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[[File:Lamu Fort Library.jpg|thumb|Lamu Fort Library]]
[[File:Lamu Old Town.jpg|thumb|Lamu Island]]
'''Lamu Fort Library''' is a branch of the [[National Museums of Kenya]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Museums of Kenya – Where Heritage Lives on |url=https://museums.or.ke/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |language=en-US}}</ref> The Library was initiated in 1978 as a reference library for museum's staff and researchers. In 1986 it was relocated to a more specious room at the Lamu Fort Museum.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lamu Museum – National Museums of Kenya |url=https://museums.or.ke/lamu-museum/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Lamu Fort |date=2023-09-26 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lamu_Fort&oldid=1177238159 |access-date=2024-03-01 |language=en}}</ref>
== History of the Librarylibrary ==
[[File:Lamu Fort.jpg|thumb|Lamu Fort]]
The library is a department of the Lamu Fort Museum.<ref>{{Citation, it is the only library in |title=Lamu Fortthat |date=2023-09-26serves |work=Wikipediathe |url=https://enpublic.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lamu_Fort&oldid=1177238159 |access-date=2024-03-01The |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citefort webwas |title=Lamuformally Forta Museumprison; LibraryIt |url=https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q68653306is |access-date=2024-03-06in |website=www.wikidata.orga |language=en}}</ref>historic Thebuilding Fortthat was formallybuilt by athe Sultan of Oman. prisonIts history has made the library more attractive and notable by the researchers, it was then given to National Museum of Kenya in 1985. The [[Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency]] (S.I.D.A) assisted the National Museums of Kenya to convert the Fortfort into a Museummuseum. In 1986 the library was officially reopened at the Fortfort Museummuseum by Mr. K. Nordenskiöld, a former Directordirector of S.I.D.A on Tuesday 22 April 1986.<ref>{{Citation |title=Lamu Fortcitation needed|date=2023-09-26January |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lamu_Fort&oldid=1177238159 |access-date=2024-03-01 |language=en2025}}</ref>
== Classification of Librarylibrary Collectioncollection ==
The library uses the [[Dewey Decimal Classification|Dewey Decimal Classification system]] to classify its collection.<ref>{{Citation |title=Dewey Decimal Classification |date=2024-02-04 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://enwww.wikipediabritannica.orgcom/wscience/index.php?title=Dewey_Decimal_Classification&oldid=1203369403 |accessDewey-date=2024Decimal-03-07 |language=en}}Classification</ref> Lamu Fort Library is still using a [[Browne Issue System|Browne Charging system]] to lend books. The system uses cards to lend and retrieve books that were borrowed, the cards are arranged in a tray by date of return.<ref>{{CitationCite web |title=[Solved] Arrange in sequence the steps of the Browne IssueCharging System |date=2023-08-25 |work=Wikipedia. |url=https://entestbook.wikipedia.orgcom/wquestion-answer/index.php?title=Browne_Issue_System&oldid=1172176227arrange-in-sequence-the-steps-of-the-browne-chargi--659cebd52d7774f3163f9e04 |access-date=20242025-0305-0718 |languagewebsite=enTestbook}}</ref> The library has about 10,000 items classified under Dewey Decimal Classification System and the catalogue uses the [[Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules (AACR, AACR2, AACR2R) |url=https://www.librarianshipstudies.com/2018/12/anglo-american-cataloguing-rules-aacr.html |access-date=2024-03-07}}</ref>
== Branch of the Lamu Fort Library ==
The Lamu Fort Library have donated over 2000 books to build up a library in Siyu Fort.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Siyu Fort – National Museums of Kenya |url=https://museums.or.ke/siyu-fort/ |access-date=2024-03-15 |language=en-US}}</ref> The library was started in 2020 with the assistance of the [[commons:File:Khadija Twahir.jpg|Lamu Fort Librarian]]. The Library collection consists of donations from the Lamu Fort Library, the British Council, Macmillan, the National Museum of Kenya Resources Center and individual donors. The aim of setting up a library in [[Siyu]] is to boost the reading culture of Siyu Community and also to give the Siyu community access to information materials to students and Siyu community. The Fort is Located between Siyu Primary School and a hospital. The library collection is classified using the Dewey Decimal Classification and catalogued using Anglo American Cataloguing rules.
== Lamu Fort Library Sections ==
The library is subdivided into Research, Archive, E-library and Maktaba Sanaa section, for easy retrieval of information.
