diff --git a/doc/ref/scheme-options.texi b/doc/ref/scheme-options.texi
index 0492ce9ed..41b606286 100644
--- a/doc/ref/scheme-options.texi
+++ b/doc/ref/scheme-options.texi
@@ -43,20 +43,40 @@ Guile was configured, built and installed on your system.
 @deffnx {Scheme Procedure} minor-version
 @deffnx {Scheme Procedure} micro-version
 @deffnx {C Function} scm_version ()
+@deffnx {C Function} scm_effective_version ()
 @deffnx {C Function} scm_major_version ()
 @deffnx {C Function} scm_minor_version ()
 @deffnx {C Function} scm_micro_version ()
 Return a string describing Guile's version number, or its major, minor
-or micro version number, respectively.
+or micro version number, respectively.  The @code{effective-version}
+function returns the version name that should remain unchanged during
+a stable series.  Currently that means that it omits the micro
+version.  It should be used for things like the versioned share
+directory name i.e. @file{/usr/share/guile/1.6/}
 
 @lisp
 (version) @result{} "1.6.0"
+(effective-version) @result{} "1.6"
 (major-version) @result{} "1"
 (minor-version) @result{} "6"
 (micro-version) @result{} "0"
 @end lisp
 @end deffn
 
+@deffn {Scheme Procedure} effective-version
+@deffnx {C Function} scm_effective_version ()
+Return a string describing Guile's ``effective'' version number, one
+that should remain unchanged during a stable series.  Currently that
+means that it is the same as the result of @code{version} but without
+the micro version.  It should be used for things like the versioned
+share directory name i.e. @file{/usr/share/guile/1.6/}.
+
+@lisp
+(version) @result{} "1.6.0"
+(effective-version) @result{} "1.6"
+@end lisp
+@end deffn
+
 @deffn {Scheme Procedure} %package-data-dir
 @deffnx {C Function} scm_sys_package_data_dir ()
 Return the name of the directory under which Guile Scheme files in
@@ -71,7 +91,7 @@ belong to the core Guile installation (as opposed to files from a 3rd
 party package) are installed.  On Unix-like systems, this is usually
 @file{/usr/local/share/guile/<VERSION>} or
 @file{/usr/share/guile/<VERSION>}, for example:
-@file{/usr/local/share/guile/1.6.0}.
+@file{/usr/local/share/guile/1.6}.
 @end deffn
 
 @deffn {Scheme Procedure} %site-dir