Kenya National Library (KNLS) Head Librarian Visits ORS Kairi Library

The Kairi Village Our Reading Spaces (ORS) program invited Kenya National Library Services to visit their new library to evaluate the program and recommend required processes or support that the Kenya National Library Services (KNLS) could offer.

On arrival, Naomi the Our Reading Spaces librarian was found arranging and sorting books to keep the track/record of the books. Miriam, the KNLS Head Librarian, was amazed to see the large quantity of books available on the shelves, and stunned by the many more books still in boxes. She was also extremely impressed by the QUALITY of the books, some of which she does not have at the Thika library, especially the young children’s books.

At on point, Miriam pleaded with Naomi to allow her to borrow some books for children at her library (Robotic books). Apparently, most KNLS book donations are outdated and that is what the KNLS Librarian expected to find. She was very happy with the selection of the books and looks forward to borrowing some books for Kenya National Library – Thika some day soon.

Recognizing that it may take our Librarian Naomi a year to finish processing the books, the visiting Librarian offered to send two of her KNLS staff members to assist in the process. Extra support will shorten the set up time so that we can now allow the community to borrow books.

While the Kenya National Library Services was happy the ORS progress, we continue to fundraiser for the purchase of an additional containers so that we can create a larger reading space.

by Peter Okeyo

Our Reading Spaces - Kairi Village

Finally Home

The bright red shipping container pictured above is now the HOME of the Our Reading Spaces Program at the Thika Primary School for the Blind and Kairi village in Kenya. Over 22,000 books were donated by individual donors in the USA and Books for Africa. Caring Georgia volunteers assembled to sort and pack these books for children and families in far away Kenya.

While it is easy today to celebrate the Library, just a few short years ago the fate of these donated books was in limbo because a Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta to Nairobi was suddenly cancelled. This meant that inABLE had to seek out an alternative shipping plan. We did not know quite where to start, but we had to do something, as the schools and entire community was already waiting for the shipment books. Thankfully, the Safaricom Foundation came through, in a big way, with a grant to ship the books.

Now this new Our Reading Spaces Program has many wonderful stories to share. It’s a welcome place for the children who arrive at the library daily, the senior citizens (70 years old) in the community who stop by often to pick up a book or learn to read. Even college students, who cannot afford to buy new text books, visit to access computer books that are required for their classes.

Now that our Kairi library is finally home and open, we can take time to a moment to recognize the impact of our collective hard work and efforts as we continue to expand the Our Reading Spaces Program.