Herman Ngugi Request a proposal

Library & Information Systems Consulting · Nairobi, Kenya

A library built, organized or restored to a working standard.

I plan, build and maintain libraries and digital resource centres for firms, individuals, institutions and libraries that already exist but no longer work the way they should. Every capability below is available on its own, or as one managed engagement.

Find your starting point Request a proposal

Systems experience with the Kenya School of Government and the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.

I — WHERE YOU'RE STARTING FROM

Two starting points. One process.

Select the one that describes your situation. The work, the sequence and the system both lead to are different — this shows you exactly which applies.

Restoring and running an existing collection

  • Cataloguing & classification
  • Indexing
  • Weeding — removing outdated or damaged material
  • Reorganizing & shelving
  • Adding new collections
  • Installing & maintaining systems — Koha, DSpace

Available as individual services, or as one engagement that takes the library from its current state to a fully working one.

Request a proposal for this path

Building a collection from scratch

  • Defining the field and scope of the collection
  • Inventory & needs analysis
  • Purchasing
  • Receiving & cataloguing
  • Classification, organizing & shelving
  • Setting up the space for use, and staff training on best practice

Available as individual services, or as one engagement from a blank room to a library your team can run.

Request a proposal for this path

II — SYSTEMS I IMPLEMENT

The software behind the shelf

Koha

Open-source library management system — cataloguing, circulation, member records and reporting. Suited to schools, firms and institutional libraries of most sizes.

DSpace

Open-source repository platform for digital archives and e-resources — built for organizations managing digitized records, institutional documents and born-digital material.

III — WHO THIS IS FOR

Built for the organization you actually run

Firms & offices

Law, consulting and corporate reference libraries that staff rely on daily.

Individuals

Personal and family collections organized to a usable standard.

Existing libraries

Public, school or institutional libraries that need cleanup, system work or expansion.

New collections

Organizations building a library or resource centre for the first time.

IV — FROM DISCOVERY TO SOLUTION

How an engagement runs

  1. Discover

    Identify which of the two paths applies, and what you actually need.

  2. Assess

    Inventory what exists, or define the scope of what's being built.

  3. Plan

    A written proposal — scope, system, timeline, investment.

  4. Build

    Catalogue, classify, organize, shelve, digitize, configure the system.

  5. Verify

    Review the finished library or system with you before it goes live.

  6. Sustain

    Train your team, hand over documentation, remain available after.

V — INDICATIVE INVESTMENT

Clear figures, a written proposal first

CapabilityFrom
Stock-taking & inventoryKES 13,000 (~$100)
Library system setup & support (Koha, DSpace)KES 32,500 (~$250)
Digital resource & e-archive managementKES 39,000 (~$300)

Cataloguing, classification, indexing, weeding, shelving and training are quoted individually based on collection size. Figures above are starting points — most engagements are scoped after an assessment, with a written proposal before any commitment, whether you choose a single service or the full process.

Records and information discussed during scoping are treated as confidential. A mutual non-disclosure agreement is available on request, and all materials remain your property throughout.

"Really great support setting up our new offices in Westlands. All the hardware issues were as smooth as butter."

David, IT Manager, NGO client — on IT and systems setup support

VI — QUESTIONS

Common questions

Can I hire you for just one part, like weeding or cataloguing?

Yes. Every capability listed is available individually, or combined into one engagement.

Do you work with libraries that already have a system installed?

Yes. Existing Koha or DSpace installations can be audited, cleaned up and maintained, not just set up from new.

Do you work with individuals, not just institutions?

Yes. Personal and professional collections are organized to the same standard as institutional ones, scaled to size and budget.

Which systems do you support?

Koha for library management and circulation, and DSpace for digital repositories and e-resource archives.

How is the investment determined?

By the size of the collection and which capabilities you need. You receive a written proposal after assessment, before anything starts.

VII — REQUEST A PROPOSAL

Start with an assessment

Tell me which path applies and what isn't working. I reply within one working day.

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