Summary of project status and achievements:
The libraries continued as usual this month. A Question & Answer quiz was completed in the âFâ Library with 3 winners. All of the libraries will now be running the quiz game simultaneously. The PM held a meeting with each of the librarians to discuss the Q&A schedule and the upcoming months â it is now set to run once every two months.
Titus, the former A-librarian, repaid the money that he had taken from the Library Fund. The PM now holds that money at the compound and librarians were told to bring any additional membership fees to the PM at the end of each week.
The PM has also discussed the idea of starting a resume-writing workshop in several of the libraries. The librarians believe that it could be successful in certain blocks of the camp, so we are now awaiting a more detailed curriculum from the Programming Director and COC. With more information, we will be able to train the librarians and then begin the workshops.
Future activities and projections:
We hope that as rains slow and harvest approaches, the community will have more time to visit the libraries and attend the upcoming programs. We are now trying to focus our expanded programming more on the Angolan populations in order to contribute to repatriation efforts.
The PM is also bringing forth the suggestion of closing the A-Basic library. It does not have many books, does not draw many visitors, and is only a 2-minute walk from Meheba Friendly Library. It costs 50,000ZMK per month to pay the librarian as well. However, on the flipside, the PM is worried about the potential reaction from the A-Basic headmaster, who is very enthusiastic in his relationship to FORGE.
Substantial problems or issues:
Lately, the librarians have been very disgruntled about not receiving bicycles and about their low levels of pay. The PM has repeatedly explained to these employees that the cost of 6 additional bicycles is not in the budget and that this expense would be impossible, but they continue to bring in complaints. The PM also showed the employees the yearly budget, broken down by month, but this does not seem to have eased the tension. The PM strongly supports the decision not to provide bicycles to these employees, but believes that management should be aware of the issue. They are also upset by the supply budget and continue to request irrelevant items, such as floor wax and soap to wash the curtains monthly.
Wishes or requests:
None.
Budget:
Please see Expense Monitor.