=== Research section ===
The research section holds theses, projects, historical books, periodicals, bibliographies, and dissertations. The collection covers Lamu history, archaeology, anthropology and poetry. It includes many rare publications of popular Swahili writers such as: Professor Sheikh Nabhany,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jumbe |first=Ishaq |title=Kenya's Kiswahili guru Professor Ahmed Sheikh Nabhani is dead |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001230457/kenya-s-kiswahili-guru-professor-ahmed-sheikh-nabhani-is-dead |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=The Standard |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-05 |title=Sun sets on Ahmed Nabhany, one of Kenya's best Kiswahili literary and cultural icons |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/life-and-style/weekend/sun-sets-on-ahmed-nabhany-one-of-kenya-s-best-kiswahili-literary-and-cultural-icons-368144 |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=Nation |language=en}}</ref> Lamu Conservation books by Usam Ghaidan,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Usam Ghaidan - Academia.edu |url=https://independent.academia.edu/UsamGhaidan |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=independent.academia.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=GHAIDAN |first=Usam |url=https://www.amazon.com/Lamu-Study-Conservation-Usam-Ghaidan/dp/B001N3UPXK |title=Lamu: A study in conservation |date=1976-01-01 |publisher=East African Literature Bureau |edition=Prima edizione |language=English}}</ref>, and LamuQuest Archipelagofor the past : An historical booksguide to the Lamu Archipelago by Chrysee MacCasler Perry Martin and Esmond Bradley Martine,<ref>{{Citation |title=Esmond Bradley Martincitation needed|date=2023-07-15January |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Esmond_Bradley_Martin&oldid=1165518423 |access-date=2024-03-06 |language=en2025}}</ref> Francesco Siravo and Ann Pulver, new research collections "in this fragile World"<ref>{{Citation |last=Mau |first=Ustadh Mahmoud |title=In This Fragile World: Swahili Poetry of Commitment by Ustadh Mahmoud Mau |date=2023-02-06 |work=In This Fragile World |url=https://brill.com/edcollbook-oa/title/62192 |access-date=2024-03-15 |publisher=Brill |language=en |isbn=978-90-04-52572-6}}</ref> a book edited by Clarissa Vierke and Annachiara Raia and many more.
=== Archive section ===
The library holds a large and diverse range of archival materials such as old photographs from Lamu, 19th and 20th century manuscripts, old newspapers, magazines and periodicals, as well as old currencies, and files. A part of the archival collection is digital. It was obtained through a [[digitization]] project that was hosted by Lamu Fort Library. The UMADA project digitized roughly two thousand manuscripts and audio cassettes from the personal library of Lamu poet and [[imam]] Mahmoud Ahmed Abdulkadir, locally known as Ustadh Mau. <ref>{{Citation |title=Mahmoud Ahmed Abdulkadircitation needed|date=2023-11-07January |work=Wikipedia, kamusi elezo huru |url=https://sw.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mahmoud_Ahmed_Abdulkadir&oldid=1306742 |access-date=2024-03-06 |language=sw2025}}</ref> It was managed and supervised by Annachiara Raia from the [[African Studies Centre Leiden]] in Netherlands<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ustadh Mau Digital Archive (UMADA) Project Launch {{!}} African Studies Centre Leiden |url=https://www.ascleiden.nl/news/ustadh-mau-digital-archive-umada-project-launch |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=www.ascleiden.nl}}</ref> The digitization was funded by [[University of California, Los Angeles|UCLA’s]] Modern Endangered Archives Program that is supported by ARCADIA <ref>{{Citation |title=UCLA Library |date=2024-01-08 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=UCLA_Library&oldid=1194333144 |access-date=2024-03-06 |language=en}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |title=Ustadh Mau Digital Archive (UMADA). Maktaba ya kidijitali ya Ustadh Mau {{!}} African Studies Centre Leiden |url=https://www.ascleiden.nl/research/projects/ustadh-mau-digital-archive-umada-maktaba-ya-kidijitali-ya-ustadh-mau |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=www.ascleiden.nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title='No metadata, no future'. Kicking off Ustadh Mau Digital Archive (UMADA) {{!}} African Studies Centre Leiden |url=https://www.ascleiden.nl/news/no-metadata-no-future-kicking-ustadh-mau-digital-archive-umada |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=www.ascleiden.nl}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Ustadh Mau Digital Archive (UMADA) - UCLA Library Digital Collections |url=https://digital.library.ucla.edu/catalog/ark:/21198/z1n648z7 |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=digital.library.ucla.edu}}</ref>. The digitized poems and sermons can be freely accessed via the UCLA Library Digital Collections. <ref name=":0" /> Also the introduction of the MprinT project<ref name="MprinT@EAST_AFRICA">{{Cite web |title=MprinT@EAST_AFRICA |url=https://www.uib.no/en/ahkr/143764/mprinteastafrica |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=University of Bergen |language=en}}</ref> was done in Lamu Fort Library with team of museum's staff and volunteers on the mapping and digitization of the [[Islamic manuscripts]] in the [[Lamu Archipelago]], the MprinT project is managed by [https://www.uib.no/en/persons/Professor Anne. Katrine. Bang Professor Annefrom Katrine[[University of BangBergen|Bergen University]] in Norway of department of Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies and Religion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anne Katrine Bang |url=https://www.uib.no/en/persons/Anne.Katrine.Bang |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=University of Bergen |language=en}}</ref> National Museum's staff and volunteers conducted a first mapping of Islamic manuscripts in [[Pate Island]], Lamu including onsite cataloguing by the best expert, order and system ensured by Lamu Fort Library staff and thoroughly documented by the right expertise.<ref>{{Cite web |titlename="MprinT@EAST_AFRICA |url=https:"//www.uib.no/en/ahkr/143764/mprinteastafrica |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=University of Bergen |language=en}}</ref>
=== E-library section ===
The E-library section is the digital collection, comprising materials such as digital books from Z-Library, and the digital collection that were acquired out of the digitalization work that was done at the library archive section.<ref name=":0" /> The E-library section was started with the help of Ms. Shama Abdul Gaziza. A friend of the library, Ms. Shama donated computers and a smart TV to start up the E-library section. The section has over one thousand digital English books of varies subjects including Kenya School Syllabus books.
