Certificate in Library Studies
The Certificate in Library Studies provides foundational knowledge in library operations, information organisation, cataloguing, and records management. Students learn the fundamentals of library science including library classification, cataloguing, circulation services, reference services, and digital information management. The programme is designed for individuals seeking entry-level positions in libraries, information centres, archives, or as a pathway to further studies in library and information science.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 67,189 a year at a public institution, Ksh 67,189 for the whole course.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of C- or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 1 year, full-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 12 institutions.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
Students develop competencies in library operations, cataloguing and classification, circulation management, reference services, information organisation, records management, and digital library basics. The curriculum covers introduction to library studies, library classification systems, cataloguing, circulation and reference services, information sources, records management, and ICT in libraries. Practical skills are developed through library practicum and project work.
Libraries and information centres play a critical role in education, research, and governance in Kenya. Schools, universities, government departments, NGOs, and corporate organisations maintain libraries and information resource centres requiring trained personnel. Kenya's growing emphasis on digital information management and knowledge organisation has expanded the scope of library studies beyond traditional library operations to include digital libraries and information technology.
The programme combines classroom lectures with practical training in library settings. Students practise cataloguing, classification, circulation procedures, and reference services. Teaching methods include lectures, laboratory sessions in library systems, field visits to libraries, and project-based work. Students gain hands-on experience through library practicum in university or institutional libraries.
Graduates find employment as library assistants, circulation assistants, cataloguing assistants, or records management assistants in school libraries, university libraries, public libraries, government departments, NGOs, and corporate information centres. The certificate also provides a pathway to diploma programmes in library and information studies or information science.
This programme is ideal for KCSE graduates with an interest in books, information management, and knowledge organisation, as well as individuals already working in library or information-related roles who seek formal qualification. The programme provides practical skills directly applicable in library and information centre operations.
What you study
10 subjects- Introduction to Library and Information Studies
- Library Classification Systems
- Cataloguing and Indexing
- Circulation and Reference Services
- Information Sources and Services
- Records Management Basics
- ICT in Libraries
- Digital Library Fundamentals
- Library Administration
- Information Ethics and Copyright
Modules
8 in the programmeIntroduction to Library and Information Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to library and information studies covering the history and development of libraries, types of libraries, the role of libraries in society, and the library profession in Kenya.
Library Classification Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Library classification systems covering Dewey Decimal Classification, Library of Congress Classification, and practical classification of library materials.
Cataloguing and Indexing
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Cataloguing covering Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, descriptive cataloguing, subject cataloguing, and indexing techniques for library materials.
Circulation and Reference Services
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Circulation services covering lending procedures, membership management, and reference services including reference queries, information retrieval, and user assistance.
Information Sources and Services
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Information sources covering reference materials, online databases, electronic resources, and information services for different user groups.
Records Management Basics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Records management covering records creation, classification, storage, retention, disposal, and the fundamentals of archives management.
ICT in Libraries and Digital Library Fundamentals
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
ICT in libraries covering library management systems, digital resources, online catalogues, and digital library fundamentals including digitisation and digital preservation.
Library Administration and Practicum
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Library administration covering library management, budgeting, staff coordination, and a library practicum providing hands-on experience in an institutional library.
Specialisations
Cataloguing and Classification
Focus on cataloguing standards, classification systems, and subject analysis for library materials organisation.
Digital Information Management
Focus on digital libraries, ICT in libraries, digital preservation, and electronic resource management.
Records Management
Focus on records creation, management, retention, and archives administration for organisational information management.
A day as a student
A typical day combines morning lectures on library science theory with afternoon practical sessions in the library. Students practise cataloguing, classification, circulation procedures, and reference services. Field visits to different types of libraries provide exposure to various library operations, while project work involves developing library organisation plans and information management solutions.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Libraries are evolving digitally, creating new opportunities in digital information management. | Career opportunities are relatively limited compared to technology or business fields. |
| Provides a direct pathway to diploma and degree programmes in library and information studies. | Library positions may be competitive with limited openings in established institutions. |
| Offered at both public and private universities, providing accessibility and choice. | Senior library roles require diploma or degree-level qualifications plus professional certification. |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 243 science coursesAnnual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.
