Promoting Synergic Focused Libraries in Kenya: Enhancing Linkages, Advocacy & Lobbying Strategies. ABSTRACT

Transcription

1 Promoting Synergic Focused Libraries in Kenya: Enhancing Linkages, Advocacy & Lobbying Strategies. ABSTRACT Information is a vital resource for sustainable development. No modern economy can effectively function without reliable flow of information. As the officially designated information agencies, libraries play key roles in collecting, producing, organizing, and disseminating information products as well as facilitating their free flow to enhance socio-economic and democratic development. A knowledgedriven society enhances sustainable economic growth through diversification of economic activities and innovative utilization of untapped resources. Libraries support this mission by providing technical, intellectual and business information. Public library systems in Kenya fall short of attaining this position due to a number of challenges including: under developed human resources; Inadequate collections; non-access to online information in most library outlets; and, lack of enabling environment for innovative research, which finally make them to perform below their core basic functions of: ensuring fee access for all; promotion of reading culture and eradication of illiteracy; promotion of life-long learning; effective support to academic curriculums; and, provision of civic education for good governance. Free access to information is a basic human right. Public libraries have the obligation to facilitate this access, regardless of individual s societal status. Citizens constructive participations in democratic advancements are enhanced through life-long learning experiences and free access to knowledge. For libraries to uphold these important values; there is need for a paradigm shift; from libraries being viewed as government dependant sector to embrace new strategies of 1

2 networking, advocacy, linkages, lobbying and fundraising among stake holders including local communities. 1.0 Introduction For African libraries to be positioned as agents of socio-economic and democratic advancements leading to good governance, they will need to undergo real paradigm shift in their structures, operations and service delivery approaches. Their final entrenchment in this strategic position, as agencies of democratic enhancement is largely dependent upon their willingness to diversify their operations; and to adopt new services and formally engage in linkages with all purported stake holders, as well as continued innovative research on best practices. This call for paradigm shift is premised on the need and desire for change, not just a change within library structures, operations and service delivery; but also a change in the wider world of which it is part. This will include the eradication of old perception that libraries are at cross road and on their way of extinct, plus the illusion that, their positions are rapidly being taken by robust ICTs based information providers, agencies and brokers. Such paradigm shift automatically creates a new image of libraries needed to bring social, democratic and developmental changes through the provision of imaginative and socially responsive programs that seek to increase the capacity of individual s participation in their holistic developments including the enhancements of their social infrastructures. It is only through networking among library institutions and deliberate collaborations with other related bodies like library Associations as well as advocacy and lobbying among other stakeholders like NGO s, Government departments and international bodies that will finally make the institutions of the library to be strategically placed as real agents of change. 2

3 Library institutions should never be seen simply as mere warehouses of books. Rather, they ought to be seen as dynamic information resource centres meant to recreate new thoughts and lives of people utilizing it. Simply put, they are champions of memory, and the latter is the real source of life and the history of the people. For this new vision of a synergic-focused library system to be realized, especially in Kenya, this paper calls for joint strategies among stake holders at least to realize the following two milestones in the Kenya s information industry:- Formalized collaborations between public library systems in Kenya and the home-grown Kenya Library Association (KLA), especially on joint advocacy and lobbying initiatives to address issues on legislations and quality development of human resources. A well developed and competitive lobbying and advocacy strategies targeting both local and international stakeholders and ensuring that Kenyan politicians come to terms and be knowledgeable on the importance of information products in the success of sustainable development in the country. 2.0 Developing Concepts The window or gateway, through which one can clearly visualize libraries as promoters of democracy and as agents of ensuring free access for all is blurred until one retreats backward to understand the following related basic concepts:- a) Community b) Community intervention (Social intervention) c) Synergic focused libraries 3

4 d) Community development e) Advocacy & Lobbying f) Democracy g) Free access for ALL. a) Community This an omnibus term that always changes its meaning depending on the issue under discussion. Azarya (1985), tells us that by 1955, the concept had already acquired ninety four definitions. It is therefore not surprising that, no precise meaning of the term community exist to date. However, for the purposes of this paper, the author wishes to pick two definitions out such pools of related definitions as follows:- A community is a collectively united group, either on the basis of shared responsibility, territory, for example neighborhoods, a village or a city or; on one of the basis of common ideals, social, ethnic or religious ties. A community may also be understood to mean; a microcosms of society, a social system in themselves with their own subsystems of governance, economy, religion and family. b) Community social intervention refers to agents of change within the community structure be they institution or personalities whose contribution lies in the provision organized expertise, services and solutions to the needs of the community. A library system that does not position itself as part of this change agent; a system that is unaware of or ignores the socio-economic activities of a community in which it is created to serve, cannot create any impact or be recognized as an important entity in the community development. 4

