Summary of Project Status and Achievements:
This month, library activity has been slow because the schools are on break. Each library has remained open, though, for their regular scheduled hours. The PM has made an effort to visit each library several times and get to know the librarians and the communities each satellite library serves. The PM has also introduced the concept of Monitoring and Evaluation to each librarian, and we are altering the sign-in sheets in order to gather better statistics on library visitors.
The PM and the ‘F’ librarian have been busy planning a nursery reading class, set to begin next week. Moses, the librarian, has a curriculum ready, which the PM has reviewed, but we are being careful not to step on the toes of the budding Zone F Preschool project. We imagine that this reading class may become unnecessary when the preschools begin in January, but for now the children are eager to start. The PM and the ‘A’ librarian have also been discussing the possibility of a weekly current events discussion group at Meheba Friendly Library, but we are still working out logistics. English classes at Zones G and C are going well. Two librarians were out for most of the month, in Lusaka for resettlement interviews, but the volunteer librarian substituted in D and a substitute was found in G as well. Both substitutes did fine and there were no problems.
Eight boxes of new books, arranged by former PM Jessica, arrived in Meheba in mid-August. We will be discussing the books at the next all-staff meeting, and distributing them shortly thereafter. One box of children’s books has already been delivered to ‘A’ basic school, as per earlier arrangements.
Future activities and projections:
In the month to come, the PM plans on solidifying M&E plans in each of the libraries. We also hope to institute a more solid structure of inter-library lending and membership, as the community has expressed a desire to see this. We have communicated to UNHCR personnel regarding the remaining boxes of books in Lusaka, so we hope to have those delivered in the near future. The books will be separated and distributed as they come.
Indicators and Statistics:
Number of library interns (work study): 6
Number of volunteer librarians: 1 (D)
Number of visitors to the library:
New members: 1