The fine print
Public: KU 63.6K, TVET 67K/yr (joweri.com, tukenya.ac.ke). Private: unverified
HELB loans and NGCDF bursaries are available for eligible Kenyan students enrolled in certificate programmes at chartered universities.
Funding options
HELB Loan
NGCDF Bursary
Scholarships
2 recordedHELB Loan
LoanKsh 40,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in certificate programmes at chartered universities
NGCDF Bursary
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan students from respective constituencies pursuing certificate-level studies
Scholarships you could apply for
11 usable where it is taught- Equity Group Foundation Wings to Fly
Closes 28 February 2027FullEquity Bank
Full secondary + university
- Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship
Closes 31 March 2027FullAga Khan Foundation
Full university study
- KCB Foundation Scholarship
Closes 31 March 2027FullKCB Bank
Full tuition + stipend
- Mombasa Cement Scholarship
Closes 31 May 2027PartialMombasa Cement Ltd
KES 100,000 per year
- Safaricom Foundation ICT Scholarship
Closes 30 June 2027FullSafaricom Foundation
Full tuition + internship
- Family Bank Foundation Education Support
Closes 30 June 2027PartialFamily Bank
KES 80,000 per year
- HELB Undergraduate Scholarship
Closes 31 July 2027PartialHigher Education Loans Board
KES 40,000 to 60,000 per year
- County Government Scholarships
Varies by countyPartialCounty Governments
KES 50,000 to 200,000 per year
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
KU: KCSE C- or equivalent. KHU: KCSE D with D in English/Kiswahili. Requirements vary by institution.
When it next starts
Taught at 12 institutionsIncluding Kenyatta University, Kenya Highlands Evangelical University, Technical University of Mombasa.
Including Kenyatta University, Kenya Highlands Evangelical University, Technical University of Mombasa.
Including Kenyatta University, Kenya Highlands Evangelical University, Technical University of Mombasa.
How you are assessed
3 componentsContinuous Assessment Tests
Written examination30% of the mark
Regular CATs evaluating understanding of library science theory, classification, and cataloguing principles.
Practical Assessment
Practical assessment40% of the mark
Practical assessment of cataloguing, classification, circulation, and reference services in library settings.
End of Semester Examinations and Practicum
Project30% of the mark
Final examinations and a library practicum report demonstrating applied library operations competencies.
Accreditation
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
KU and KHU are chartered by CUE.
Kenyatta University and Kenya Highlands University are chartered by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme provides foundational library and information studies training.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesLibrary Assistant
Low demandKsh 16,000 to Ksh 45,000
Assists in library operations in school, university, or public libraries, handling circulation, shelving, cataloguing, and user services.
Circulation Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 15,000 to Ksh 40,000
Manages circulation desk operations in libraries, handling lending, returns, memberships, and user queries.
Records Management Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 17,000 to Ksh 48,000
Assists in records management in government departments, NGOs, or corporate organisations, handling records creation, filing, storage, and retrieval.
Cataloguing Assistant
Low demandKsh 16,000 to Ksh 45,000
Assists in cataloguing and classification of library materials in university or institutional libraries, applying cataloguing standards and classification systems.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates find employment as library assistants, circulation assistants, and records management assistants in school, university, and public libraries, with opportunities for progression to diploma programmes.
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Library studies is only about shelving books.
Library studies encompasses information organisation, digital information management, reference services, records management, and knowledge organisation — diverse skills beyond physical book management.
Libraries are becoming obsolete in the digital age.
Libraries are evolving into digital information centres, with growing demand for professionals who can manage both physical and digital information resources.
Library studies has limited career opportunities.
Schools, universities, government departments, NGOs, and corporate organisations maintain libraries and information centres requiring trained personnel.
A certificate in library studies cannot lead to employment.
School libraries, university libraries, public libraries, and corporate information centres employ certificate holders as library assistants and circulation assistants.