Publications

The joint library was established in 1910. It is the best natural history libraries in Africa south of Sahara. It is located on the ground floor, Heritage Centre Building, NMK Headquarters in Nairobi.

The library’s objectives are to collect, organize, preserve, disseminate and enhance access to information to support NMK and Nature Kenya’s aims and objectives, and develop a one stop shop for information resources.

Library facilities

Computers, Internet Services, Scanners, Public Access Catalogue to enhance information retrieval, Compact/Rolling Shelves for the perseveration of rare collections. A ramp is provided for the physically challenged clients.

One of the library’s success stories is the digitization of the Journal of East African Natural History Society and other Nature Kenya books, SWARA Magazine; Tanganyika Notes and Records.

The subject coverage includes all academic disciplines, with strength in natural sciences and Anthropology.

Holdings

The Library is divided into three Sections namely Books Collection with over 24,000 books, Reprints over 40,000, Periodicals Collection over 1,700 Journal titles; also includes Audiovisual Collection of 200 items.

Electronic Resources

The library initiated Elimu Asilia, a documentation of indigenous knowledge online available at www.elimuasilia.org. It subscribes to e-resources through the Kenya Library and Information Services Consortium (KLISC), and have access to several databases including over 700 journal titles from OARE (http://www.oaresciences.org), HINARI (http://www.who.int/hinari/en/), AGORA (http://www.aginternetwork.org), JSTOR (http://www.jstor.org/) and ALUKA (http://www.aluka.org/)

Clientele

Library clientele comprise NMK staff, affiliate working at any of the museums, Museum Board of Governors, Nature Kenya and Kenya Museum Society members, Librarians from established libraries and the general public.

Partners

• The Biodiversity Heritage Library Africa, an affiliate of the global
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• Goethe Institut Kenya
• Kenya Library and Information Services Consortium (KLISC)
• Kenya Library Association

User services

Internet
Reference Service
Digitization
Inter-Library Loans
Current Awareness Service (CAS)
Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI)
Lending
Binding
Typing/Printing
Television watching & Daily Newspapers

Contact

National Museums of Kenya Library

P.O. Box 40658    00100

Nairobi, Kenya

Tel: 3742131/4

E-Mail:      library@museums.or.ke

Opening hours

Monday – Friday                          8.30am - 5.00pm

Weekend & Public Holidays         Closed