What do you think of when you picture a community
library? If you are like me you
see rows and rows of books in a bright sun filled room with colorful posters on
the wall. In Taru, Kenya the
Community Library is in a small room with three bookcases and the only light
comes through the open front door.
At least that is the only light until school is finished for the day and
the room is filled with the light of happy smiling children waiting patiently
for their time to come and select a book. Then with a book in hand they read and read and read!
Although at first very shy with white people, soon they were
laughing as they shared their reading skills with us. The librarian is Halima -- a Kenya Keys secondary school
graduate who is volunteering her time to work at the library while waiting to
go to college. Her four-year-old
nephew reads books that a 2nd or 3rd grader might enjoy
and he does it with confidence and ease.
A six-year-old girl stood and proudly showed off her English skills as
she read aloud a book that is two or three years above her grade level.
Then there was Olga a sweet 4th grader who comes
to the library every day after school. A bit reluctant at first to answer questions asked her by this white
Moma (the honorary name given to older women) she relaxed after a few minutes
and shared her favorite story with me.
After chatting for a while, Olga felt so comfortable that we were invited
to walk home with her to meet her family.
We gladly accepted the invitation and walked to her humble home. Olga’s father came out to meet us with
a book in his hand that he had been reading to a younger child. Then he talked to us about his current
library book, If I Had My Life to Live Over Again as he shared some of
his life story. Turns out that
Olga’s father also frequents the Taru Community Library.
One last illustration of the power of books in this little
community is the informal lending library we operated each time we were
home. Children came in a steady
stream knocking on our door with the request, “May I have a book please?” Sometimes they sat on the doorstep or
under trees to devour the stories.
Waldo was identified and found over and over again. Older children read to younger
children. Those few that have lights at home asked to take books home and they
were always returned the next day.
One evening we had a story session by the light of our lantern and headlamps.
Maybe it isn’t at all like a typical American library, but the books provided by Kenya Keys are truly influencing an entire community.
What a wonderful post! I can't wait to read more about your trip.
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