5 The concept of social intervention lies in the notion that resources of a society should be distributed equally among its members, irrespective of Individual s social position or condition; that is, a need focused distribution rather than the ability to pay as the deciding factor. It s common knowledge that all individuals in a community/society need information for their holistic development regardless of their social or economic status. This is where libraries come in; to provide free access of this information for all, regardless of individual s social status. As agents mandated to fight illiteracy and ignorance by empowering citizen with knowledge and information for both personal and national development, libraries can only achieve this broad objective and hence a lasting impact in the community if there is a deliberate move, and or, a real paradigm shift towards embracing a synergistic culture in their operations, programs and services. c) Synergic focused libraries refer to libraries that have inculcated the culture of pooling together with other stakeholders to effectively address a course at hand. It s the art of excelling in the activities of combined or coordinated programs with the intention of working together as change agents and collectively embracing the real culture of social intervention. This is encompassing linkages, networking, and advocacy and lobbying strategies. This synergic transactional framework has three identifiable subsystems in themselves as:- The donor sub-system 5

6 The administrative and delivery system and, The recipient sub-system The donor sub-system are the legislative, executive and funding authorities that provide the needed resources and lay down broad national, international and regional policies to achieve effective social intervention. The administrative and delivery sub-system are responsible for planning; administering; implementing; and monitoring of programs, services and products including their continued innovative improvements all for the benefit of the recipient subsystem. The recipient sub-system comprises of the users of the service. That is, the target population for the service in question, and for this case the community members in which the library facility exist to provide access to information for all for them to be able to make rational decision as well as full participation in their socio economic and democratic advancements. The three sub-systems must be formally engaged to become a functional networked system through well designed strategies of collaborations, co-operations, lobbying, advocacy and networking activities. d) Community Development refers to the synergic involvement of local leaders, community residents, professional change agents / agencies to participate in projects, activities and services intended to benefit them (Community residents) both collectively and individually in 6

7 order to enhance the holistic development of such a community. It should be noted that the grand mission of all collaborators in the information sector is to participate in the holistic development of their citizenry by empowering them with relevant and adequate information for rational decision making in all their day to day endeavors. This desired holistic community development can never be achieved by lone ranger Library facilities protruding as apexes without a base. Rather, it needs systematic and collaborative approaches with key stakeholders like; library associations, politicians and the entire government machineries including local government authorities. Joining forces with the related change agents including institutions, NGOs, foreign missions and other bodies etc, to build strong advocacy forums for specific policy changes is the way to go if our libraries are to be recognized as equal players in the country s socio-economic advancements. This will finally enable libraries to be successful in lobbying for increased funding among both local and international potential donors. inclusive strategic plan to: - It all calls for an elaborate and Strengthen library Associations. Indeed, the status and capacity of library services in a country will always be reflected in the overall image of library Association in that country. Bring on Board, politicians and other key government decision makers by lobbying them to fully understand and hence, realize the strategic importance of information and library system in the achievement of: Kenya s vision 2030; Global millennium goals; and, the country s general development. 7

8 Strengthening of publishing industry in Kenya by promoting local authorship as well as subsidizing the publications of non-academic information materials currently being viewed by Kenya s publishing firms non cost-effective. Plan for effective fundraising to achieve an increased funding base beyond the government s budgetary allocations. This securing of better funding shall enable libraries to expand and diversify their services and hence create a real lasting impact in the communities they serve. Advocate and promote the development of adequate information professionals with dynamic skills needed for the Kenya s ever-changing information industry. Advocate and lobby for enabling infrastructural environment including good legislations, national standards, physical infrastructures and adequate resources for Kenyan Libraries to compete favorably with their counter parts especially those from developed nations. e) Advocacy and lobbying Advocacy is influencing for change. It is working with other stakeholders (building synergies) through a strategy of changing their attitude, opinions, as well as stirring their participations, interests and commitments in addressing the issues at hand. It s about reaching the people who have the power to change the status quo and influencing them to make things happen differently. The need for library institutions to join forces with their recipient communities in advocating for more resources from both the central and local governments cannot gain said. 8

