Thirty librarians from 29 public libraries will take part in a four-day training course organized by the EIFL Public Library Innovation Programme (EIFL-PLIP) in partnership with the Kenya National Library Service.

The course comprises the second and third modules of a major training initiative that aims to build public library information and communication capacity (ICT) in Kenya, and to foster development of new ICT-based services that serve community needs.

The 29 libraries are part of the Kenya National Library Service network of 60 libraries. The libraries were selected for the training because they have already been equipped with ICT.

EIFL has received support from UNESCO for the second and third modules, which comprise:

• Module 2: Digital resources and online searching skills, and
• Module 3: Planning of innovative ICT-based services.

Training will take place in Nakuru Public Library, 150km northwest of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city.

Trainers include local and international library experts. To stimulate ideas and spark discussion about public library service innovation, Ms Ramune Petuchovaite, EIFL-PLIP Programme Manager, and representatives of innovative public library services from Ghana, South Africa and Kenya will share experiences of implementing ICT-based services.

Training for Module 1 took place from November 10 to 14, and focused on increasing the librarians’ ICT and e-literacy skills.

The fourth module of the training includes communication and advocacy skills, and will take place early in 2015.