Collection development in the public library system in Kenya: constraints, solutions, and the way forward

摘要

INTRODUCTION The last twenty years have seen a lot of constraints in the way of collection development in Kenya and most of the African continent. The public library system in Kenya is largely run by the Kenya National Library Service which has been mandated to do so by an Act of Parliament (CAP 225 of the Laws of Kenya). This paper is about the problems which acquisition or collection development has been undergoing, and a few suggested solutions as well as a glimpse of the way forward, all of which areseen through the author's eye. CONSTRAINTS Our country, like most developing countries, faces budgetary constraints to support vital functions in the day to day running of libraries - for example, in the purchase of books, periodicals, journals, and so on. Computers are increasingly becoming important for the running of our libraries. However, funds for the acquisition of these vital provisions still remain elu-sive. The collection librarian is thus cast in an uncompromising position of looking for methods of allocating his dwindling resources. He has to find ways of providing both access to and appropriate ownership of the books in his library. The main function of the Kenya National Library Service Board is to create a knowledgeable society through supporting government literacy programmes, so wiping out ignorance in Kenya. In this endeavour, the Board provides both teaching and learning materials to both teachers and students, not forgetting research materials for serious researchers as well as university students. In this, it is then the responsibility of the acquisition librarian, in conjunction with the branch librarians serving in the Board's branch networks, to constantly monitor the changes in the school curriculum, as well as changing research needs. Thus, the numbers of students and researchers in any of our networks determine the quantity and quality of the books, periodicals and journals to be purchased.