- Preserve and conserve the national imprint for reference and research and maintain the National Bibliographic Control through the 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 in the 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.
Our Core Mandate
The Role of National & Public Libraries in Community Development
The Role of National & Public Libraries in Community Development
Provision of information for development through the national and public library network enables people to fight poverty deprivation and illiteracy and thus supports reading and recovery programs by the government. Rural and urban poor communities are better able to tackle their problems and introduce social change if they have access to relevant information that meets their needs and interests. In addition, access to information about the country enables citizens to participate effectively in the art of governance.
Through various reading campaigns, KNLS provides opportunities for communities to enhance their reading and information-seeking habits, and therefore sustain literacy. The 2006 Kenya National Adult Literacy Survey estimated the national literacy rate at 61.5 % indicating that only 38.5 % of Kenyan adults were illiterate. The survey also revealed that only 29.6 % of the adult population had acquired the desired mastery level of literacy. 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 promotes reading by providing access to relevant reading materials to all communities. Libraries play a major role in stimulating public interest in books and in promoting reading for knowledge, information, and enjoyment – thus KNLS is indeed a “people’s university.”
However, a country with effective library and information services will achieve continuity in learning and reading beyond the formal school program. Such systems cannot be explained any better than ensuring that library services are accessible to as many Kenyans as possible throughout the country. Public libraries go beyond formal education and they are at the heart of personal and community development.