National Library Service of Kenya

National library services in Kenya are offered by Kenya National Library Service[3] through the National Library Division (NLD). It serves as the repository for legal deposits in accordance with the Books and Newspapers Act of the laws of Kenya which enforces the preservation of books, magazines, and other publications produced in the country. The Legal Deposit Act mandates all publishers to deposit two copies of their publications to the Director of Kenya National Library Service.[4]

The National Library Division of the Library Service is charged with annually publishing the Kenya National Bibliography which contains a list of bibliographic resources, print or audio-visual acquired as legal deposit. The bibliography was first proposed in 1975.[5] The bibliography was last published in 2010.[6]

The National Library Division is also the sole issuer of International Standard Book Numbers and International Standard Music Numbers (ISMN) for print music. The NLD subscribes to thousands of e-journals, e-books and other e-resource sites and has a stock of specialized collection of government publications dating back to 1980. In addition it also acts as a data information centre for the World Bank.

Public libraries in Kenya have existed since the beginning of the 18th century. These however, were mainly subscription libraries that relied heavily on endowments, members' subscriptions and limited grants from both local and central government. The libraries were exclusively for Europeans and Asians.

The first public library, Seif Bin Salim Public Library and Free Reading Area in Mombasa, was established in 1903. It was financed by Seif Bin Salim, the son of the then "Liwali" (Arab Governor) of Mombasa, Salim bin Khalfan,[7][8] The McMillan Memorial Library in Nairobi was the second public library. It was built in 1931 in memory of Lord William Northrop Mcmillan who was among the first settlers in Kenya. The library was built through funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York through the efforts of Macmillan's widow, Lucie. Initially, the library was meant for Europeans and Asians. The third public library was the Desai Memorial Library which was built in 1942. It only offered services exclusively to Asians until the 1960s.

In the late 1950s and 1960s, the British Council and the American Cultural Centre provided limited public library services across racial lines. These libraries did not cater for the information needs of the Africans until after independence. Following the recommendations of the East African Library Association and the report of Sidney Hockey, a British Council Library consultant In 1948, Elspeth Huxley who was an author, journalist, broadcaster, environmentalist and government advisor of the colonial government in Kenya.

In 1960, a report recommending a centralized state-supported public library system for Kenya was made. That same year, the The Macmillan Memorial Library was handed over to the Nairobi City Council , which opened it to everyone. During this same period, the Desai Library was also opened to the general public.

In 1965, an act establishing Kenya National Library Service was passed.

KNLS has sponsored reading programs to sustain literacy. The 2006 Kenya National Adult Literacy Survey estimated the national literacy rate at 61.5% indicating that only 38.5% Kenyan adults were illiterate. The survey also revealed that only 29.6% of the adult population had acquired the desired mastery level of literacy.[9] This meant that the majority of those termed as literate (61.5%) were at risk of losing their literacy skills or could not effectively perform within the context of knowledge economies.

KNLS has partnered with other institutions like Book Aid International in the acquisition of information materials and supporting reading culture among Kenyan communities. Empowering farmers, a partnership between KNLS and the Ministry of Agriculture, through National Farmers Information Service (NAFIS) has made it possible for farmers to access online information services regarding farming activities (i.e. crop farming and animal farming) and also know the prevailing market prices for their produce. In addition, farmers have access to an online extension officer who responds to any of their queries.

KNLS has also partnered with the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) develop e-Resource centres in all rural libraries. Other partners include EIFL, Safaricom, Finlays, Practical Action, KASNEB, American Embassy and Goethe Institut.

The core functions of the KNLS Board are:[10]

• Preservation and conservation the national imprint for reference and research and maintain the National Bibliographic Control through Issuance of the ISBN, publication of the Kenya National Bibliography and Kenya Periodicals Directory.
• Promote, establish, equip, manage and maintain the National and Public libraries services in Kenya;
• Promote information literacy and reading among Kenyans;
• Enhance stakeholders participation for equitable development of libraries throughout the country;
• Advise the Government, local authorities and other public bodies on all matters relating to library, documentation and related services.

Through the public library, the library offers these services;

• Adult, junior and institutional lending
• Inter-library lending
• Advisory on library services
• Technical assistance on library development to interested government and private institutions
• Internet services in the libraries that are connected
• Health information
• Services to visually impaired persons
• User education

Kenya National Library Service (Headquarters) Mumias Road/Ol Donyo Sabuk Road Junction, Buruburu P.O. Box 30573-00100 NAIROBI

• List of libraries in Kenya

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Libraries in Kenya.

• http://www.knls.ac.ke/ Official site
• http://www.eifl.net/kenya-national-library-service
• http://www.goethe.de/ins/ke/nai/kul/mag/bib/bil/en9853827.htm
• http://www.cck.go.ke/consumers/consumer_protection/downloads/pwd-presentations/Promoting_accessible_information_in_public_libraries.pdf
• http://www.jambonairobi.co.ke/services/public-information-services/public-libraries/
• http://www.g-youth.org/main/index.php/partners/knls.html
• http://www.libdex.com/country/kenya/nairobi/library_35146.html
• http://www.worlib.org/vol04no1/rosenberg_v04n1.shtml
• http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000089713&story_title=knls-library-to-take-narok-to-new-literacy-levels
• http://www.kenyanewsagency.go.ke/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=562:library-services&catid=1:headline-news
• https://www.scribd.com/doc/157626426/157375909-Knls-Branch-Network-on-the-Map-Timothy-Mahea?secret_password=7oeajsvhrus9uogmum1
• Royal Library of Alexandria
• Book Aid International