The Kenya National Library Service (KNLS) is a corporate
body of the Kenyan government with a mandate to "promote, establish,
equip, manage, maintain and develop libraries in Kenya". In its service
provision, KNLS plays a dual role of Public library and National library of
Kenya. The public library services are available in their 61 branches
throughout Kenya, while the national library services are available at the
headquarters in Nairobi. Through various reading campaigns, KNLS has provided
opportunities for communities to enhance their reading and information-seeking
habits, and therefore sustain literacy. KNLS promotes reading by providing
access to relevant reading materials to all communities. By playing a major
role in stimulating public interest in books and in promoting reading for
knowledge, information and enjoyment, the KNLS is indeed a "people's university."
The KNLS provides resources in electronic and print format and reading spaces
to its clients throughout the country.
Books and documents:
1,4 million
Electronic documents:
Available
Periodicals p.a.:
Available
Multimedia / Audiovisual Material:
Available
Annual growth:
Stable
Methods of Data Management
Cataloging Rules:
AACR2
Classification System:
DDC
Database Software:
AMLIB
Services and Special Activites
Information Services Provided:
Books and ICT
Publications Produced:
Kenya Bibliography
Special Activities:
Organized for needy people in the community
Networking:
Library consortium
Other Material
Challenges and Obstacles in Carrying out the Work:
- Demand
for current and updated materials.
- Budgetary
and space constraints.
Strategies and Perspectives to Improve Services:
- Joining
library consortium.
- More
partnerships with like-minded organizations.
- Lobbying
for more government funding.
List Of Public Libraries In Kenya
This is a list of public libraries in Kenya. Public libraries in Kenya are managed by the Kenya National Library Service (KNLS), a statutory body of the Government of Kenya established in 1965 by an Act of Parliament, Cap 225 of the laws of Kenya.
Here is a list of public libraries in Kenya.
Baringo County
1. Kabarnet KNLS Library
Location: Along Nakuru-Iten Road.
Contact: 020 215 8364.
Email: knlskabarnet@knls.ac.ke.
2. Meisori KNLS Library
Location: Marigat- Lake Baringo Road, 10km from Marigat
Town.
Email: knlsmeisori@knls.ac.ke.
3. Eldama Ravine KNLS Library
Location: Eldama Ravine, Off Milimani Saw Mill Road.
Email: knlseldamaravine@knls.ac.ke.
Bomet County
4. Silibwet KNLS Library
Location: Along Leiten- Bomet Road, Silibwet.
Contact: 020 215 8375.
Email: knlssilibwet@knls.ac.ke.
Bungoma County
5. Kimilili KNLS Library
Location: Kitale-Bungoma Road, Next to Kimilili District
Hospital.
Contact: 020 215 8370.
Email: knlskimilili@knls.ac.ke.
Elgeyo Marakwet County
6. Lagam KNLS Library
Location: Next to Lagam Catholic Church.
Contact: 020 215 8365.
Email: knlslagam@knls.ac.ke.
Embu County
7. Embu KNLS Library
Location: Kenyatta Road, Embu Town.
Contact: 020 215 8384.
Email: knlsembu@knls.ac.ke.
Garissa County
8. Garissa KNLS Library
Location: Off Garissa-Dadaab Road, Opposite Administration
Police.
Contact: 020 215 8387.
Email: knlsgarissa@knls.ac.ke.
9. Mbalambala KNLS Library
Location: Adjacent to Mbalambala District Hospital.
Email: knlsmbalambala@knls.ac.ke.
10. Masalani KNLS Library
Location: Along Busia-Hola Road, Next to Masalani Primary
School.
Contact: 020 215 8388.
Email: knlsmasalani@knls.ac.ke.
Isiolo County
11. Isiolo KNLS Library
Location: Next to Isiolo IEBC Offices.
Contact: 020 215 8374.
Email: knlsisiolo@knls.ac.ke.
Kakamega County
12. Kakamega KNLS Library
Location: Off Muruli Road, Behind Mwalimu Centre.
Contact: 020 215 8369.
Email: knlskakamega@knls.ac.ke.
13. Lusumu KNLS Library
Location: Shianda Nambacha Road, Near St Kizito Secondary
School.
Email: knlslusumu@knls.ac.ke.
Kericho County
14. Kericho KNLS Library
Location: Along Kisumu Road, Opposite South Western College.
