How many Libraries are there in Kenya?

Good question! We don’t know, and neither does anyone else!

Because there are so many NGOs and other groups that run libraries in Kenya, no one really knows how many libraries there are in the country. KNLS has 54 libraries, and we are currently compiling a map to show their distribution around the country. However, there are probably many more libraries outside the KNLS network than inside.

We want to get a comprehensive list. Kenya Library Association is going to help us by sending a letter to everyone in their network asking them to send a list (with contact details!) of all the libraries that each of them knows about. We will put together the spreadsheet, deleting duplications. If we get to a point when we can hire someone in Kenya, one of the tasks will be to get in touch with those libraries and ask them to list all the libraries they know about. We will continue with this until we hit dead ends on all fronts and there are no new libraries to contact. It sounds like a lot of work, but a lot of projects in Kenya work this way—you get to know who is doing what by word of mouth.

In the meantime, if any of you know of any libraries operating in Kenya, let us know!