LIBRARY AND PUBLICATIONS
Overview
In the framework of KEMRI Mission and Vision, the library has the mandate to facilitate availability and access to appropriate, relevant and timely information to all the Institute staff. The library aims at serving the Institute by acquiring, organizing and providing comprehensive Library and Information services for research in human health by keeping the staff abreast with the latest developments in their respective areas of research.
More specifically, it provides reading, reference, research materials, online and other services to the KEMRI scientific staff, non-scientific staff, partners, postgraduate students of the KEMRI Graduate school program, students and individuals from other relevant Institutions and networks for health research, administration, teaching and learning.
Vision
In pursuit of KEMRI’s vision of being a leading centre of excellence in the promotion of quality health, the library’s vision is:
To be the first point of choice for quality information that enhances quality of life through research, teaching and learning.
Mission
In pursuit of the Institute mission of improving on quality of health and human life through research, the mission of the library is:
To provide comprehensive library and information services for research in human health
Core Values
In order to realize the above vision and mission the library commits itself to uphold the following;
- Efficient and timely delivery of information for quality health research and User-centered services including:
- Work in collaboration with the Knowledge Management office to develop and integrate databases relevant to KEMRI Research output.
- Be part of the team that is developing and operationalizing web based portal for dissemination and research findings for KEMRI
- Freedom of access to information to all the KEMRI staff, KEMRI graduate school and relevant users.
- Appreciation of client feedback to improve services and programs.
- Provision of safe and comfortable facilities that enhance research and study.
- Service delivery in information dissemination to the relevant platforms
- External collaborations and partnerships and member of Association of Health Information and Libraries in Africa (AHILA) and Kenya Library Information Consortium (KLISC).
- Capacity building through training of online literature searchers, authorship skills (academic scientific manuscript writing, referencing) and systematic reviews.
Services
- To provide relevant and up to date information resources
- To support research and academic community of the institute.
- To collect, collate, index and archive all of KEMRI’s intellectual and scientific outputs.
- To provide quality library services to both scientific and academic community.
- To conduct awareness campaigns and conduct regular information literacy courses (Capacity Building)
- To promote intellectual growth and creativity by developing collections
Organization
The KEMRI Library System is composed of six libraries, namely: The main Library is at the KEMRI headquarters and has other six satellite libraries. These are; ESACIPAC Library, CPHR Library, CRDR Library, CGHR Library, Kisumu, CPRDR Library Busia, Alupe, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Library in Kilifi
KEMRI HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY AND ESACIPAC LIBRARY
Information Resources
E Resources (Digital Library)
The Library subscribes to online information resources these are:
HINARI can be accessed through the HINARI link which is You can log in to HINARI Directly through: Click Here this also links you to free access to other the Research4Life databases that is HINARI (Health), OARE (Environmental), AGORA (Agriculture), ARDI (Intellectual Property), GOALI (Law).
Bioline International is a pioneer in the provision of open access to peer reviewed bioscience journals published in developing countries. These journals contain timely research on public health, international development, tropical medicine, food and nutritional security, and biodiversity. Bioline increases the visibility of this research by making it readily available to researchers across the world.
Bioline is not a publisher, but an aggregator that provides a free platform for journals who wish to participate in the global open access movement.
Historically, scholarly information has flowed from North to South and from West to East. It has also been difficult for African researchers to access the work of other African academics.
In partnership with hundreds of journals from all over the continent, AJOL works to change this, so that African-origin research output is available to Africans and to the rest of the world.
PRINT LIBRARY
The library has print collection of 3000 books and 1500 serials collection (journals, newsletters and newspapers)
SPECIAL COLLECTION
The Library has a thesis/ dissertation collection from the KEMRI Graduate School
Past papers from the KEMRI Graduate School
East African Medical Journal bound collection that dates back to the 1970s
Library Staff & Contact Persons
KEMRI HQ and ESACIPAC Library
Cynthia E.W Kimani; AG. Head Librarian – Digital Library, E Resources Capacity Building/ Training Coordinator
Wambui Njonge; Librarian –Digital Library, E Resources
Rose Onyango; Librarian- Reference/Special Collections
David Thiongo; Librarian-Technical Services (Acquisitions and Cataloguing)
Lucy Mwihaki; Esacipac Librarian
CPHR Library, KEMRI Kenyatta
Jean Ngeno; Head Librarian
CRDR Library, KEMRI Kenyatta
Elijah Mongochi; Head Librarian
CGHR Library, KEMRI Kisumu
Christine Odingo; Head Librarian
Duke Nyanchama; Assistant Librarian
CPRDR Library, KEMRI BUSIA
Julius Lubisia; Head Librarian
Lilian Wachiya; Assistant Librarian
KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Library Kilifi
Alex Maina; Head Librarian