Archives

Our archival journey started in April 2019 with the creation of McMillan Memorial Library’s first-ever digital catalogue of 137,705 books. This milestone gave us a clear view of what was in the collection; what to keep, what needed repair, and what was most at risk.

Digitisation in Action

In October 2020, we began digitising endangered materials. So far, the digital archive holds over 31,500 items, including:

  • Gazettes
  • Colonial photographs
  • Nairobi City Council minutes (1953–2012)
  • Newspapers, with 13,000+ issues documenting Kenya’s struggle for independence

We also repaired fragile volumes and preserved rare photographs from the late 1800s to early 1950s.

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Filling the Gaps: The Missing Bits

As we worked, we noticed something striking, many facets of Kenyan daily life were absent from the official archive. To bridge these gaps, we launched The Missing Bits Project, which invites community members to contribute:

  • Audio recordings of personal and family stories
  • Photographs and personal collections for digitisation
  • Conversations with friends, family, or our project teams

This growing archive brings public memory into the official record, making it richer and more representative.

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Explore Output From Our Digitisation Work

Books

Our project libraries are home to vibrant and growing book collections designed to reflect, serve, and inspire Nairobi’s communities. From classic titles to contemporary works, we are intentional about curating collections that tell African stories, embrace inclusivity, and remain accessible to all.

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Acquisition

Guided by our Acquisition Policy, we prioritise books by Kenyan and African authors, ensuring local voices are at the heart of our shelves. Through generous partnerships with organisations such as Book Aid International, KNLS, and Mabati Rolling Mills, we continue to grow our collection every year.

Accessibility

We are expanding our accessible collection with large print and Braille titles and have partnered with the Accessible Books Consortium to provide digital formats. Our aim is for every reader to feel welcome and included. In addition, we published a national report on public libraries and access for persons with disabilities, mapping gaps and recommending solutions.

Automation

To manage our growing collection, we incorporated the Koha library system, a globally recognised tool for library automation. With over 16,000 titles uploaded, patrons can now search our collections online, track their borrowing, and access resources more efficiently.