Kenal News Issue 9

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InsideFamily literacy is key to development 2

Muranga Library officially opened 4

E-book takes its place in the library5Taking library services to the people 7

The role of public library in promoting family literacy 8

Embu Library gets donor for medical and health section 9

Out door reading gains popularity in public libraries 9Taking the library outside 10

Empower communities with information 11

Interlending: A welcome idea14

Countries to miss deadline to MDGs 15

Sharing health information to meet our goals 15

SCECSAL XIX Conference on information and governance 16

Parent-baby reading club gathers steam 19

Guidelines in setting up a reading club 20


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2KenalNewsIssue9,March2011

In the present day, performance is the flu-id that fuels the economic engine. KNLSreceived a certificate of excellence in perfor-mance in recognition of attaining Very Goodstatus with a composite score of 2.2 during

the 2008/09 contract period. With increasedlevel of automation and beneficial partner-ship aimed at improving service delivery tothe public, the performance is expected to beeven better in the times ahead. The openingof Buruburu and Muranga libraries is just atip of the iceberg.

ICT is the way to go if as an organiza-tion we have to release notable impact intothe achievement of Vision 2030. KNLS has

established sound partnerships with both lo-cal and international development partnersand library services have been taken a notchhigher. Ehealth information units in Kisumuand Eldoret, G-Youth in Garissa and Practical

Answers Unit in Mandera have become verypopular with library users. CCK has also com-mitted to establish ICT centers in ten KNLS ru-ral libraries.

Inculcating reading and information seek-ing habits in the lives of children when theyare young could be the answer to the so muchneeded sustained reading culture in Kenya.KNLS has encouraged all the librarians work-ing within its network to partner with parentsand teachers and establish parent-baby read-ing clubs. Though the idea may sound sim-ple, it is a bit complicated and needs to beapproached with a considerably sober mind.Read about some of the key tips on how tostart a successful parent-baby reading club

inside this issue.

It is said that ebooks will by no means re-place the print book. Libraries must thereforebalance between the two and what is likelyto be experienced is integration. Libraries inKenya should however appreciate that soonnumbers of people physically visiting the li-

braries will reduce dramatically as more andmore information becomes available in elec-tronic format which can be accessed onlinefrom any location.

The idea of taking the library outside thelibrary is speedily gaining momentum in sev-eral KNLS libraries. People must be motivatedto read at all costs if this monster IGNO-RANCE which is number one enemy of de-velopment has to be overcome. Read about

some of the strategies being adopted by somelibraries to reach out to the public.Family literacy has been defined as a move-

ment that addresses the needs of millions offamilies across the world. Public libraries playa major role in helping families develop theirliteracy skills. They are in remarkable positionsto expose children and parents to great quanti-ties of books and pre-reading skills.

For more details and other interesting arti-cles, read on!

- Nancy

It is said that ebooks will by nomeans replace the print book.Libraries must therefore balancebetween the two and what

is likely to be experienced isintegration.

From The Editor...

Family literacy iskey to development



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Practical Answers SectionPractical Action, a developmentcharity NGO, has establisheda practical answers sectionin Mandera Library. This is aknowledge node that focuses onareas such as: The technical enquiry service Resource centers and knowl-

edge nodes Knowledge products The section holds a distinc-

tive collection of appropriatetechnology and develop-ment literature.

Briefs...

Donor supportIN partnership with well wish-ers, KNLS has engaged on thefollowing library programmesand services:

Ehealth informationunits established

PUBLIC Library Innovation Pro-gram (PLIP) funded by Melindaand Gates foundation throughEIFL has established ehealth in-formation units in Eldoret andKisumu libraries. This project fo-cuses on training and setting upfunctional ehealth informationsections in the two KNLS branchlibraries.

The 2nd Public Library Inno-vation Program (PLIP) granteesmeeting was held in Nairobi,Kenya from 28th November to1st December 2010. The meet-ing brought together partici-pants from the following twelvecountries: Slovenia, USA, Bos-nia & Herzegovena, Cambodia,Chile, Ghana, Mexico, Lithua-nia, Macedonia, Zambia, Nepaland Serbia.

The three day meeting in-cluded a visit to the KNLS head-quarters, Buruburu and Nakurulibraries. One of the senior pro-ject directors of Melinda andGates foundation, Janet Sawayavisited the project libraries (i.e.Kisumu and Eldoret).

On Saturday 19th February 2011 KNLS held an openday at the new Buru Buru Library Branch situated atthe junction of Mumias/Ol Doinyo Sabuk Road. This was anopportunity for the members of the public to learn about the

library services lined up for them.The library provides a serene environment where readerscan easily access information that will enable then enhancecareer skills; carry out comprehensive research from electron-ic databases and online journals; make references to varioussubjects; widen their knowledge base; grow their businessesand read for pleasure.

The reading atmosphere in the library is inviting to youngchildren, teenagers, youth, adults and senior citizens alike. Re-searchers and serious readers will also find the atmospherein the library very conducive. Regular library services com-

menced on 21st February 2011.The publics excitement during the open day was quite evi-

dent as they praised the KNLS Board for giving them a magnifi-cent library where they can spend their valuable time seekingrelevant information for empowerment.

Some of the services available at the new library includejunior, teenage and adult reading and lending; advisory onlibrary services; bulk lending of books to learning institutions(limited to availability of stock); technical assistance on librarydevelopment to interested people.

The library houses a well equipped cyber caf and offers inter-library lending, electronic data bases and multimedia services.

