Kenya National Archives and Documentation Services is the Winner
 |
| Kenya National Library receiving the top award |
The library of the Kenya National Archives and Documentation Services is the winner of the prize for Maktaba 2011. The jury was convinced by the ongoing elaborate digitization project carried out by the National Archives to preserve old and valuable national information material.
| Position | Academic | School | Community | Special | Public | Overall Winner |
| 1 | USIU | Oshwal Academy Nursery School | Amani Kibera Community Library | Kenya National Archives and Documentation Service | KNLS Buru Buru | Kenya National Archives and Documentation Service |
| 2 | KCA University | Makini School | Haller Education Centre Mombasa | Communications Commission of Kenya | National Museums of Kenya | |
| 3 | Kenya Institute of Management | Our Lady of Nazareth | Webb Memorial Library Malindi | Kenya Airways | Lamu Fort Library |
The organizers satisfied with the awareness raised by the launch of the library of the year award and the desire for more libraries to excel in the service provision and get recognition for their efforts. These Libraries participated in the following categories:
- academic
- large public
- community
- school and
- special libraries.
the judges were looking at how well the libraries performed at the following areas:
- Quality and innovation in provision of library and information services
- Integration of modern technologies in service provision
- Promotion of local content
- Relevance of the services provided to the local community
- Sustainability of the services and programmes
- Provision of multicultural library services.
70 libraries participated in this years maktaba award and more are expected in the coming years. The award giving ceremony was held at Kenya National Museums was graced by PLO Lumumba.
 |
| PLO Lumumba graced the award gala |
Maktaba Award (Library of the Year Award) 2011
The Goethe-Institut Kenya, the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation and the Kenya Library Association are organizing the second LIBRARY OF THE YEAR AWARD (Maktaba Award) in Kenya.
The Award aims to recognize excellence in the provision of library and information services in Kenya. We all realize the key role that information plays in the modern world and Kenya is part of the global information society. The Library of the Year Award, which was introduced in 2010, is an annual event where all libraries compete in different categories and excellence, innovation and creativity is recognized and rewarded. We believe that the development of Kenya will only be realized if access to knowledge for all is given top priority. We also believe that librarians and information managers must play a central role in providing information services. The prerequisite for this is to have modern, well equipped and user-friendly libraries manned by well trained librarians and information professionals. The Library of the Year Award aims to inject more professionalism, creativity and innovation in the library scene in Kenya.
A call for entries has been sent out, inviting all libraries in Kenya who are interested in participating to send their profiles, highlighting the unique services they provide and the special services in their library that are outstanding. The following libraries may participate: academic, large public, government, community, school and special libraries
Participating libraries were assessed in the following areas among others:
· Quality and innovation in provision of library and information services
· Integration of modern technologies in service provision
· Promotion of local content
· Relevance of the services provided to the local community
· Sustainability of the services and programmes
· Provision of multicultural library services
| A recent LOYA celebration |
A panel of judges (with backgrounds in information management, marketing and information technology) will analyze the library profiles and visit all the libraries for verification. A decision will then be made on who the winners in the different categories will be. This project is modeled on the German Library of the Year Award. Kenya is the first country in Africa to introduce an annual national award for libraries. It is for this reason that all the libraries that participate in the national Library of the Year Award (Maktaba Award) have every right to be proud of their achievement.
The Awards Gala shall be held on Friday 16th September 2011 at a venue to be announced soon. Winning libraries will receive cash prizes, book donations and recognition certificates on that day.
Maktaba Award (Library of the Year Award)
The Kenya Library Association, the Goethe-Institut Kenya, and the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation launched the first ever LIBRARY OF THE YEAR AWARD (Maktaba Award) in Kenya in 2010. The Maktaba Award shall be an annual event taking place in September just before the National Book Week and the Nairobi International Book Fair.
 |
| Brookhouse International School Library, Nairobi emerged best in school library category |
The Award aims to recognize excellence in the provision of library and information services in Kenya. We all realize the key role that information plays in the modern world and Kenya is part of the global information society. The Library of the Year Award will be an annual event where all libraries compete in different categories and excellence, innovation and creativity is recognized and rewarded. The Library of the Year Award aims to inject more professionalism, creativity and innovation in the library scene in Kenya.
About 70 entries from libraries in all categories (academic, public, government, community, school and special libraries) from all over Kenya were received.
Participating libraries were assessed in the following areas among others:
· Quality and innovation in provision of library and information services
· Integration of modern technologies in service provision
· Promotion of local content
· Relevance of the services provided to the local community
· Sustainability of the services and programmes
A panel of 9 judges (with backgrounds in information management, marketing and information technology) went through the library profiles and visited all the libraries for verification. This project is modeled on the German Library of the Year Award. Kenya is the first country in Africa to introduce an annual national award for libraries.
 |
| USIU receiving the top award |
In 2010 the library of the United States International University won the category for academic libraries and also emerged as the best library overall in 2010. Winning libraries received cash prizes, book donations and recognition certificates on that day.
Here are the different categories and the winners:
- Community Library: The Haller Foundation Library in Mombasa
- School Library: Brookhouse International School Library, Nairobi
- Special Library: the Communications Commission of Kenya Information Centre, Nairobi
- Academic Library: The United States International University Library
- Public Library: The Kenya National Library Services Nairobi Area Library