The UKenya library opened at
Bethlehem Community Centre in July 2004. It
was built by the British High Commission under their UKenya project of 2003-4,
and was opened by her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Princess Anne of
the UK. The library is about 10 times the size of the other libraries, is
well ventilated, and flooded with natural light.
The bookstock was
obtained through local donation from schools, institutions and individuals.
A later donation of some childrens information books came from a larger donation
of books from the UK, assisted by the British High Commission , DHL (UK and
Kenya) and Toyota East Africa
Challenges
and Solutions
The
Library Needs:
More chairs.
We hope to get theses donated
Power
Better signposting throughout
the community to promote the library
A small gate in the Community
Centre wall to allow the local population access to the library, other than
through the community centre gates. Currently the centre's gates remain shut
through the day, which discourages anyone coming ot use the library.
Posters throughout the community
advertising the library.
Daily Newspapers.
Current non fiction stock -
children's and adult's.
Visitors and donors
Princess Anne visiting the library to open the
library in July 2004.
In March 2005 Children's
author Beverley Naidoo visited the library. The children from the Community
Centre danced and sang for her. In return Beverley told one of her stories and
donated a book to the library.
Membership and staffing
The library currently has a membership of 696.
The following institutes use the library: 2 nursery schools, 22 primary schools,
24 Secondary Schools,10 colleges/universities. It is also being used by 9 different
communities, from Kayole to BuruBuru.
Currently none of the staff receives any pay.
Achievements- So Far!
Visiting classes regularly come to the the
library from the community centre and from the rest of the Kayole Community..
We are trying to get schools outside the community center to come to the library.
An 82 years old Kikuyu gentleman is coming
to the library to tell stories in kikuyu, the staff translates the stories
into swahili. We hope to get the children to write down his stories, and illustrate
them to preserve them for the next generation.
Regular monthy reports are produced, indicating how many
girls and boys of different age groups, which institutions etc use the library
in any given month.
MYSA activities are starting. These will include HIV/Aids
awareness projects, drama projects etc.
KWANI will start to include Kayole in its rotation of libraries
to visit , promoting creative writing at the library. The children are encouraged
to write their own stories etc.
We have collection of African
materials in English and some in Kiswahili. Also some in French as there is
a small population of Congolise and Rwandese in the area, who are French speaking.
Princess Anne visiting the library to open the
library in July 2004.
Regular monthy reports are produced, indicating how many
girls and boys of different age groups, which institutions etc use the library
in any given month.