Buruburu library opensdoors to the public

Customers access services in the Buruburu Library cyber cafe during the open day


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Support for construction ofLaikipia Library

SAFARICOM Foundation organized agolf tournament/ fund raiser on 4th Sep-tember 2010 to support the Laikipia Com-munity Library Project. During the event,the Foundation donated Kshs1.1 millionand Coca Cola Company Kshs.200,000.

The successful event, courtesy of MajorRtd. GeneraL Waweru, helped to raise atotal of 1.4 million. General Waweru saidthat the purpose of the fundraiser tourna-ment was one of the strategies of NanyukiSports Clubs contribution to the wellbeing

of the community.The KNLS Director Mr. Richard Atuti who

was present during the event, gave Boardscontribution of Ksh.100,000 and pledgedanother Ksh. 2.9 million.

The funds are being utilized for the on-going construction works at the Laikipia Li-brary building. The Safaricom Foundationalso donated electrical and ICT equipmentworth Ksh 800,000 for Kwale Library on25th September 2010.

Children and Teenagers readingcornersTHIS project is funded by Book Aid

International (BAI) to establish book cor-ners for children and teenagers for threebranch libraries i.e Nyeri, Kisii and Wajir.The project is aimed at encouraging chil-dren and teenagers to read therefore pro-moting a positive reading culture amongthem. Phase two of the project will include:Nakuru, Buruburu and Muranga. Phasethree will focus on Kisumu, Masalani and

Meru.

Donor support

Establishment of health cornersTHIS is a three-year project funded by

Elsevier Foundation through Book Aid In-ternational (BAI). It is aimed at increasingaccess to relevant medical information forprimary healthcare providers through thedevelopment of local resources and ef-fective health sections in Kenyan publiclibraries. Year one of the project is beingimplemented in Thika, Isiolo, Mombasa,Embu and Kabarnet libraries. The libraries

earmarked for year two of the project are:Garissa, Wundanyi, Kericho, Laikipia andNairobi.

The KNLS Nairobi Area Library received theLibrary of the Year Award and a token ofKshs.50,000 for public libraries category.

The award was an initiative of Goethe Institut,Jomo Kenyatta Foundation and Kenya Library Asso-ciation to recognize innovative library and informa-

tion services provided by various academic, com-munity, public and special libraries.

M

uranga KNLS Library was officially openedon 31st August 2010. The opening was

presided over by the Assistant Minister, Ministry ofState for National Heritage & Culture, Hon. WilfredOmbui on behalf of the Hon. Minister.

All the stakeholders present commended theBoards efforts to provide library and informationservices to the community in Muranga and the sur-rounding areas. The community reaffirmed theircommitment to utilize the facility and services effec-tively for their socio-economic empowerment.

Muranga Libraryofficially opened

NAL bags Libraryof the Year award

Guestsvisit the

NAL libraryduring theNationalBook Weekcelebrations

Hon. WilfredOmbui, Assistant

Minister ofHeritage andCulture unveils the

plaque during theofficial opening

of MurangaLibrary


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G-Youth CareerResource Centre

The USAIDs Garissa Youth

project was established to pro-vide a place for youth to accesscritical knowledge and resourc-es about educational, career,and life choices. The project isdesigned to empower youth tomake sound career and life de-cisions as they transition fromhigh school to the next phaseof their lives. This enables theyouth to actively participate inboth personal and communitydevelopment. The center is also

meant to be a meeting space foryouth to interact, exchange ide-as and socialize in a safe andcomfortable environment.

Mt. Kenya UniversityIn the spirit of good neigh-

borliness, Mt. Kenya Universitysponsored the construction of aperimeter wall and a gate houseat the Thika KNLS Library allvalued at Ksh. 800,000. During

the handing over ceremony, theChairman of the university alsopromised to construct study villasat the Thika library compoundworth about Ksh. 400,000.

Local publishersThe Board Chairman and

Director met with local publish-ers for a breakfast meeting or-ganized by KNLS on 18th Au-gust 2010. During the meetingthe Director appealed to the

publishers to donate books forBuru Buru library. It was agreedKNLS would select books of theirchoice worth the amount thatthe publishers were willing todonate. The meeting was con-cerned about the governmentsallocation of Kshs 40 millionannually for book purchases,which translates to about oneshilling for every Kenyan forpublic library books. The meet-

ing observed that such a budgetcannot sustain a positive readingculture and urged the govern-ment to increase the book allo-

Partnerships

The e-book is attracting a lot of interest within the libraryand information world. The notion of ebooks eventual-ly replacing traditional print books has even been mentionedon several occasions, but Rod Bristow, president of PearsonEducation UK, argues that this is unlikely to happen, quotingthe history of media in general as evidence of integrationrather than outright replacement. Some libraries in othercountries such as Singapore have revolutionized their libraryservice by fully embracing the ebook. Libraries in Kenya must

wake up to the realization that very soon numbers of peo-ple physically visiting the libraries will reduce dramatically asmore and more information becomes available in electronicformat which can be accessed online from any location.

The term ebook tends to mean actual content - i.e. booksthat are available in electronic form, and which can be down-loaded and read on a variety of hardware platforms with theaid of reading software. Ebooks are published in a varietyof formats which require appropriate software to decodethe text thus enabling it to be read on a computer or mo-

bile device. These factors need to be taken into considerationwhen choosing an ebook supplier; some suppliers focus onPC-based solutions, whilst others provide mobile technologysolutions, or they may offer both.