9 The need for library institutions to join forces with other related collaborators (e.g. Kenya Library Association) in articulating for their rightful position as reputable contributors in national development calls for well and jointly planned advocacy strategies geared towards positively influencing decision makers on the importance of information in national development. Lobbying is one of the ways in which advocacy work can be done. In particular, it is a particular kind of advocacy where influencing individuals are booked and lobbied using strategies like: face to face, persuasive meetings; focus group discussion; memorandum and appeal notes. f) Democracy Most dictionaries define democracy as government by the people in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly to them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system. Abraham Lincoln paraphrased this definition to define democracy as a government of the people, by the people and for the people. For the purposes of this paper, the author prefers the understanding of democracy to mean: a set of ideas and principles about freedom specifically highlighting a set of practices and procedures that have been molded through long, often torturous history of learned best practices in governance. 9

10 Two universal forms of democracy Direct democracy in which all citizens, without the intermediary of elected or appointed officials, can participate in making informed public decisions. Representative democracy in which citizens elect officials to make political decisions, socio-economic policies, formulate laws and administer programs for the public good in the name of the people. Such officials can deliberate on complex issues in a thoughtful and systematic manner that require, an investment of time; accurate information; and energy which is often impractical for the vast majority of private citizens. g) Free Access for All This paper underlines the meaning and importance of this concept as follows:- Access implies that information will be readily accessible to all members of a given community/society regardless of their status in that community. Access to information is a basic human right. This is further confirmed in the following two important international documents:- According to the American Library Association (ALA) declaration:- Freedom of expression is on inalienable human right and the foundation of self-government. Freedom of expression encompasses the freedom of 10

11 speech and the corollary right to access or receive information. Libraries and librarians exist to facilitate the exercise of this rights by selecting, producing, providing access to, identifying, retrieving, organizing, providing instructions in the use of, and preserving the recorded expression regardless of the form or technology (ALA, Library Bill of Rights, 1996) This implies that citizens will have free and equal access to the information they need in order to take control of their own lives for self-development, self-reliance as well as collective participation in good governance. The UNESCO s Public Library Manifesto (1994) states that: Freedom, prosperity and the development of society and that of an individual are fundamental human values. They will only be attained through the ability of well informed citizens to exercise their democratic rights and to play an active role in society (Community). Constructive participation and the development of democracy depend on satisfactory and life-long education as well as on free and unlimited access to knowledge, thought, culture and information. This same manifesto brands the public library as the local gateway to knowledge, that provides conducive environment for life long learning, independent decision making and cultural development of the individual including the said social groups (Community). The Kenya s legislations governing free access to information are outdated, disintegrated and grossly falls below the global standards. 11

12 This has resulted into scattering of information institutions into different Government outlets, coupled with lack of networked approaches hence, the need for an all inclusive (all stakeholders) participation in the development of the dubbed information access bill 2008, and to ensure the passage of the same through effective advocacy and lobbying strategies targeting members of the august house. A community will always need information for everything in their lives; e.g. to get a government scholarship for their children; to apply for a job; to know which medical services are available in which town; to start a business; to get licenses to open a kiosk and even to collect a pension. Thus, information access for all (freedom of information) matters most to the poor and the vulnerable. 3.0 Basic Objectives of an Ideal Democratic Government In its comprehensive report entitled, Achieving Millennium Development Goals in Kenya (by 2015). The Government of Kenya through Ministry of Planning and National Development asserts that; The broad overall development objectives of any democratically constituted government and within a specific time frame as per the constitution; may be grouped in the following major categories as:- Reviving and sustaining of economic growth of the nation Creation of employment opportunities and the improvement of its citizens standards of living. Alleviating poverty, ignorance and common diseases towards a healthy nation. Reducing inequalities in income through equitable distribution of its resources. 12

