The University Library has exhibited 910 copies of print books for public assessment ahead of their planned disposal. This followed recommendations from the University Library Weeding and Disposal Committee. The two week long exercise, held from 23^rd February to 6^th March, 2026 at the Main Library and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) Library, attracted many curious library users drawn from the students community, academic staff, and non-teaching staff. The objective of the exhibition was to allow readers interact with the books and give feedback whether any of them should be retained, while selecting preferred copies for personal donation.

The exercise was approved by the University Librarian Janegrace Kinyanjui, and conducted by the Preservation and Conservation Section of the University Library. The in-charge of the section Mr. Japheth Olychina said that the initiative was part of the University Library’s efforts to maintain a relevant, updated, and user-focused collection while ensuring responsible disposal of outdated or underutilized materials. “The exhibition provided a transparent and stakeholder participation weeding and disposal procedure. The Library aims at ensuring that no valuable reading materials are weeded or disposed without consulting readers, especially the academic community”, said Olychina.

The University Library weeding process and exercise is undertaken in accordance to the Library Policy and in line with the Public Procurement and   Asset Disposal Act 2025 (PPADA) which was originally enacted in 2015 to implement article 227 of the Constitution which requires public procurement to be fair, transparent, competitive, and cost effective. Out of the 910 volumes, users identified 15 to be retained.

By Eric Sindabi

On Monday 2^nd February 2026 the University ISO Audit team conducted a continuity Quality Management System internal audit at the University Library. During the exercise, Mr. Hezron Chwero and Mr. Elisha Otieno who represented the University ISO Audit unit held an audit session with the University Librarian Janegrace Kinyanjui, together with Faculties’ Librarians and Section Heads during the audit exercise.

The auditors emphasised that the University Library was among the key University departments and that there was a need for the department to align its procedures and documentation with client needs, as stipulated in the ISO 9001:2015 standards. “Evidence of actions taken under each documented procedure should be properly recorded”, said Mr. Chwero. The auditors further advised that follow-up on Library infrastructure and procedural requests should be evidenced through documentation, while monitoring and evaluation of the library’s quality objectives should be clearly documented.

The University ISO internal auditors Mr. Hezron Chwero(second from left) and Mr. Elisha Otieno(fourth from left) and the University Librarian Mrs.Janegrace Kinyanjui (third from left) accompanied by section heads and faculty librarians pose for a group photograph after the audit exercise./ERIC SINDABI 

The auditors also noted that staff competence and abilities to perform assigned tasks in line with documented objectives and procedures must be demonstrated through verifiable evidence, in line with ISO 90001-2015 requirements for effective quality management and continued improvement of library services. Among the key areas of the library system that were reviewed during the audit exercise included procedures from across all sections of the library, customer satisfaction survey reports and compliance with the University Quality Objectives framework.

ISO 9001:2015 is an international standard for managing quality in organizations which ensures consistent provision of services and products that meet customer and regulatory requirements. In academic institutions like Egerton University, 9001:2015 helps improve administration, teaching services, research processes, and service delivery.

Egerton University is an ISO 9001:2015 certified institution where as internal audit exercises are necessary to monitor and review the Quality Management System in accordance to the certification that meets international standards. The University Library Quality Management System objectives involves; improvement of access to information resources, increasing volumes of information resources (both print and electronic),creating awareness through user education programmes,and enhancing preservation and conservation of information resources.

The main purpose of the audit exercise is to identify strengths and weaknesses in service delivery. The Library was urged to improve in areas of weakness for better service delivery.