Implementing ebooks is a complicated business, and pub-lishers are anxious to protect their profits. The access modelsoffered by ebook suppliers reflect publishers concerns, but donot necessarily provide the level of access libraries require.The one book, one reader model common with ebook pub-lishers may not be appropriate or economical to libraries.Publishers in Kenya are yet to take on publishing e-books.Since they are in business and they may have genuine rea-sons for not jumping into ebooks at the moment consider-

E-book takes itsplace in the library

E-books are electronicpublications which canbe downloaded and readon a variety of hardwareplatforms with the aid ofreading software.

By Caroline Kayoro, CDBD


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cation budget so as to sustain allround knowledge for all profes-sionals. It is this knowledge thatwill be pegged to any meaning-

ful achievement of Vision 2030.In response to KNLS ap-peal, donations worth Kshs1,170,000 were received asfollows: 1. Longhorn Publish-ers donated books worth Ksh.1,000,000; 2. Focus Publishers- Ksh. 70,000; 3. MacmillanPublishers (Now Moran Publish-ers) Ksh. 50,000; 4. LongmanPublishers Ksh. 50,000.

KNLS/CCK ICT Centers

in Community LibrariesThe Communication Com-

mission of Kenya (CCK) hascommitted to fund 10 KNLS li-braries at a cost of Ksh. 20.5million. The MOU betweenKNLS and CCK was signed on5th November 2010 and anopen tender for supply of pro-ject equipment was placed inthe dailies by CCK. The projectseeks to establish 10 public ac-cess centres in rural commu-nity libraries through provisionof hardware and software and

Partnerships

ing the market they serve. The Information CommunicationTechnology in general is still largely a preserve of the urban

Kenyans. The rural Kenya which is a bigger percentage stillhas a long way to go as it faces the challenge of Internetconnectivity. However, it is hoped that the advent of the fiberoptic will improve the situation. Meanwhile, for publishers inKenya, the print book still has a large market.

KNLS, has to start integrating the ebook in our service pro-vision. Actually our customers especially in the major townsare already demanding for such services. Hence we need tofirst understand some advantages and disadvantages of theebooks in libraries as explained by Penny Garrod and Jane

Weller.Ebooks have advantages over print titles for libraries as

well as users. They neither occupy shelf space nor generateoverdues - ebooks automatically expire at the end of aloan period. In addition, ebooks cannot be damaged, lost,or stolen (although library owned portable reading devicesdo run this risk). Ebooks may free staff from routine tasks,such as shelving, and issuing and returning books.

Ebooks can be a boon to specific groups of users suchas housebound and persons with disabilities. They are alsolightweight, portable and do not involve visiting a physical

library. Ebooks can be used to support reader development,as well as distance e-learning.

However, libraries have to weigh the perceived advantag-es of ebooks against a number of drawbacks. For example,local content suitable for Kenyan public libraries may be lim-ited.

Furthermore, publishers are reluctant to allow the simulta-neous release of print and electronic versions of publications.The electronic version may be delayed. Libraries need to beaware that an e-book may not be the latest edition.

Ebooks may also pose a compatibility challenge in a de-veloping country like Kenya, where only a small percentageof the total population have access to a computer or caneven handle a computer.

All said and done, it is clear that ebooks will by no meansreplace the printed book. Libraries must therefore balancebetween the two and what is likely to be experienced is inte-gration. For every book budget a certain percentage shouldbe dedicated to ebooks. Libraries must consciously put inplace significant ebook programs. While appreciating that

digital publishing and the Information technology sector ingeneral is highly dynamic, libraries must be ready to keep upwith the changes.

KNLS Director, Mr. Atuti (left) and CCKDirector General Mr. Waweru after they

signed an MOU

supporting internet connectivityusing cost effective technology.The main objective of the pro-ject is to facilitate increased ac-cess to public communication byproviding affordable access andenhancing ICT capacity amongcommunities in rural areas.The project will be carried out

in Laikipia, Muranga, Dzitsoni,Habaswein, Werugha, Mande-ra, Kwale, Mwingi, Lusumu andLagam.

E-books and the library


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This is a service whereby, a potential li-brary user is identified, enrolled as amember and served at his/ her place of work.This service was initiated to cater for peoplewho need library service but cannot make itto the library premises due to the nature oftheir work. Amongst people served at Mwingi

branch are businessmen/women, bankersand hospital staff. This service requires a oneon one marketing strategy through convinc-ing and good persuasive language. Commit-ment, dedication, loyalty and trustworthinessare virtues that add spice to the service. Theservice has been in operation since March2010 when the inter library loan partnershipwith NAL was initiated. This partnership wascreated to satisfy a special need of a certaingroup of clients (Christian Literature Read-

ers). Mwingi branch has limited materials onthis subject. Hence our partnership with Nai-robi area library (NAL) helped to address thisneed. The popular Christian literature booksfrom NAL and the innovative mode of servingthe users has led to the discovery of interestedusers who could not easily access the librarydue to the nature of their work.

The potential users are identified through:observation (does one read his/her own

books?); casual talk aimed at making thepotential user open up; and introduction bythose already being served.

The potential user is given a copy of rulesand regulations to read (at place of work),and if he/she accepts to comply, an applica-tion form is issued to be signed by either thechief or employer. After completing the appro-priate membership process, the new memberis issued with the membership card.

