The Principal Secretary in the State Department of Youth Affairs and the Arts has urged state and non state actors to regard libraries as the best and working registries of our records and information.
In a speech read on behalf of the PS when opening a
validation workshop on draft national policy on libraries and library bill,Ms Kula Hache , Secretary Administration noted that “history is kept well in libraries” citing Korea as an example to be emulated.
“Libraries are the only places you can trust your children with”,she said adding she used to leave her kids at the library when she worked as a District Officer in Machakos.
The PS reminded participants that the history of libraries in Kenya dates back to the nineteenth century when they were established to promote lslam and Christianity.
The Constitution of Kenya of 2010 recognizes the importance libraries as sources of information as a fundamental human right.
The workshop will assess and validate the draft policy providing a framework for the participation and involvement of various public and private at national and county governments.
Participants are drawn from libraries, publishers, clergy, academia and public service among others.
In his address while closing the one day event,the Secretary of Administration in the State Department for Parliamentary Affairs and former chair of the National Policy on Libraries Mr Henry Obino reiterated the” need for active participation by stakeholders in drafting national policies and bills as required by the constitution and for posterity.