=== Maktaba ya Sanaa Section ===
The [https://www.lamu-maktaba-ya-sanaa.com/ Lamu Maktaba ya Sanaa] section is the Library of Art section that was started in 2018. The section has collection of art books, zines, periodicals, art catalogues, magazines and many more. The section was made intentional to provide reference materials for the local and international artists.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LMYS – Lamu Maktaba Ya Sanaa |url=https://www.lamu-maktaba-ya-sanaa.com/ |access-date=2024-03-06 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Project – LMYS |url=https://www.lamu-maktaba-ya-sanaa.com/about-us/ |access-date=2024-03-06 |language=en}}</ref>. Because of many [http://www.lamu-art-festival.org/ art festivals] that is organized in Lamu county<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lamu Art Festival – 30 Visual Artists from Europe and Africa |url=http://www.lamu-art-festival.org/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |language=en-GB}}</ref> the Lamu Fort Librarian<!--Q114353621--> and [https://www.saatchiart.com/karinvoogd Ms. Karin Voogd]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lamu Painters Festival 2015 - Karin Voogd - Lamu, Kenya |url=http://www.lamupaintersfestival.org/painters-festival-2015/painters-2015/voogd/karin-voogd.php |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=www.lamupaintersfestival.org}}</ref> find the need to create the art section to assist local and international artists with art references Materials.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lamu Art Festival – 30 Visual Artists from Europe and Africa |url=http://www.lamu-art-festival.org/ |access-date=2024-03-07 |language=en-GB}}</ref> The first launching of the Maktaba ya sanaa project was done in Lamu during the Lamu Art festival by Hertbert in [http://www.lamu-art-festival.org/ 2016], the second launch was done at Africa Studies center Library in Leiden University in Netherlands by Ms. Karin Voogd in 2017<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exhibition: Karin Voogd’sVoogd's Book Covers for a Library of the Arts in Lamu, Kenya {{!}} African Studies Centre Leiden |url=https://www.ascleiden.nl/news/exhibition-karin-voogds-book-covers-library-arts-lamu-kenya |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=www.ascleiden.nl}}</ref>
== Library Services ==
* E-library Services
* Reading and Research Services
* [https://www.lamu-maktaba-ya-sanaa.com/ Maktaba ya Sanaa Services]
* Health Information
== Awards ==
Lamu Fort Library is a member of [https://kenyalibraryassociation.or.ke/ Kenya Library Association]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kenya Library Association |url=https://kenyalibraryassociation.or.ke/ |access-date=2024-03-15 |language=en-US}}</ref> and has participated in Maktaba Awards Competition since 2010. In 2011 Lamu Fort Library was awarded 2nd runner up in Public Library Categories<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kenya Library Association: MAKTABA AWARD |url=https://kenya-library.blogspot.com/p/maktaba-award.html |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=Kenya Library Association}}</ref> and 3rd runner up in Community Library in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lamu Museum – National Museums of Kenya |url=https://museums.or.ke/lamu-museum/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |language=en-US}}</ref>[https://museums.or.ke/lamu-museum/].
== Friends of the Library ==
# [https://www.ascleiden.nl/content/library Africa Studies Centre Leiden University Library, Netherlands]
# [[Bergen University Norway]]
# [https://www.uib.no/en/persons/Anne.Katrine.Bang#uib-tabs-current-projects Professor Anne Katrina Bang]
# [[wmfblog:2023/07/19/wikimedia-kaduna-connect-a-campaign-for-free-knowledge-and-connectivity-2023/|Wikimedia Kaduna User group Nigeria]]
# Ms. Shama Abdul Gaziza from USA
# [https://www.lamu-maktaba-ya-sanaa.com/ Ms. Karin Voogd Rotterdam, Netherlands]
# [https://the.akdn/en/resources-media/whats-new/spotlights/creating-hope-kenya AgaKhan Foundation, Lamu]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{coord missing|Kenya}}
[[Category:Lamu Archipelago]]
[[Category:Libraries in Kenya]]
[[Category:1978 establishments in Kenya]]
[[Category:Libraries in Africa]]
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