The new members reading profile is taken,and he/she is served from their work places.The service is sustained through frequent visitsand the use of mobile phone to e.g. renew or

Door step service:Taking library services to the people

By Patrick M Mutta, Mwingi

ask the library staff to collect books that havebeen read and issuing of new ones. The es-sence of the service lies in the dedication ofthe library staff especially in being available

at very short notice, knowledge of user needsand sacrifice as this service needs a pedes-trian type of operation. The service is limitedto the central town zone of Mwingi. An easyImpact assessment has revealed that a newtype of user group has been created and theirneeds met.

Publicity of the library has been enhancedby users talking about the library service fromtheir point of work as they interact with their

clients. As a result, there has been increasedusage of library information materials

Some of the members have since reorgan-ized their busy schedules and created time tovisit the library so that they can sample theavailable information materials by them-selves.

Taking library service to the people is aconcept that needs to be embraced and re-searched on. There is a lot of potential if it

is approached wisely and made user friendly.Though it is challenging, the gains thereafterare worthwhile because people are reachedand their needs are met.

A childrens collection in the library


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books and pre-reading skills. The location forfamily literacy includes schools, baby clinics,family centers, day nurseries, libraries afterschool playgrounds, church buildings andhousing schemes.

Children, their parents and grandparents es-pecially in developed countries frequent librariesnot only to use books and other information ma-terials in various formats (audio tapes, video cas-settes, CDS, talking books, CD-ROMs) but also

to use libraries as places for public cultural activi-ties. For example art painting, craft and antiqueexhibits, lectures, get-togethers with authors, to-gether with launching of new books. (East, 2000).

Indeed, libraries should target families be-cause illiteracy seems to be passed on fromone generation to the next. Moreover, chil-dren whose parents are functionally illiterateare twice as likely as their peers to be func-tionally illiterate.

Family literacy programs emphasis is onthe parents; role as the childs first teachers.Some libraries go ahead and invite entirefamilies to share in reading activities and booktalks with each member borrowing a bookto take home. (Talan, 1990). Public librariesbuild collections, and plan programs for thepublic in appreciation of the wide range ofreading levels within a community.

A further contribution of public libraries isthe readership role in a community. This is

a achieved through out-reach programs de-signed to serve disadvantaged families andchildren. They also focus on family literacyprogram aimed at assisting low income ruralcommunities and urban neighborhoods pro-viding families chance to borrow books frommobile libraries. Public library programs helpchildren develop reading skills which is a longterm achievement as they climb the ladder inpursuit of higher academic levels. In addition,

these programs also help parents improvepractical skills in all aspects of their lives andin turn help their pre-school children.

The role of public library inpromoting family literacy

By Philomena Mwirigi, NLD

A children librarian helping a junior library user at theKNLS Thika Library


Family literacy has been defined as amovement that addresses the need ofmillions of families across the world. It ad-dresses the critical link between education,self-sufficiency and success in family pro-grams, parents and their pre-school childrenafter school together.

As parents identify their strengths and de-velop their literacy skills, essential messageabout the importance of education are suc-

cessfully passed on to their children. Theseparents and children become learning part-ners for the success of the whole family. It in-volves parents coming together to talk abouttheir own educational need as well as theneeds of their children during what is calledparent and children together (PACT) time. Thiscreates a good approach to serving the edu-cational needs of the family (Logan, 2002).

The public libraries play a major role in

helping families develop their literacy skills.They are in remarkable position to exposechildren and parents to great quantities of


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L

ibraries provide their clientele with in-formation that help to support their per-

sonal development as individuals, contribut-ing massively to raise the quality of their livesand enrich their participation in communitydevelopment.

They can therefore identify with the ancientChinese proverb that, if you give a man a fishyou have provided him with a single meal butif you teach him how to fish, he will be able tohave meals all his life.

However, for the library to remain relevant,

awareness creation has to continually appearin the list of library activities. Bunch {1984}says it is not simply enough to set up an In-formation service and expect people to comeflocking to your door. Users need to be con-tinually and effectively reminded of the exist-ence of your service and what it offers.

Without a doubt the core objective is to en-sure a relevant collection that reflects currenttrends of evolution of society. The medical

and health section has been revitalized andnow there new, up to date and current infor-mation materials.

Late last year, a renowned Doctor in EmbuDr. P. Ndirangu in conjunction with some ofhis friends donated books worth more thanK sh.50,000. What is pleasing about the newpartnership is that he has promised to regu-larly do so when he is able to. We appreciateDr P. Ndirangus generosity and big heart. Heis truly a friend of the library. We are sincerelythankful for this partnership and hope otherswill emulate his steps. We salute you Daktari!

Embu Librarygets donor formedical andhealth section

By Eunice Nyambura Zakayo, Embu

In the recent past, reading trends of Ken-yans have changed considerably. Most ofthe people in employment especially in publicservice have gone back to class.

The emphasis on transformation, profes-sionalism and competence in public service

delivery motivated many employees to goback to school. As a result, public library us-age has increased and new demand for moreinformation resources has been coming up.

Some of the clients such as the teachers gofor their lessons over the holidays when schoolsare closed. They come to the library with theirassignments, they request to be allowed to holddiscussions at the library compound where theyare provided with furniture. Discussion groups

have become very popular in our libraries. Thiscannot be done indoor unless there are specialrooms created for that purpose.

Other clients, who are not necessarily inany group, also request to be allowed to dotheir studies out door. Reading shades wouldcome in handy where library users gatherin discussion groups for better revision andbrainstorming. Climatic and weather condi-tions of a region may also favour outdoorreading, especially in hot and humid areas.The idea of gazebos for example can be awelcome move if well thought out.