13 Participatory democratic advancement towards good governance. Applications of appropriate technology expertise and research to improve productivity services, including the exploitation of untapped resources. Consultative and inclusive development through the full participation of non-governmental agencies in partnerships, linkages, collaborations, lobbying and advocacy. Preservation, enhancement and promotion of the nation s cultural identify. Protecting the rights of marginalized citizens including other disadvantaged groups in the society. 4.0 The Role of Libraries in the Achievements of the Government s Broad Objectives. The theme of this paper is the role of libraries in promoting democracy, ensuring free access for all. However, democracy is intertwined with other specific development indicators for real development as has been highlighted in the above ten broad Government strategic objectives. It would be therefore suffice to give a summary of such development pillars for one to be clear of the position of libraries in national development. First, economic growth requires the diversification of the economy through the exploitation of all resources including the previously untapped ones. This leads to the development of new products as well as the establishment of new industries. In this parameter, libraries provide technical, economic and environmental data for research and development. Libraries also provide the information required by both researchers and decision makes to create 13

14 an appropriate fiscal, legislative, institutional and policy framework for sustainable economic growth. When it comes to the creation of employment opportunities, it ought to be understood that human resources must be fully developed to enable them participate maximally in various economic activities of the nation. This will in turn require an elaborate educational infrastructure including environments that clearly promotes self learning approaches which finally results to general alleviation of poverty and reduction in inequalities of income distribution. Libraries are central and key in enhancing quality education. School libraries, college libraries and university libraries make resource based learning and student- centered teaching a reality, which finally encourages students to be self reliance. At grass root level, community libraries empower adult learners and others deprived of learning opportunities to gain new skills and increase their occupational mobility. Ngang a (2000), supports this view in his paper presented at the partnership forum between Kenya National Library service (KNLS) and the Association of Local Government Authorities of Kenya (ALGAK), by summarizing five roles of a typical community library as follows:- Provision of information needed to facilitate members of the community to gain skills, knowledge and confidence for full participation and democratization of their affairs; Provide forums through which the government and other agencies can be informed about concerns, problems and reactions of community members to their planned activities and programs; Provide support to extension programs and help extension workers to effectively coordinate their work in the community; 14

15 Strengthen community s involvement in and appreciation of local and national culture; Supplement formal and informal education through provision of relevant and supplementary reading materials at appropriate literacy levels including the sustaining of life long learning. The role of libraries for national development cut across all government sectors. There is therefore no sphere of a country s life; no sector of its economy; to which libraries do not contribute,- information being the life-blood of a modern nation. The richer nations do not only have rich networks of libraries because they can afford such libraries. Rather, libraries help to make countries richer. However, the above roles can only become real on the ground if:- Libraries inculcate the culture of buildings synergies with their stakeholders including the recipient local communities. Such synergies are designed to promote networking and collaborations for increased adequate resources and diversification of services. Such synergies are geared to promote joint advocacy and lobbying strategies including research undertakings. Such advocacy and lobbying strategies are specifically designed to realize quality human resource development, increased funding base beyond the government allocations, passing of favorable legislations to allow the real development of the information sector, joint promotions of positive reading culture and self-reading habits and, better recognition of libraries as important tools for national development. 15

16 5.0 The role of libraries in promoting democracy The deepening of democratic processes through a desire to enlarge the space of citizen s participation in the democratic advancement of their respective countries has always been one of the leading agenda of almost all the developing young economies and the developed nation of the world including associations and other organized movements of such countries. Democracy, which is coined from two Greek words demo (people) and kratos (power) is considered to be an archetype for governing people in a state of justice. Direct democracy, which is the most ideal democracy, is more less an inhouse democracy which can only be practiced by few groups of people and can instantly prove futile if tried to a larger community. This leaves one viable democratic process as representative democracy to be practiced in large public environments. Thus, representative democratic system has all along been adopted to be the best approach in the democratic process in the present modern countries. However, in such systems, democracy has become more susceptible to the danger of strong lobbies, persuasion and even blackmails because many people do not have influence on the political decision making process regardless of whether the system is actually open to all. Decisions are made by very few people (politicians and their advisers), who do not very often consult and communicate with their electoral bases except during electoral campaigns. Worse still, their information seeking behaviors is bluntly dormant. They are never careful in seeking relevant information to enable them make rational decisions neither are they 16

