THE Edward Ndlovu Memorial Library director of library services Jackson Ndlovu is set to attend the Book Aid International 60-year partnership conference in Nairobi, Kenya, next month where he is expected to make a presentation.
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Book Aid is a leading charity organisation supporting the development of libraries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ndlovu, who is also the chairperson of Book Aid distribution in the Matabeleland region and the Midlands, is set to leave the country on May 4 and will make a presentation on engaging schoolchildren and schoolleavers and adult learners in the community.
“I have been receiving books on behalf of the four provinces for the past three years. In the last three years, we received about 24 tonnes of books,” Ndlovu said.
“We have been subsidised in public, private and tertiary institutions.
“State universities, public and specialised libraries like nurse training institutions have benefited from the books.”
Ndlovu said the Edward Ndlovu Memorial Library was running a programme with 30 rural schools by giving them books, about 80% of which were donated by Book Aid International.
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He said the library located in Gwanda, stocks 90% books donated by the organisation.
“At the height of the economic crisis, Book Aid International was instrumental in giving books to libraries. They provide the most current books published with some as early as 2012. Universities and colleges got unique books that the respective institutions could not afford to buy,” he said.
Ndlovu said they had been involved in community projects targeting parents to strengthen food security which has seen them farming cash crops in some of Gwanda’s dry areas.
“Twelve out of 27 schools that we work with have put up libraries in their premises while some school development councils have also built libraries in their schools,” he added.
“We are really in a celebratory mood because Book Aid International has been of great assistance to us.”
Pictures By Jackson Ndlovu