Out door reading

gains popularity inpublic librariesBy P. M. MUTTA Mwingi


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The Malindi community library renders its services ina unique and exciting approach. However disadvan-taged by space (size), it goes an extra mile in extendingand marketing its services outside the library i.e. taking thelibrary outside the library. Through user studies conductedby the library, a four member committee was formed toidentify the core root cause of under utilization of libraryresources by the community. The committee came up withpossible ideas of initiating reading clubs targeting the jun-

iors. This was aimed at giving a firm foundation of thegrowing and exploited generation by the tourist.KNLS Malindi has two active clubs which include: a

special unit-mentally handicapped at Sir Ali Primary andparent-child reading club at St. Paul Kindergarten. Theparent-child club was initiated on 25th February 2010 byMalindi staff. The clubs undertake various activities suchas reading, storytelling, puzzle and word building, compo-sition writing, educational tours, among others.

One tour that has already been undertaken was at MidaCreek which is an environmental conservation and tourismattraction site. This was agreed upon by the library staff,parents and the teachers. The Mida Creek is regarded asone of the most productive & diverse Mangrove Forest. Ithas a large tidal inlet hosting thousands of migrating birds& resident reptiles and marine type. During the education-al tours, the children learnt about eight different types ofmangrove trees and their uses; the different species of for-eign birds; the coral reefs; marine medicinal herbs; vari-ous types of crabs and their reproduction system and howthe local community has benefited from the eco-system.

With more innovative ideas, we are destined for betterservices.

Taking the library outsideBy Margaret Mbithuka, Malindi

Malindi library book club members from St. Paulkindergarten had a boardwalk experience amongother activities at the Mida Creek. The tour wasjointly organized by library staff, parents andteachers.


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The twenty first century is characterized

by the need for information in all as-pects of life. Societies have evolved from hunt-ers and gatherers to industrial society all theway to the current information society whereinformation is vital in every aspect of manslife and endeavor.

Large amounts of information is generatedin all human activities and transfer of this in-formation has been made easy through crea-tion of networks where information is avail-

able with the click of a button. However, this isa tall order to achieve given the digital dividethat exists among communities. The cost ofinformation seeking and the language usedin disseminating this information may alsopose a major challenge for the common manto comprehend.

This brings us to the fold of informationprofessionals who should take up the man-tle to claim their responsibility in the societyto deliver the much needed package to mostdeserving rural communities so that they canparticipate fully in the development agendajust like their counterparts in the urban and af-fluent world . According to Muchombu, 1993,rural communities have common informationneeds such as:-

Information on income generation(projects, non-farm incomes and mon-ey saving initiatives)

Community leadership

Literacy support Basic economics (petty business, fi-

nance/loans and how to get them and

Empower communitieswith information

By Abdullahi Abdi Ali, Masalani

survival of small businesses)

Government policies on rural develop-ment (health, agriculture, education,cooperatives etc)

Soil conservation, fertility restorationand soil erosion among other specificneeds of different rural communities inthe third world countries.

Information professionals and librarians inparticular should reach out to the majority ru-ral communities who are helpless and in dire

need of information. Community informationservice has been particularly very successfulin south East Asian countries like Indonesia,Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand.

The information systems in Indonesia, forinstance provides programs like village broad-casts and village newspapers where listeninggroups in villages have been formed as partof the strategy towards direct involvement ingovernment programs as outlined by statepolicies. Such programs are spearheaded byaggressive librarians named bare foot li-brarians synonymous with the long distancesthey travel to reach out to the communities.

Our librarians should emulate them andtake advantage of the new constitution by in-fluencing county laws and policies with regardto information and negotiate for better budg-ets to enable meet communities informationneeds. Library services should be guided byconsumer needs and the shift from informa-

tion provider to information consumer (clien-tele) should be the focus in order to win theconfidence of the user.


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KNLS Director, Richard Atuti (left) receives a bookdonation from Focus Publishers

Guests arrive for the Buruburu Library open day

KNLS Director (2nd right) receives a one million Kenyashillings book donation from Longhorn ManagingDirector, Mrs Janet Njoroge (centre)

Children play with toys at the childrens section during the open day

KNLS Director (seated) admires some of the show exhibitsat the KNLS stand during the 2010 Nairobi Internationaltrade Fair


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t of honour, Mr Kenneth Lusaka, addresses guests duringNational Book Week Celebrations at KNLS headquarters Participants at the official launch of the 2010 National BookWeek celebrations at KNLS headquarters

A junior library user is taken through the children sectionat the new Buruburu Library

St. Paul's Kindergarten pupils on a tour of the MidaCreek in Malindi, organised by Malindi KNLS Library

he new Buruburu Library


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Inter lending or inter-library loan, accord-ing to Harrodss Librarian`s Glossaryand Reference Book, is defined as: Schemeswhereby users of one library or informationsystem may request their service point to bor-

row from other library systems materials notheld in their own library systems. Kudos Nai-

robi Area Library for reviving this service. It isan ancient idea that is relevant and importantin present times. This move is a clear indica-tion that we are going back to the nitty-grittyof professional librarianship. This service en-

sures that information materials are optimallyexploited and it helps in the enforcement oftwo of the five library science laws, namely:Books are for use, and every user his/herbook.