17 knowledge focused personalities. They make irrational decisions out of perceptions, uninformed judgments, wrong influences and selfish attitudes. Dutto (1990), proposes a new paradigm shift to help save the structure of representative democracy. He proposes an increased participations of the civil society in the democratic process; strong lobbying and advocacy by librarians and other information providers to prevail on the government to recognize information as an important asset to aid in rational decision making by empowering the development of information agencies including libraries; and a change in the political media, where this change refers to agenda setting by the political media so that those who controls the distribution of the information equally set the course of the debate. In this case, the political media perpetuates a top-down model of political discourse in which those at the top of the information business hold control over the information provided to the public. However, the best approach in promoting a representation democracy system; that in which the society is governed by the people as a whole is to limit the democratic activities or positions as enjoyed by powerful groups in the society and to spread this power to smaller groupings as well as the isolated disadvantaged citizens by empowering them with relevant, accurate and adequate information through instruments like state of the art library facilities, community resource centres, and the engagement of other information agencies through a synergic focused library approaches. The aim here is to effectively inform the ordinary citizens (who constitute the greater population in a society) so as to enable them fully participate in, and to influence the decision-making processes in all sphere of their environment including democratic advancements - so as to realize real community development in their neighborhoods, city, region or country. To 17

18 this end, the citizens should finally become an integral part of a system or instrument for democratic advancement and informed evaluation of multiple options and alternatives of development in their society. This paradigm shift desire for inclusive democratic participations by community members calls for an elaborate advocacy and lobbying strategies among various stakeholders that include and not limited to: Civil societies and pressure groups; information providers; government of the day; faith led institutions; human right institutions; professional associations (e.g. Kenya Library Association), and with an enabling infrastructural environment that can effectively facilitate the process. Public libraries, by virtue of their mission of providing access for all, possess unparalleled potential to ensure effective and inclusive participation all citizens on issues concerning their welfare. 6.0 ICT Integration Enhances the Reality of Direct Democracy The possibility of a break through in the practice of direct democratic system is envisaged by the electronic democracy concept which allows the creation of new virtual markets with open, free and extensive discussions and with an overall aim of making optional decision regarding the development of a given local set-up. Libraries and other information agencies must be seen to integrate these potentials of ICT in increasing access to developmental information beyond the capabilities of a manual library system. An ICT compliant library facility has the capacity of facilitating easy and free access to public information in a wider population and linkages. In a direct democratic set up, the approach greatly enhance free expression of views, extensive discussion for better understanding and finally, approval of 18

19 measures to be taken regardless of whether their implementation will be delegated to the executive power directly or whether there will be a formal vote before a decision is taken. In this respect, the cardinal role of selected representatives (representative democracy) will be somehow enlarged to take different dimensions, e.g. instead of being the only decision makers; they become guarantors of the democratic process and in a way, process arbitrators, facilitators and managers. This trend might in the end lead to an evolution of the current parliaments and governments across the globe and hence, a real paradigm shift that places libraries and other information agencies in their rightful position for the desired holistic development. Effective integration of ICTs applications in library and information service provision therefore has the potential to play an important role in the realization of the vision of direct democracy because they (ICTs solutions) remove constraints of space and time. Through appropriate networks and user-friendly interface tools on the internet, it will allow the opportunity of access to free debates and exchange of thoughts and ideas as well as free and direct access to public information from government sources leading to more advocacy, lobbying and effective participation in the democratic processes. With the realization of ICTs compliant library systems towards the enhancement of direct democracy, there will also be need for real restructuring of the current political set-ups and organizations structures to put in infrastructures that would facilitate continuous innovations in ICT solutions and advancements. Indeed effective ICTs integration in library services, automatically increase the capacities of public libraries to excel in their linkages, collaborations, lobbying and fundraising strategies through easy access to on-line 19

20 information. This will finally enable such libraries to embrace synergic culture as they will be definitely overwhelmed by the power of ICTs application in realizing effective linkages, networking and sharing of information resources 7.0 Libraries as a Bridge to Narrow Knowledge Divide Phenomenon Synergic- focus libraries, with well established networks remain one among the leading approaches for narrowing of the existing knowledge divide phenomenon in the world today. Information and knowledge are now crucial assets in the today s global economy. Libraries are indeed the true gateways to this information and knowledge. There is therefore need for nations of the today s modern world to develop rich information based institutions with effective links to one another to ensure that relevant and adequate information are readily available, utilized effectively, shared equitably and made accessible to those who need it regardless of their societal status. Such information and knowledge must be available at all spheres of human development including; scientific information and discoveries, business and economic information; cultural and leisure information as well as civic and political information. In this era of information age, there is now more than ever, a need to equip citizens with skills and means to enable them become information literate leading to the realization of information driven society and hence knowledge based society. Public Libraries are strategic in this drive, for they create and make available for access, information for holistic development including democratic advances. This is the basis of enabling citizens to effectively participate in their socio-economic and political environment by being able to make informed choices and rational decisions hence minimization of knowledge divide. 20

