Once again I am putting out the call for new and gently used children’s books. An earlier blog entry mentioned that the first ever public library in Rwanda is slated to open soon and is seeking donations. The library is in great part being sponsored by one of the chapters of the Rotary Club of Kigali. There is also an organization called the American Friends of the Kigali Library that is highly involved. The project has been long in the making; I believe almost eleven years now. I met with an American woman who is also a Rotary member who is somewhat of the point person between donors and the library. She was very gracious and toured me around the building, which by the way is beautiful. There are still lots of details left before it is considered finished, however. You can see what the interior is beginning to look like in the above photo.
I asked about shelving, computers, furnishings etc. She indicated that the Rwandan government would be taking care of that, but to her knowledge, they had not been ordered yet. It was her desire as well as the desire of the Rotary Club to be ready for a possible opening at the end of November. She was thrilled about my friend Kristie and her student group wanting to do the book donation and envisions a children’s corner with materials that would appeal to the younger crowd. Kristie and the Livonia High Student Council twice before conducted book drives for organizations in Namibia when we were there in 2009 and have graciously agreed to do so again.
Everyone involved in the project has high hopes about its potential and so do I. It’s exciting to be a part of a first-ever project in this country. Public libraries are such an integral part of American culture and society since the time of Benjamin Franklin. It’s so hard to believe that such a thing has never existed in the country before. Its potential impact could be enormous.
If you’re interested in contributing/participating in any way, just drop me an e-mail at gwenn.laviolette@gmail.com and I’ll get you all of the pertinent details.
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