It is a tool that enhances confidence andloyalty in library users because they feel ca-tered for when materials are sought outsidetheir stations. Mwingi Community Library is abeneficiary of this service courtesy of Nairobi

Area Library. Since early 2009, these two li-

braries have been enjoying a good symbioticrelationship as far as service delivery is con-cerned. Through this service, Mwingi Com-munity Library has been able to:

1. Form two reading clubs, namely-Chris-tian Literature Readers, and Fiction Readers

2. Increase membership enrolment due toexposure of materials borrowed from Nairobi

3. Retain and build confidence of the cli-ents because of striving to satisfy their needs

4. Pilot a new type of service deliverywhereby very busy willing users are served attheir convenient service point (place of work)

Notwithstanding, Nairobi Area Librarymust be enjoying the increase of bulk materi-als borrowed in regard to book issues statis-tics. No library is an island by itself; we can-not be self sufficient. When one library lacksinformation materials that can be found fromanother library, inter-library lending facilitates

resource sharing. Many potential users maketheir decision by checking what is availableon the shelves. Users should know what is notin the respective branch shelf can be broughtfrom other branches.

I would like to request Nairobi Area librarystaff to go an extra mile and act as an infor-mation source that will facilitate inter lendingamong other branches in the KNLS system.

Ability to meet a user`s need is just a phonecall away. Again, kudos NAL let the anointingof inter-lending flow to other branches. Weembrace the idea dearly.

Interlending:A welcome idea

By P.M Mutta, Mwingi Library

A collection of books at the new KNLS Buruburu Library


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Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)were adopted by world leaders in2000 as development plan for 15 years upto 2015. A recent review by world leaderssummit revealed that some countries may notrealize all the goals by 2015.

The overall purpose of MDGs is to reducepoverty in all its major dimensions by 50%.Based on that, the leaders summit concluded

that progress has been mixed and prospectsfor reaching all the goals are uneven. Theycommitted themselves to an action plan to ac-celerate progress toward the goals over theremaining five years of the project.

Governments with impoverished popula-tions are seen not to be committed to reali-zation of the goals. At the same time donorcountries havent met their financial commit-ments to the project. No one can be underany illusion about the inherent difficulties in-volved in attaining MDGs. There are eightgoals, several specific targets for each goaland numerous measurable indicators havebeen established to gauge progress towardthese targets and the overall goals.

In general, data collated by the United Na-tions show some significant progress in sub-Saharan Africa, and Kenya has performedwell by sub-Saharan Africa standards inmany but not all areas. According to the re-

port, Kenya has actually lost ground in a fewnotable areas.

The eight millennium development goals

(MDGs) are: Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Pov-

erty and Hunger; Goal 2: Achieve universal

primary education; Goal 3: Promote gender

equality and empower women; Goal 4: Re-

duce child mortality; Goal 5: Improve ma-

ternal health; Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS,

malaria and other diseases; Goal 7: Ensureenvironmental sustainability; Goal 8: Devel-

op a Global Partnership for development.

Countries to miss deadlineto realization of MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDGs)

By David Muswii, DD (TS)

The 2010 AHILA 12th Congress washeld in Ouagadougou Burkina Faso.I represented KNLS and had an opportunityto present a paper on Training and settingup functional health information sections inKNLS branch libraries.

The congress brought together participantsfrom Africa, Europe and North America. Itwas one of the most creative and production

information sharing venue for many of us.The theme of the congress was Health Infor-mation in Africa: Meeting our goals. It hadsub-themes such as: re-defining the role ofthe information professional in the provisionof health information; use of ICTs to bridgeinformation divide in Africa; patients accessto and dissemination of health information;and sharing the latest research findings withrelevance to local practice.

The attendance to this conference was

generously supported by Electronic Infor-mation for Libraries Network (www.eifl.net),a non governmental organization that pro-motes research and development of librariesin the developing and transitional countries.

Kenya had the largest delegation of present-ers with eight participants representing variousorganizations and learning institutions. Thecountry was hailed for being a key driver andactive member of the Association through itslocal Ken-AHILA network. Nasra Gathoni, the

secretary of the local Ken-AHILA chapter waselected president of the Association.

The congress activities included practicaltraining on the use of HINARI (www.who.int/hinari) with some emphasis on research forlife, a presentation on literacy manual forHealth Science, launch of LATINA (Learningand Teaching in a Digital World), a Universityof Olso run program that had been availedto Africa for the first time. The project wouldbe implemented in Kenya, Tanzania, Ugandaand Sudan during summer 2011. The next

AHILA congress will be held at Cape VerdeIsland in 2012.

Sharing healthinformation tomeet our goals

By Omar Abdi


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The 19th Eastern, Central, Southern Af-rica Library and Information Associa-tions (SCECSAL) conference was hosted bythe Botswana Library Association (BLA) at the

University of Botswana. The theme of theconference was Enhancing Democracy andgood governance through effective informa-tion and knowledge services.

This theme was based on the premise thatgood governance may not be achieved if li-braries and Information services do not playa pro active role in closing the gap betweenthe information rich and the information poornations and in particular create a sustainable

information society and a knowledge econo-my environment.

The 21st century should be seen as a wa-tershed in the development and contributionof libraries and information services towardsdemocracy, good governance, and elimina-tion of poverty in the continent through theprovision of open access to effective informa-tion and knowledge services for Africas de-velopment. Democracy and socio-economic

development requires an informed and ques-tioning citizenry.Libraries and information centres in the

region face the challenge of proving theircontinued existence to national governmentsand societies in the midst of other informa-tion service providers. Given this scenario theSCECSAL conference needed to answer thefollowing questions?

