THE COUNTY LIBRARY SERVICES BILL, 2024
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Every County to Establish a Library Directorate
Under Section 5, county governments are mandated to establish a county directorate of library services within their public service. These directorates will be responsible for building, managing, and maintaining both physical and electronic libraries (Section 6).
County Budgets Must Integrate Annual Library Work Plans
Section 4 obliges county governments to approve and incorporate annual library work plans into their county integrated development plans and annual budgets. Counties must also allocate funds for developing libraries and capacity building of library staff.
State Recognition and Aid for School and Voluntary Libraries
Pursuant to Section 8, the county library directorates may formally recognize libraries run by voluntary agencies or school libraries. This recognition enables the provision of financial assistance and technical support to these facilities.
New Rules for Book Borrowing Fees and Penalties
Section 9 empowers the County Executive Committee member responsible for library services to make regulations. These regulations can prescribe specific fees and penalties for borrowing books, as well as establish rules for financial assistance.
Bill No.
Bill No. 40 of 2024
Gazette No.
Supplement No. 144 of 24th July, 2024
Background
The County Library Services Bill, 2024 establishes a legal framework for the creation and operation of county libraries and county library directorates across Kenya's forty-seven counties. The primary objectives under Section 3 are to provide learners and communities with access to educational materials, promote literacy within counties, and support cultural and research activities.
Key Amendments
This Bill introduces a new legislative framework for county-level library management:
- Establishment of Directorates: Section 5 obliges each county government to set up a county directorate of library services.
- Vesting of Property: Section 7 ensures that all movable and immovable assets acquired for county library purposes vest in and are held by the respective county government.
- Liaison with National Library: Under Section 6(q), county directorates are required to coordinate with the national library and other county libraries to enhance information and experience sharing.
New Obligations
The Bill imposes specific obligations on county governments and their respective library directorates:
- Budgeting and Planning: County governments must approve library annual work plans and integrate them into annual budgets and integrated development plans (Section 4).
- Accessibility: Directorates are mandated to design innovative ways to make library services and information accessible to persons with disabilities (Section 6(n)).
- Resource Management: Directorates must develop, equip, and maintain libraries, including electronic libraries, and promote local languages through reading and writing initiatives (Section 6).
- Literacy Support: Directorates must conduct campaigns to eradicate illiteracy and promote best practices in managing school libraries and learning resource centers (Section 6).
Penalties
- Under Section 9, the County Executive Committee member may make regulations prescribing specific fees and penalties to be paid by persons borrowing books from any county library.
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