Strathmore University

Download Books Acquisitions Project brochure (Microsoft Publisher file).

Library Books Acquisition Project

Fast Facts

Strathmore University in Nairobi, Kenya seeks to stock its newly completed library with a world-class collegiate collection of books and research materials. Supporters are sought to help Strathmore organize and implement a book acquisition project to source from North America and ship to Kenya at least 80,000 books over three years.

Project Scope

            Strathmore’s plan is to organize an intensive, full-time acquisition effort in the United States with a full-time project director and a rented processing and dispatch center. Project estimates conservatively suggest that Strathmore can achieve its goal of sourcing and receiving 80,000 books from a project lasting up to 36 months and costing $367,499, or $4.59 per book.

The project estimates, which are particularly sensitive to the variables of a) book acquisition rate, b) net shipping container capacity, and c) books per cubic foot, also suggest that slight improvements in acquisition and shipping efficiency could reduce the project time and cost. For example, if the book acquisition rate can be increased by a third, the container capacity can be increased by 20% and the books per cubic foot by 10%, it is possible that the sourcing of 80,000 books could be achieved in 24 months at a cost of $280,210, or about 25% less, and at a lower per book cost of $3.50. The project would be managed to optimize all such possible efficiencies.

Strathmore University

            Founded as an A-level college in 1961, Strathmore University is a leading educational institution in East Africa. Specializing in commerce and information technology, Strathmore holds a peerless reputation for quality in both academic and professional education and personal formation. Strathmore was Kenya’s first multiracial school. Today women constitute half of its student body. Through its highly successful Accountancy Program, Strathmore trains two thirds of all of Kenya’s certified public accountants.

            Kenya’s Commission on Higher Education has provisionally authorized Strathmore to become a university. To receive its full charter by March, 2005, Strathmore must organize and commence a significant books acquisition campaign.

Strathmore University Library

            Strathmore currently sustains a small library of just over 10,000 volumes. The University—with the generous support of the European Union—has completed a new Library building with capacity for 100,000 volumes. Now the University boldly seeks to increase its collection by at least 80,000 in three years by a special acquisition campaign in North America. A project director and location have been identified. Already 10,000 books have been acquired.

Engagement Opportunities

            The project conceives of support in two phases. Phase One would provide for the first two shipments, currently estimated to be 32,000 books in the first 10 months. To get the project underway quickly, Phase One would be funded by individual efforts in two places, Kenya and the United States, In Kenya, the University will locally raise $35,000, nearly 10% of the project cost. In the US, $75,000 is sought fully to fund the need for Phase One. Phase Two, to provide $267,499 for the balance over the remaining 26 months, would be sourced from institutions.

The Case for Kenya

            Kenya’s per capita income is $330—and where for 92% of the population it is $70. Ten percent of Kenya’s 30,000,000 people have HIV/AIDS or malaria. Kenya possesses one of the world’s most significant natural environments, which needs preservation and better management. Sharing a long border with Somalia, a failed state, Kenya is a successful if fragile democracy and free economy on the front line of the War of Terrorism; 252 Kenyans lost their lives in the Al Qaeda bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi. Kenya desperately needs educated managers and leaders to help create wealth, reduce its poverty, heal its sick, improve public health, resist political destabilization, and fight terrorism.

The Case for Strathmore’s Library

The Kenyan Commission of Higher Education has invited Strathmore to form a university. A key chartering requirement is to establish a first-class collegiate library with at least 80,000 volumes. This is considered a critical national project on a continent were the second worst famine is the appalling shortage of books.

As an innovative, well-managed, high-minded educational institution with a peerless reputation and ability, Strathmore has an important role to play in Kenya’s reconstruction. Many of Kenya’s future leaders and managers will be Strathmoreans. Now more than ever Strathmore must do more and be more for Kenya and East Africa. Strathmore’s library will be the backbone of all its efforts. This book acquisition project will have an enormous impact at an already highly effective institution and thus make a great and immediate contribution to the improvement of Kenya’s future.

Download Books Acquisitions Project brochure (Microsoft Publisher file).

For further information, please contact:

Strathmore University Foundation, 20 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542 USA

T: 609-688-1022  E: suf@verizon.net  www.strathmorefoundation.org