Should African governments continue toprovide funding for libraries and informa-

tion services? Should members of society or community

use library and information services whenGoogle is available 24/7?

Given the development of ICTs and net-worked environment how much are librar-ies and information centres still relevant?

What critical role do libraries and infor-mation services play in national develop-ment?

The conference addressed various issues re-volving around developments in ICT andinformation and governance.

Freedom of access to information, censor-ship to information, Internet monitoring,information privacy and confidentiality

Democratization process and promotion

of sustainable good governance in Africa,human rights, socio economic develop-ment,

Advocacy and Smart partnerships betweenlibraries and government in national de-velopment

Freedom of access to information, censor-ship to information, Internet monitoring

Information and Communication Technol-ogies (ICTs)

Digital divide and achievement of democ-racy, E-Governance/e-government andlibraries in Africa, universal access to in-formation and disadvantaged groups

Information literacy, local content, knowl-edge management/services.

Meeting with other information profes-sionals in the region is always beneficial andeye opening. Kenya is not very different fromthe other countries in many ways in terms ofservice provision.

Participants learnt vrious lessons from thepapers presented. It was clear that public li-braries were catalysts for change in the com-munity.

The EIFL public library innovation programmebrought this out very clearly as it aimed to placethe libraries at the centre of community life byhelping them to overcome challenges such asunderstanding community needs, integratingICTs and improving outreach services.

Public libraries are instrumental in alleviat-ing poverty and building a democratic society.

SCECSAL XIXConference on

information andgovernanceBy Caroline Kayoro, CDBD


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Public libraries serve as university, school andcommunity libraries all in one and users placehigh demands on them.

Librarians need to tap into the numerousavenues for partnerships with government andother stakeholders in youth, sports and tourism,music, cultural activities and indigenous knowl-edge programmes in their respective countries.These partnerships with government can enablelibraries to add value to national development.

University libraries have broadened theirhorizon and are now involved in outreach pro-grammes with the communities surroundingthem such as information literacy and outreachprogrammes to the disadvantaged groups.

Most governments have developed websitesto promote governance and democracy, how-ever these sites are not updated regularly andmost are not very interactive. Information pro-fessionals need to be in the fore front to ensure

that effective and practical government websitesare maintained to enhance e-governance.

Government publications are importanttools of promoting governance and democracyand should be accessible to all citizens startingfrom primary level students through the schoollibraries. Librarians therefore need to stock theschool libraries with the necessary governmentpublications.

Countries have initiated various programmeswith partners to fast track integration of ICT inservice delivery e.g the sesigo project in Botswa-na National Library funded by Melinda and Billgates foundation.

The need to integrate Information ethicsin the curricula for African Universities wasdiscussed. Information ethics would enableinformation professionals to engage in ethi-cal reasoning by determining what is right or

wrong in a dilemma situation. Integration ofInformation ethics in the curricula would sup-port information professionals in their under-standing and development of ethical valuesand morals with regard to protection (privacyand confidentiality).

Introduction of Knowledge/ Informationmanagement in the curriculum for the SCEC-SAL region was discussed. It was agreed thatthis curriculum was required for information

professionals in nurturing democracy and goodgovernance.

The emergence of open source software(OSS) in the information industry has shapedthe way software is developed and maintained.It is free to download, use and modify. South

Africa demonstrated how it has successfullyimplemented open source software and in theprocess ended up saving on a lot of funds. Fol-lowing the world wide option of OSS by govern-

ments, the South African government approveda policy on the use of free open source software(FOSS) in 2007. This policy states that the gov-ernment will implement FOSS unless proprietysoftware is demonstrated to be sufficiently supe-rior and whenever the advantages of FOSS andpropriety software are comparable FOSS will beimplemented when choosing a software solu-tion for a new project. Whenever FOSS is notimplemented then, reasons must be provided inorder to justify the implementation of propriety

software. The National Library of South Africa(NLSA) has migrated from Microsoft Windows

SCECSAL XIX Conference oninformation and governance

Government publications are

important tools of promoting

governance and democracy

and should be accessible to

all citizens starting from pri-

mary level students through the

school libraries.


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and office to Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop(SLED) and OpenOffice.org which has translat-ed into long term cost savings as it is no longernecessary to regularly upgrade both hardwareand software as in the past. However, they hadto invest on required I.T skills heavily in the initialstages. Participants in the conference felt thatopen source is the way to go for libraries.

Public libraries are unable to demonstratetheir value in a language that the politiciansand decision makers can understand. Librar-ians were urged to be vigilant in collecting rou-tine statistics, and to select one or two of theirregular activities or special projects and system-atically gather tangible evidence of their impacton users in terms of behaviour, competence andlevel of knowledge. An example was given of apublic library arranging for tuition for studentsin the library on Saturdays and during the holi-

days. To assess impact it is important to docu-ment improved performance of these studentsin exams. Narratives that are backed up withobjective and verifiable evidence can providepoliticians and funders with incontrovertibleproof of the value of public library services.

Investing in the development of Digital li-braries will greatly uplift scholarship in theregion. Sustainable digital libraries requirenecessary digital infrastructure, appropriate

collections and services, standards and poli-cies, training both library staff and users andallocating necessary financial resources.

