Kenya National Library Service (KNLS)

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 Board‘s mandate is to develop, promote, establish and equip libraries in Kenya. The State Corporations Act Cap 446 of the laws of Kenya also guides the Board in its operations. The core functions of knls are: Preserve and conserve the national imprint for reference and research and maintain the National Bibliographic Control through 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 for 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. The role of knls in community development involves provision of information for development through the national and public library network to enable people to fight poverty deprivation and illiteracy and thus supports reading and recovery programmes 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.