21 8.0 Literacy as a Basic Tool for Effective Democratic Advancements In today s global information society, non-literate people are at a permanent disadvantage in their socio-economic underpinnings. They are unsure of their rights and unable to fulfill their potentials in the environments they live in, including participation for their democratic rights. Public libraries create literate environments where people are surrounded by information and reading materials that supports life long - education among all the categories of citizens in a community as well as facilitating research undertakings and support for other skills necessary for realizing their socioeconomic potential including effective participation in their democratic advancements. These strong literate environments requires a thriving local publishing industry and other developed media industries, which help to ensure that citizens can get hold of locally created information materials, including those in local languages as well as local information that reflects local culture, traditions and local governance set-ups. Indeed, this is where the concept of community based libraries has an important role to play. With majority of local communities still living in poverty, it is crucial not only to provide access to them, but also to ensure that the access is free and universal for all. Unfortunately, Montagnes (2001), observes a rather sad scenario on the ground as far as the Continent of Africa is concerned. While it s common knowledge that both public libraries and school libraries have a vital function in supporting schools and life-long learners to acquire, maintain and develop their literacy, most poor communities in Africa do not have access to a library and those that do exist are almost always poorly resourced. This greatly damages both life-long and formal education to 21

22 many citizens in Africa. In his report on the availability of books and learning materials in Africa for all; Montagnes commented that: As the decade came to a close, school libraries were said to have the lowest or even non existing priorities on budgetary allocations across the continent. The majority of schools have no library facilities and, where some semblance of a school library do exists, it is often no more than a few shelves of outdated and worn out materials at most or some few curriculum based text books enclosed in a cup-board in the headmaster s / Deputy headmaster s office; with no qualified staff to provide the service, except one or two underdeveloped personnel. 9.0 Promoting Democratization Culture through Free Access for ALL Access to information is a basic human right. Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares that Everyone has the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media. Access here implies that a particular information product will be readily available to the person who needs it. This access as a basic human right is further comprehensively articulated in a statement by the American Library Association Bill of Rights, The implication to this is that all citizens have free and equal access to the information they need to take control of their lives for self-development and self-reliance. For citizens to participate constructively in government affairs, they have the right to access government information. The holdings of libraries, archives and other information centers which are funded directly or indirectly by the government form a national public information resource, on which organizational structures and well as effective infrastructure must 22

23 be put in place for such important national resource to be accessible to all citizens regardless of their status in the society. In particular, every citizen has an equal right to public library information services regardless of age, race, gender, language, disability, geographic location, social status, economic status and educational attainment. A public library serves its community through the provision of access to knowledge, information and all other related information contained documents. It does this by providing citizens with access to information materials in any format in order to meet the needs of individual s and communities holistic development. This positions public libraries as important role players in the development and maintenance of a democratic society by providing individuals with access to information, ideas and opinions. Besides, public library instruments do have special responsibilities to monitor and analyze the changing democratic characteristics and trends of their communities so as to meet their ever changing information needs of an increasingly diverse society. To this end, public library institutions must ensure that they have policies in place to respond to such dynamic changes in the communities they are created to serve. It may be helpful to re-stress at least three points why information should be available and accessible to all:- First, information is essential for democracy building, assuming we want a democratic and open society that does not leave all decisions to politicians or the so called experts. 23

