{"id":62,"date":"2026-08-26T06:03:56","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T06:03:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.knls.ac.ke\/index.php\/who-we-are\/"},"modified":"2026-09-17T08:32:19","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T05:32:19","slug":"who-we-are","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.knls.ac.ke\/who-we-are\/","title":{"rendered":"Who We Are"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<section class=\"page-hero page-hero--who-we-are who-page-hero--compact\">\n<div class=\"container page-hero__inner\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"kicker\">About Us<\/p>\n<h1>Who We Are<\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National custodian of Knowledge.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<nav class=\"breadcrumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\"><a href=\"\/\">Home<\/a><br \/>\n<span aria-hidden=\"true\">\/<\/span><br \/>\nWho We Are<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"section who-page-refresh\">\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"who-page-refresh__intro\">\n<article class=\"who-page-refresh__story reveal\">\n<p class=\"kicker\">Our identity<\/p>\n<h2>National Custodian of Knowledge.<\/h2>\n<p>Kenya National Library Service (KNLS) Board is a statutory body of the Government of Kenya established by an Act of Parliament, Cap 225 of the Laws of Kenya, in April 1965. The State Corporations Act, Cap 446 of the Laws of Kenya, also guides the Board in its operations.<\/p>\n<p>KNLS exists to provide library and information services, promote literacy and safeguard Kenya\u2019s documentary heritage. This foundation reflects our long-standing role as the national library and custodian of the country\u2019s knowledge resources.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<aside class=\"who-page-refresh__context reveal\">\n<p class=\"kicker\">Our evolving role<\/p>\n<h3>National leadership after the devolution of public libraries.<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Over the years, KNLS established three national library centres and 61 public libraries in 33 counties. Following the Constitution of Kenya 2010, public-library functions were devolved to County Governments. KNLS now focuses on national policy, standards, preservation, sector support and access to knowledge.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"who-page-refresh__facts\" aria-label=\"KNLS institutional facts\">\n<div><strong>1965<\/strong><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Established by law<\/span><\/div>\n<div><strong>3<\/strong><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">National library centres<\/span><\/div>\n<div><strong>33<\/strong><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Counties historically served<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"who-functions-section reveal\" aria-labelledby=\"who-functions-title\">\n<div class=\"who-functions-section__heading\">\n<p class=\"kicker\">What we do<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"who-functions-title\">How KNLS protects knowledge and helps people access it.<\/h2>\n<p>Our national mandate brings together policy leadership, preservation, research, literacy promotion and practical support for libraries and communities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"who-functions-grid\">\n<article class=\"who-function-card\"><span class=\"who-function-card__number\">01<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Shape library policy and standards<\/h3>\n<p>We develop national library policy, legislation, norms and standards so that library services across Kenya can grow with clear guidance and consistent quality.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"who-function-card\"><span class=\"who-function-card__number\">02<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Strengthen county library services<\/h3>\n<p>We provide technical assistance and capacity building to County Governments, helping local library teams improve their services and respond to community needs.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"who-function-card\"><span class=\"who-function-card__number\">03<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Advance library research<\/h3>\n<p>We carry out and promote research on libraries and related services, creating evidence that supports better decisions, innovation and sector development.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"who-function-card\"><span class=\"who-function-card__number\">04<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Promote reading and literacy<\/h3>\n<p>We encourage reading for knowledge, information and enjoyment while supporting campaigns that help build a stronger reading culture and reduce illiteracy.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"who-function-card\"><span class=\"who-function-card__number\">05<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Issue international standard numbers<\/h3>\n<p>We administer identifiers for books, serials and music, making Kenyan publications easier to catalogue, discover and manage locally and internationally.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"who-function-card\"><span class=\"who-function-card__number\">06<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Document Kenya\u2019s publishing output<\/h3>\n<p>We publish the Kenya National Bibliography and the Kenya Periodicals Directory, creating trusted records of the country\u2019s intellectual and cultural production.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"who-function-card\"><span class=\"who-function-card__number\">07<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Connect library catalogues through WebCat<\/h3>\n<p>We establish and maintain a national WebCat so users can explore catalogues from libraries across the country through a more connected discovery system.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"who-function-card\"><span class=\"who-function-card__number\">08<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Preserve the national documentary heritage<\/h3>\n<p>We acquire, preserve and maintain library resources published in Kenya and beyond, protecting materials needed for research and a comprehensive national bibliography.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"who-function-card\"><span class=\"who-function-card__number\">09<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Provide reference and referral support<\/h3>\n<p>We help users locate reliable information and connect them with relevant resources, services and institutions for deeper research and learning.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"who-page-refresh__closing reveal\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"kicker\">Our purpose<\/p>\n<h2>Keeping knowledge available for today and protected for tomorrow.<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Through national leadership, collaboration and practical services, KNLS helps people, institutions and communities find information, preserve valuable records and build a stronger culture of learning.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; About Us Who We Are National custodian of Knowledge. Home \/ Who We Are Our identity National Custodian of Knowledge. Kenya National Library Service (KNLS) Board is a statutory body of the Government of Kenya established by an Act of Parliament, Cap 225 of the Laws of Kenya, in April 1965. The State Corporations [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-62","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.knls.ac.ke\/?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/62","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.knls.ac.ke\/?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.knls.ac.ke\/?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.knls.ac.ke\/?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.knls.ac.ke\/?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=62"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.knls.ac.ke\/?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/62\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":930,"href":"https:\/\/www.knls.ac.ke\/?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/62\/revisions\/930"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.knls.ac.ke\/?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=62"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}