users as studies showed that medical students prefer physical textbooks when preparing for exams.

Prof. Morgan did the honours of launching the KOHA ILMS and congratulated Ms. Evelyne and her team for their initiative to implement the integrated discovery system. “We hope that all library materials will be accessible for everyone to use,” said Prof. Morgan. RUMC Student Association President, Ainatul, was the first to search the library catalogue to have a hands-on experience on how the system functions.

The launch ended with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the book stack which houses the core collection of the institution. Ms. Evelyne and her team also hope to bring in an online platform for students to view and borrow e-books wherever they are. As students of RUMC, you may expect a wide range of medical and reference books, physical and e-books, in the future.