24 Secondly, availability and free access of information for all creates a competitive environment of scientific and innovative information needed for a healthy growth of our society. Thirdly, it is essential for education, whether this is education for jobs, leisure or life-long learning practices. Stand alone public library entities may not have the capacity, means and infrastructural set-ups to be able to make readily available, all the developmental information needed by the citizens. This demands building of synergies with all the related stake holders including government agencies to fully access all the developmental information being generated from government departments. Besides, the successful development and final passage of the Kenya s dubbed proposed draft on Freedom of Information Bill 2008 requires consultative, lobbying and advocacy strategies that brings on board, contributions of all stake holders and interested agencies for its effectiveness to be realized in the citizen s domain Relevant Development of Human Resource For library facilities to effectively contribute in the citizen s democratic process including the provision of access for ALL, this paper calls for an urgent comprehensive review of training curriculums for Kenya s Information Workers. It is important to create a critical mass of library and information professionals in Kenya; who have the knowledge, skills and commitment to offer innovative information services to the rural and the urban poor, as well as the marginalized communities across the country. This is a call for appropriate curriculum and syllabi that not only create knowledge based expertise on print based literate environment but also 24

25 those with skills to harness indigenous knowledge bases and successfully integrate the latter with the so called modern knowledge databanks to achieve appropriate development and sustainable economic development. In order to remain relevant in this competitive and dynamic society we now live in, such training review for librarians and other information professionals will also have to be diversified into other knowledge areas that have links with synergy building including:- Community needs assessment skills; Advocacy, lobbying and fundraising skills; Indigenous information re-packaging and delivery skills; and, Participatory approaches to community development Partnerships and Linkages Initiatives is the way to go As the effects of the world s global village becomes a reality day by day even with young economies like Kenya, libraries need to position themselves more than ever before, to be a leading player in this fast tracking information society. Effects of political, social and economic challenges are becoming more similar across countries, and the agents of their interventions are spread across almost all the countries of the world. This calls for libraries to strengthen their links, partnerships and networking initiatives across their communities and geographical boarder countries to establish benchmarks and embrace best practices for survival and effective participation in the democratization of their societies. Strengthening formal links and partnerships with other development agencies (both local and international) including effective networking with other organization having similar objectives is the safe way to go, if such libraries desire to be 25

26 strategically placed in their community s socio-economic and democratic advancements. Such links with development agencies not only enable libraries to acquire and utilize the widest possible range of development information and literacy materials but also offer mutual benefits on both partners as well as the access to other resources (including funding) that are necessary in the underpinning of specific interventions as outlined in such libraries plans and strategies Linkages with Government Agencies In this to day s complex society, libraries that still ignore to engage government departments and other related agencies in a formalized cooperation and collaborations may only do it at their own cost of being rendered irrelevant. Such initiatives will enable libraries to effectively access government information products and avail the same to be accessed by the rural and urban poor. The initiative will also uplift the corporate image of library institutions in the government planning forums for the latter to finally find its strategic place in the government s planning s, implementation strategies and programs. Under this cordial inter-relationship, the government in the developing economies will finally realize the necessity to create and implement information policies that ensure that all sectors of the society benefit from the full utilization of services provided by their libraries for the realization of their holistic development, including literacy advances and full participation of their democratic affairs. 26

27 12.0 Conclusion Libraries and other knowledge based resource facilities are critical and strategic assets in the achievement of human s socio-economic and cultural development; including literacy acquisition and poverty eradication. This in the overall shall improve the democratization processes among societies and hence the realization of good governance. The establishment of libraries and information centers that are rooted in the communities they serve is one way of ensuring that the poor and the marginalized people have access to affordable information for rational decision making and democratization of their communities as well as an assurance of life long learning. In addition, their children will also have access to relevant information materials to support their formal education. For the full realization of the above goals, Kenyan libraries need to embrace a new paradigm shift; by formally establishing effective linkages, collaborations, networks and co-operations with other agencies, including external donors, government agencies, professional bodies especially Kenya Library Associations, NGOs and local communities in the development and delivery of their information services and products that targets all community members regardless of the latter s societal status. The resultant effect to this synergic focused library development shall at least yield the following three milestones:- A coordinated advocacy and lobbying shall make the institution of the library to be recognized in other sectors viewed to be influential, including recognition by politicians. Hence the contribution status of libraries shall be respected in the government development initiatives. 27

28 By networking, collaborations and co-operations among library entities including other related stakeholders: The quality and broadness of services and products shall be enhanced and not forgetting the strengthening of Kenya Library Association through the emergence of one forceful collective voice. and, There will be a surprise emergence of favorable competitions internationally through development of local professionalism, benchmark settings, and adherence to international standards. Kenya Libraries must think synergic, and must focus on effective linkages. This is the only way to go if we have to remain relevant. 28

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