The Status of School Libraries in Kenya: The Case of Public Secondary Schools in Nairobi County

Abstract

In order for school libraries to contribute sufficiently to better information skills development and the creation of a culture of lifelong learning among students, they require backing through well-articulated policies both at national and individual school level. This article reports on a study that investigated the prevailing status of school libraries in public secondary schools in Nairobi County, Kenya. Using a survey research design, with a response rate of 68 per cent for school principals and 66 per cent for school librarians, the study established that the majority of the schools had school libraries but these were as a result of individual schools’ efforts and not a nationwide government policy. Moreover, the school libraries lacked policies; had not embraced contemporary trends in technology; and lacked financial support. The study concluded that school libraries in Nairobi County were inadequately resourced and supported and recommended that the government of Kenya should develop national policies to entrench and support school libraries in the education system.