Contact: 020 215 8367.
Email: knlskericho@knls.ac.ke.
Kiambu County
15. Thika KNLS Library
Location: General Kago Road, Thika Town.
Contact: 020 215 8376.
Email: knlsthika@knls.ac.ke.
Kilifi County
16. Kilifi KNLS Library
Location: Bosa Road, Near Chief’s Office.
Contact: 020 215 8398.
Email: knlskilifi@knls.ac.ke.
17. Malindi KNLS Library
Location: Malindi-Lamu Road.
Contact: 020 215 8395.
Email: knlsmalindi@knls.ac.ke.
18. Dzitsoni KNLS Library
Location: Next to Dzitsoni Secondary School.
Contact: 020 215 8399.
Email: knlsdzitsoni@knls.ac.ke.
Kisii County
19. Kisii KNLS Library
Location: Behind Barclays Bank.
Contact: 020 215 8373.
Email: knlskisii@knls.ac.ke.
Kisumu County
20. Kisumu KNLS Library
Location: Ochieng Road, Next to Kisumu Social Centre.
Contact: 020 215 8368.
Email: knlskisumu@knls.ac.ke.
21. Koru KNLS Library
Location: Koru Town.
Email: knlskoru@knls.ac.ke.
Kitui County
22. Mwingi KNLS Library
Location: Mwingi- Kyuso Road, Beside Mwingi High School.
Contact: 020 215 8386.
Email: knlsmwingi@knls.ac.ke.
Kwale County
23. Kwale KNLS Library
Location: Along Ukunda- Lunga Lunga Road.
Contact: 020 213 4195.
Email: knlskwale@knls.ac.ke.
Laikipia County
24. Rumuruti KNLS Library
Location: Off Nyahururu- Maralal Road, Opposite Pagan Girls
Secondary.
Contact: 020 215 8382.
Email: knlsrumuruti@knls.ac.ke.
25. Laikipia KNLS Library
Location: Opposite Kirimara Hotel.
Contact: 020 215 8381.
Email: knlslaikipia@knls.ac.ke.
Makueni County
26. Kithasyu KNLS Library
Location: Next to Kithasyu Primary School and Chulu National
Park.
Contact: 020 215 8396.
Email: knlskithasyu@knls.ac.ke.
27. Mutyambua KNLS Library
Location: Sultan Hamud, Next to Chief’s Office.
Contact: 020 215 8393.
Email: knlsmutyambua@knls.ac.ke.
28. Kinyambu KNLS Library
Location: Kibwezi Town.
Contact: 020 215 8394.
Email: knlskinyambu@knls.ac.ke.
Mandera County
29. Mandera KNLS Library
Location: Off Isiolo-Mandera Road, Next to Magistrate’s
Court.
Contact: 020 215 8392.
Email: knlsmandera@knls.ac.ke.
Marsabit County
30. Moyale KNLS Library
Location: Within Ministry of Health Offices Compound.
Email: knlsmoyale@knls.ac.ke.
Meru County
31. Meru KNLS Library
Location: Kenyatta Road, Meru Town.
Contact: 020 215 8385.
Email: knlsmeru@knls.ac.ke.
32. Mikombine KNLS Library
Location: Nkubu.
Contact: 020 215 8383.
Email: knlsmikombine@knls.ac.ke.
33. Timau KNLS Library
Location: Off Nanyuki-Meru Road, Opposite Timau Catholic.
Contact: knlstimau@knls.ac.ke.
34. Gatimbi KNLS Library
Location: Equator Junction, Next to Chief’s Camp.
Email: knlsgatimbi@knls.ac.ke.
Migori County
35. Awendo KNLS Library
Location: Next to Sony Complex Primary School.
Email: knlsawendo@knls.ac.ke.
Mombasa County
36. Mombasa KNLS Library
Location: Haille Selassie Avenue, Msanifu Kombo Street.
Contact: 020 215 8397.
Email: knlsmombasa@knls.ac.ke.
Muranga County
37. Muranga KNLS Library
Location: Along Kenyatta Avenue.
Contact: 020 236 9592.
Email: knlsmuranga@knls.ac.ke.
38. John Michuki Memorial Library
Location: Next to Kangema sub-county Headquarters.
Contact: 0797 398 054.
Email: knlskangema@knls.ac.ke.
