The Kenyan National Library Service has alongside Youth Affairs, Sports and Arts CS Ababu Namwamba has officially launched the first virtual library. The $1.7 million library contains more than 200,000 digitised books, periodicals, research papers and government publications.
The digital platform was announced in September 2022. The VTabu will contain all E-books spanning every subject area taught from preschool to university. In addition, the government entities can utilise the platform for cloud data storage and digitising important records, images, and maps, according to reports.
The library accessible from any internet-enabled device globally will also host e-books downloadable for offline reading.
“We no longer need to worry about publication age or having just one surviving copy. We also don’t need to worry about protecting precious maps because they are now safely stored and accessible in digital format,” stated CS Namwamba at the launch.
Users can access the platform through various subscriptions, weekly, monthly, annual and biannual.
KNLS Board Chair Robert Theuri Maina added, “Access to information enables citizens to actively participate in governance and legal processes. Libraries are powerhouses and strategic resources in this regard.”
According to report, the virtual library aims to encourages reading and provide platform that helps one grow and hone their skills anytime and anywhere.
Namwamba also launched a two-tier data centre where state agencies and other public institutions can lease cloud storage services as well as a digitisation hub where Kenyans can seek to upload their books, newspapers, photographs and records.
Source: The Star and Tech in Africa
