Kenya national library service (knls) in partnership with Book Aid International (BAI) supported the establishment of school libraries in four schools within Nairobi and Nakuru. The schools were identified through the heads of libraries in Buruburu and Nakuru where they needed to identify a school without a library but had space that they could set aside for the establishment of a library. The goal of the program was to enhance the reading culture among children through the provision of local and internationally published supplementary reading materials. The program had the following components;

1. Training of at two or three teacher librarians who would play a critical role in the operations and maintenance of library stock and programs
2. Provision of 2500 books from United Kingdom and 500 locally purchased Kenyan Books
3. Provision of furniture (shelves, tables, chairs and a mat) to meet the needs of the ECDE and Upper Primary Category
4. Repainting of the library space with attractive colours for children
5. Drawing of murals on the walls
6. Provision of toys and educative play items

The teachers were trained for three days on handling different readers in a library environment, understanding children books, book processing, library research skills and reading culture promotion.

Outcomes

The school management, teachers and pupils appreciated the libraries and promised to take care of the resources provided and to make good use of them. They also promised to share the resources with neighbouring schools and the communities.

A launch event was organized to create awareness about the facilities for all the four school libraries. The schools that were considered are as follows;

Nairobi Region

1. Kariobangi North Primary School
2. Kayole 1 Primary School

Nakuru Region

1. Gaakwen Primary School
2. Mwariki Primary School

The launch at Gaakwen Primary School was officiated by Mr Stephen Mau a knls Board Member and Mr. Jack Wafula knls Ag. CEO. Mr Mau encouraged the students by informing them that they now have a wonderful opportunity to access great books which have the ability to enable them enhance their speech, vocabulary and improve on their gramma.

Mr Wafula commended the initiative of the school head teacher in registering for membership at Nakuru library in order to enable children have access to books through bulk book borrowing despite the long distance from the Library.

Launch activities were also organized at all libraries.