Nairobi County
39. Nairobi KNLS Library
Location: Maktaba Kuu Building, Ngong Road, Community Area.
Contact: 0722 860 567.
Email: knlsnal@knls.ac.ke.
40. Buruburu KNLS Library
Location: Ol Donyo Sabuk Road Junction.
Contact: 020 212 9744.
Email: knlsburuburu@knls.ac.ke.
41. Kibera KNLS Library
Location: Albert Road, Next to Soweto Primary School.
Contact: 0770 706 227.
Email: knlskibera@knls.ac.ke.
Nakuru County
42. Nakuru KNLS Library
Location: Behind Christ the King Cathedral, Off Moses
Mudavadi Road.
Contact: 020 215 8362.
Email: knlsnakuru@knls.ac.ke.
43. Naivasha KNLS Library
Location: Barrier Karui Road.
Contact: 020 215 8361.
Email: knlsnaivasha@knls.ac.ke.
44. Gilgil KNLS Library
Location: Opposite Gilgil Market, Bondeni Estate.
Email: knlsgilgil@knls.ac.ke.
Nandi County
45. Kapsabet KNLS Library
Location: Kapsabet-Eldoret Road, Opposite Kapsabet Hospital.
Contact: 020 215 8366.
Email: knlskapsabet@knls.ac.ke.
Narok County
46. Lelechonik KNLS Library
Location: Leiben-Bomet Road.
Email: knlslelechonik@knls.ac.ke.
47. Narok KNLS Library
Location: Along Narok-Sotik Road, Opposite St Mary’s School.
Email: knlsnarok@knls.ac.ke.
Nyandarua County
48. Ol Kalou KNLS Library
Location: Opposite Ol Kalou Town Council Offices.
Contact: 020 213 4197.
Email: knlsolkalou@knls.ac.ke.
Nyeri County
49. Nyeri KNLS Library
Location: Kenyatta Avenue, Opposite Barclays Bank.
Contact: 020 215 8377.
Email: knlsnyeri@knls.ac.ke.
50. Munyu KNLS Library
Location: Off Nanyuki Road, 12km from Naromoru Town.
Contact: 020 215 8378.
Email: knlsmunyu@knls.ac.ke.
51. Chinga KNLS Library
Location: Next to Chinga Boys High School.
Contact: 020 218 8300.
Email: knlschinga@knls.ac.ke.
52. Karatina KNLS Library
Location: Next to Karatina Law Courts.
Contact: 020 215 8379.
Email: knlskaratina@knls.ac.ke.
Siaya County
53. Ukwala KNLS Library
Location: Ukwala, Port Victoria-Ugunja Road.
Contact: 020 215 8372.
Email: knlsukwala@knls.ac.ke.
54. Nyilima KNLS Library
Location: Along Ndori-Uyoma Road.
Contact: 020 215 8371.
Email: knlsnyilima@knls.ac.ke.
55. Rambula KNLS Library
Location: Ugunja Town.
Contact: 020 203 1867.
Email: knlsrambula@knls.ac.ke.
Taita Taveta County
56. Wundanyi KNLS Library
Location: Wundanyi, Next to Ministry of Lands Office.
Contact: 020 213 4196.
57. Mary Patch Turnbull Memorial KNLS Library
Location: Next to Shimbo Secondary School, Wundanyi.
Email: knlswerugha@knls.ac.ke.
58. Voi Community KNLS Library
Location: Opposite Voi Law Courts.
Email: knlsvoi@knls.ac.ke.
Uasin Gishu County
59. Eldoret KNLS Library
Location: Iten- Uganda Road Junction.
Contact: 020 215 8363.
Email: knlseldoret@knls.ac.ke.
Wajir County
60. Wajir KNLS Library
Location: Wajir Town.
Contact: 020 215 8340.
Email: knlswajir@knls.ac.ke.
61. Habaswein KNLS Library
Location: Habaswein, Opposite CDF Offices.
Contact: 020 215 8389.
Email: knlshabaswein@knls.ac.ke.
62. Bute KNLS Library
Location: Next to Bute Girls High School.
Email: knlsbute@knls.ac.ke.
63. Tarbaj KNLS Library
Location: Next to Tarbaj District Hospital.
Email: knlstarbaj@knls.ac.ke.
64. Griftu KNLS Library
Location: 20km off Wajir- Moyale Road.
Email: knlsgriftu@knls.ac.ke.