diff --git a/collects/r6rs/run.ss b/collects/r6rs/run.ss
index 1d8b57cf36..2c912ad9fa 100644
--- a/collects/r6rs/run.ss
+++ b/collects/r6rs/run.ss
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 (define compile-mode (make-parameter #f))
 (define install-all-users (make-parameter #f))
 (define install-force (make-parameter #f))
+(define extra-collection-dirs (make-parameter null))
 
 (define-values (main args)
   (command-line
@@ -27,8 +28,8 @@
     (install-force #t)]
    #:multi
    [("++path") dir "use <dir> as a container of library dirs (i.e., collections)"
-    (current-library-collection-paths (append (current-library-collection-paths)
-                                              (list (path->complete-path dir))))]
+    (extra-collection-dirs (append (extra-collection-dirs)
+                                   (list (path->complete-path dir))))]
    #:handlers
    (case-lambda
     [(x) (values #f null)]
@@ -37,6 +38,10 @@
 
 (current-command-line-arguments (apply vector-immutable args))
 
+(unless (null? (extra-collection-dirs))
+    (current-library-collection-paths (append (extra-collection-dirs)
+                                              (current-library-collection-paths))))
+
 (define r6rs-read-syntax
   (case-lambda
    [() (r6rs-read-syntax (object-name (current-input-port)))]
diff --git a/collects/r6rs/scribblings/r6rs.scrbl b/collects/r6rs/scribblings/r6rs.scrbl
index 18aab045ce..c1206094a9 100644
--- a/collects/r6rs/scribblings/r6rs.scrbl
+++ b/collects/r6rs/scribblings/r6rs.scrbl
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@
                      rnrs/exceptions-6
                      rnrs/io/simple-6
                      rnrs/r5rs-6
-                     (only-in scheme/base lib)))
+                     (only-in scheme/base
+                              lib
+                              current-library-collection-paths)))
 
 @(define guide-src '(lib "scribblings/guide/guide.scrbl"))
 
@@ -144,6 +146,22 @@ are turned into collection-based module paths, which determines where
 the files are written. Libraries installed by @exec{plt-r6rs
 @DFlag{install}} are automatically compiled to bytecode form.
 
+One final option is to supply a @as-index{@DPFlag{path}} flag to
+@exec{plt-r6rs}. A path added with @DPFlag{path} extends the set of
+directories that are searched to find a collection (i.e., it sets
+@scheme[current-library-collection-paths]). If @nonterm{dir} contains
+@filepath{duck} and @filepath{cow} sub-directories with
+@filepath{duck/feather.sls} and @filepath{cow/bell.sls}, and if each
+file is an @|r6rs| library prefixed with @schememetafont{#!r6rs}, then
+@exec{plt-r6rs ++path @nonterm{dir}} directs the @|r6rs| library
+references @scheme[(duck feather)] and @scheme[(cow bell)] to the
+files. Note that this technique does not support accessing
+@filepath{duck.sls} directly within @nonterm{dir}, since the library
+reference @scheme[(duck)] is treated like @scheme[(duck main)] for
+finding the library, as explained in @secref["libpaths"]. Multiple
+paths can be provided with multiple uses of @DPFlag{path}; the paths
+are search in order, and before the installation's collections.
+
 @; ----------------------------------------
 
 @section[#:tag "libpaths"]{Libraries and Collections}