Realizing a dream: mini-libraries

Delivering the first batch of books to the college kids. We have also built and started to stock small mini-libraries in the two primary schools we work with. What a joy!

All my life I have loved to read. It’s been a dream of mine to provide mini-libraries in our Nepal schools and to encourage the children to learn to read for pleasure. Books are not typically in their worldview. Most come from illiterate or almost illiterate families. They are not read to by their parents.  In such a cash-poor culture books are a luxury that none can afford.

Here in the West we have an abundance of wonderful, beautiful, educational and inspirational books for children and young adults. I’ve often walked through a bookstore wishing I could scoop up armloads of books and teleport them into the hands of our sponsored kids in Nepal. However, the shipping costs to get books across the miles and into those little hands is exorbitant. I’ve checked it out, every which way, over the years.

Then, this year, a group of friends planning a trip to Nepal said they would each carry books for us!! That really set things in motion. I sent out an email to donors explaining our “project” and support started flooding in: donations, books and even some wonderful art supplies from a fifth grader in Pennsylvania, whose non-profit, Color For Kids sends art supplies wherever kids can’t afford them. I shopped for appropriate books online and in bookstores; new and used. My living room started to fill.

I quickly realized that the scope was bigger than I expected. I needed books for ages 5-22. I needed books for both boys and girls and enough for a mini-library in each school. I wanted them to be substantive, fun and culturally appropriate. And I needed a fair distribution between different age groups and gender, based on our actual sponsored kids.

(For example: Did I have enough fun books for boys aged 12-15 at two schools?) And what would be enticing to them? What would spark their interest? What would be interesting and inspiring for college kids who have never read for pleasure?

Then I had to pack all the books. For our friendly couriers, I needed to package 8 similarly sized packets, one for each person transporting them…not too big or heavy. And each needed to be wrapped and labeled: which school, and, boys or girls?..so Tejendra could receive and deliver them when they arrived. And I packed a big load for me to take when I went. I carried 3 suitcases.

Once I arrived in Nepal with my mother lode, I unpacked them in my hotel room and re-divided them according to which school they would go to, boys or girls’ books (generally speaking), and age group. Tejendra and I then inventoried the books for each location so the kids and schools could keep track. We hope to avoid, as best we can (since this is an experiment, after all) the books going missing or lost. We want to teach the kids to care for the books and understand the “borrowing” system. Along these lines, I ended up spending time teaching them about the concept of a library and about borrowing and taking care of their very own little libraries. These little libraries will be located right in the kids hostel rooms where they have easy access. Nepal school libraries, such as they are, are typically a dusty bunch of old pamphlets kept under lock and key, which the kids never get to see.

Next I went shopping to get more books locally. Books are cheaper in Nepal and there are some interesting titles by Nepali authors. We also wanted books about Nepali achievements and books in Nepali language. One of our older students came along to recommend books. He loves to read! Sagar also works in a small library so helped educate and inspire the other kids about this project. We bought so many books we couldn’t carry them and had to return another day with Tejendra’s car to pay our bill and collect the books.

Delivering the books and art supplies was so much fun! The kids were thrilled. The boys especially loved the soccer books donated by one of our sponsors. A real hit. If anything will get them to read, that will. We will be purchasing and installing a large cupboard in the Pegasus hostel study hall where both boys and girls can access the books and art supplies. At ShangriLa we have already purchased two cupboards. One has been installed (to their great delight) in the girls hostel room. The other is coming soon for the boy’s room. At New Summit College, books will be kept in Pema Khandu’s hostel room and she will oversee the care and borrowing. At Strong Roots pre-school in the Bhalku slum, we donated art supplies for the small fry.

We plan to continue this project and add books over time. Already a few kids have written to me telling me they are enjoying a book they have borrowed. I’m thrilled.

THANK-YOU to everyone who has made this “book project” possible. You’re enriching these young lives!