The County Library Services Bill (Senate Bill No. 40 of 2024)

REPUBLICOFKENYA PARLIAMENT

SENATEBILLS (BillNo.40of2024)

THECOUNTYLIBRARYSERVICESBILL,2024

(A Bill published in the Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 144 of 24th July, 2024 and passed by the Senate,with amendments,on Wednesday,25th February,2026.)

THECOUNTYLIBRARYSERVICESBILL,2024

ARRANGEMENTOFCLAUSES

Clause

• 1—Short title.
• 2—Interpretation.
• 3-ObjectivesoftheAct.
• 4—Role of countygovernments.
• 5—Establishmentofacountydirectorateoflibraryservices.
• 6—Functions ofa county directorate of library services.
• 7-Vesting of property.
• 8—Recognition of other libraries in the county.
• 9—Regulations.

Short title.

THE COUNTY LIBRARY SERVICESBILL,2024

A Bill for

ANACTof Parliament toprovidefor the establishment of countylibraries and county directorate of library services in each county; the functions and powers of each county directorate of library services; andforconnectedpurposes

ENACTED by the Parliament of Kenya, as follows

• 1.This Act may be cited as the County Library Services Act, 2024.

Interpretation. 2.In this Act—

"book"includes-

• (a)every volume,part,division ofa volume and pamphlet in any language;
• (b) manuscript in any form;
• (t) every sheet of music, map, graph, chart or plan separately printed or lithographed;
• (d) newspapers, periodicals, paintings, posters, photographs, photographic reproduction, gramophonic records, audiovideo tapes, floppy, compact discs, slides, microfilms and film scripts for audio visual information and such other materials;and
• (e) journals and other electronic resources that can be accessed digitally;

"county directorate of library services" means the county directorate of libraryservices established under section5;

"county executive committee member"' means the county executive committeememberresponsibleforlibraryserviceswithinthe county;

"library"" means an organized collection of printed and digital information resources, books, periodicals or any graphic or audiovisualmaterialtowhichamemberofthepublichasaccess free of charge or on payment of fees or by virtue of being a member of an organization orinstitution;and

"national library service”means a repository and access point for print, audio, audio-visual, braille and digital materials and documents in braille that serve as the pre-eminentrepository of informationfor the country and as the officialnational depository for printed works,a general public access library,information and bibliographic centre.

Objectives of the Act.

• 3.The objective of this Act is to

• (a)establish libraries in each county to ensure that learners and the communities within the countyhave access to educational resources and information;

• (b) to promote literacy in counties; and

• (c) to support education,cultural and research activities by providing necessary resources and facilities.

Role of county governments.

• 4.The County Government shall

• (a)approve and integrate the county libraries annual work plan into the annual county budget;

• (b) mobilise resources necessary for the deliveryof library services in the respective county;

• (c) allocate adequate funds andresources necessaryfor the effective development of libraries;

• (d) collaborate with such entities as it may consider necessary—

• (i) for thedevelopment of capacitybuilding and training programmes for librarians in the county; and

• (i) in financing and mobilising resources for the development and maintenance of county libraries;

• (e) provide the necessary resources for capacity building of the county library staff; and

• (f)approve and integrate the county libraries annual wok plan into thecountyintegrateddevelopmentplans.

Establishmentof a county directorate of library services.

• 5.A county government shall establish a county directorate of library serviceswithin itscountypublicservice.

Functionsofa county directorate of library services.

• 6.A county directorate of library services shall--

• (a)establish andpromote the establishment of libraries in the county;

Functionsofa county directorate of library services.

• 6.A county directorate of library services shall--

• (a)establish andpromote the establishment of libraries in the county;

• (b) develop, equip, manage, and maintain libraries including electroniclibrariesinthe county;
• (c) promote technology in accessing and disseminating information;
• (d) provide information service responsive to the needs of communities;
• (e) plan, co-ordinate and advise the county government on the delivery of library services;
• (f) advise the county government and other public bodies on all matters relating to library, documentation and related services;
• (g) facilitate the documentation of information relating to the county and the provision of related services in the county;
• (h)facilitate thetraining of librarians within the county on the principles,procedures and techniques of librarianship and such otherrelated natters as the committeemayfrom timetotime decide;
• (i) carry out and encourage research in the development of library and related services in the county;
• conduct campaignsfor the eradicationof illiteracyin the county;
• (k) stimulate public interest in books and promote culture of reading, writing and publishing in local languages for knowledge, information and enjoyment in the county including facilitating mobile library services;
• encourage andfacilitate the useof libraries bymembers ofthe public;
• (m)partner with the county executive committee member in charge of educationtofacilitate the establishment and equipping of libraries in schools, colleges and otherinstitutions;
• (n) design innovative ways to enhance access tolibrary services and information by persons with disabilities;
• (0) provide professional advice to institutions and promote best practices in managing resource centres and school libraries;
• (p)acquire books produced in and outsideKenya and such other materialsandsourcesof knowledgenecessaryfora comprehensive countylibrary;

Vesting of property.

Recognitionof other libraries in the county.

Regulations.

• (q) liaise with national library,other county libraries and other relevant institutionsto enhanceinformationand experience sharing;
• (r) publish a county bibliographical and referencing services in the county; and
• (s) perform any other function that may be conferred on it by this Actoranyotherlaw.
• 7.All movable and immovable property held or acquired for the purpose ofacountylibraryestablished andmaintainedbya countyshallvest in and be held by the respective county government.
• 8.Subject to this Act, a county directorate of library services may—
• (a) recognize any library run by a voluntary agency within the county, or any library open for use by the public, as a county library for the purposes of provision of financial assistance to the library;
• (b) recognize any school library in a county,for the purpose of provision of financial assistance to the school library; and
• ()offer technical support to libraries recognized under paragraphs (a) and (b).
• 9.(1) The county executive committee member may make regulations for the better carrying out of this Act.
• (2)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1),the county executive committeemembermaymakeregulations providingfor
• (a) recognition of a library or association for the purpose of provision of financial assistance;
• d d s s ( borrowing books from a county library; and
• ()provision oftechnical support to libraries recognized under this Act.

I certify that this printed impression is a true copy of the Bill as passed by the Senate, with amendments,on Wednesday,25thFebruary,2026.

ClerkoftheSenate

Endorsed forpresentation to theNational Assemblyin accordance with theprovisions of standing order161(1)oftheSenateStandingOrders.

SpeakeroftheSenate