Todays online experience has added anew dimension in our information seekingactivities, presenting users with a vast arrayof options. A considerable amount of infor-mation has migrated from the print world tothe World Wide Web. Some of the early con-cerns that discredited web content such as thewidely held view that web based informationlacks credibility are gradually losing ground.

Although questions about the quality of webinformation are still relevant, they appear tohave little effect on its utilization.

Open access (free and immediate onlineaccess to peer reviewed journal literature) is still

not used effectively in the region mainly becauseelectronic resources are inaccessible to most Af-rican countries and communities do not have thetechnological infrastructure to receive and distrib-ute open access publications effectively. However,open access publications can play a major rolein achievement of cultural rights and thus helpsocieties and communities stand firmly on a baseof democracy and good governance from whichthey can work toward a better future.

The concept of knowledge management isoften not clearly understood and its true valueand potential not always recognized. The per-ception often exists that hoarding knowledgeenhances competitiveness. Africas potentialcan only be unlocked if there is a shift fromconcentrating on physical development of eco-nomic and other resources to recognizing thevalue of knowledge and information and un-derstanding that there is a need to leverage thesocial and intellectual capital of its citizenry.

Library and information centres will re-main relevant if they are vigilant in adoptingrelevant Information Communication Tech-nologies, acquire dynamic skills such as In-formation ethics, knowledge management,advanced IT skills and demonstrate their val-ue to the politicians and funders.

Conference oninformation and

governance

A section of participants who attended the SCECSAL XIXConference at the University of Botswana



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Aparent-baby reading club is a wonderfulway of fostering a life-long love forreading, expanding children minds as well asproviding a forum to build important life skillssuch as public speaking, debate and viewingthings from different perspectives. Such clubsare also great opportunities for children tosocialize and meet new friends.

To realize a successful parent-baby readingclub you have to be very friendly with both theparents and the children. It is important thatyou explain to the parents what your inten-

sions are and the benefits of them and theirchildren joining the club. Most of the parentsare excited about such a beneficial arrange-ment for their children.

At Nairobi Area Library (NAL) the Childrenlibrarian had to research on how best to startsuch a club and how it can be sustained.

The club started on 9th November 2010.The parents were excited about the idea andtogether we agreed to be meeting every 3rdSaturday of every month. We also developedthe vision, mission and objectives of the club,as well as the constitution to govern the club.

Parent-baby reading club gathers steamBy Eunice Wambeti Mwaniki, NAL

The club has 12 children and 15 senior(parents/ guardians) members. Activities in-

clude public speaking (begins by children giv-ing some detailed introduction about them-selves to others), socializing and makingfriends.

We noticed that after doing this introduc-tion by introducing and doing activities to-gether all the children, who came to the clubwhen they were very shy and not able to so-cialize with others, could do so without fear.Their attitude changed to being friendly and

social to each other.The clubs activities involve children build-

ing blocks, playing with toys, moulding, sing-ing, watching cartoon movies while parentsread stories for children.

The senior club members compete in loudreading, writing, spelling, mental sums, dic-tation, drawing, performing plays as well assinging.

In future the club plans to introduce outdoorgames, bouncing castle, swings, halloos andball games as well as picnic and educationaltrips to national parks, animal orphanagesetc.

Junior library users and their parents and guardians in an outdoor activity during the club meeting.


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6. Encourage the children to play andjoin together with the parents to playwith them. Playing helps children

to socialize. You may find that somechildren seem to be more success-ful in their friendship than others. Re-searches show that children who findit difficult to play with others are morelikely to have problems with their rela-tionships in adulthood. For example astudy by S.W Duck in 1991 suggestedthat those who were rejected by theirpeers were more likely to display signs

of alcoholism, schizophrenia and de-linquent behavior in later life. It seemslikely that if the loners can be detectedearly and helped to play with others,bullying and later social isolation canbe avoided.

7. For the club to be successful stake-holders must formulate a constitutionwhich will guide its operations. Theconstitution shall also define the roles

and responsibilities of all the stakeholders, who are KNLS Librarians, Par-ents, Children and Partners. It shouldalso define the membership.

With the continuous support of our NALLibrarian and the parents, the junior librarystaff are committed to keep the club activethrough:

Organizing competitions against otherclubs

Linkages through the internet Start a childrens magazine and en-courage children to contribute articles

Solicit for funding of the club activitiesfrom various organizations and indi-viduals.

Lessons learnt from by NAL Children Li-brarians in the course of working withchildren in the parent-baby club:

1. You have to be caring as this is the bestway to help children value themselvesand their culture, for example readingstories for them, watching pictures to-gether, modeling, coloring and listen-ing to them. You need to reduce your-self to their level.

2. While working with children can be ex-citing and certainly not boring, it can

also be tiring and much patience isrequired. You need to be patient andcalm when you are with them.

3. You have to be a good listener. Thisis important for you to be able to getclose to them and understand theirneeds or what they are trying to tellyou.

4. Beware of your body language. This isan important factor while working withchildren because it sends out messagesto them and they can easily read yourmind through the body language thatyou project. Babies, for example willcry if they feel that the person holdingthem is not relaxed because they canfeel the tension in the persons arms.

5. You need to smile and look interestedin what the children are saying anddoing. You need to show them thatyou enjoy being with them. With youngchildren you also need to make surethat you maintain eye contact, bend orcrouch down so that you are on thesame level with them.

Guidelines in setting up a reading club

While working with children canbe exciting and certainly not boring, it can also

be tiring and much patience is required. You need tobe patient and calm when you are with them.

Documents

Kenal News Issue 9