Books For Lesotho Inc.

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Books For Lesotho Inc.

An Adelaide-based NGO dedicated to developing libraries in schools in the Kingdom of Lesotho However, few schools in Lesotho had a library.

OUR VISION
In 2006, David and Liz Linn met the then librarian of the Transformation Resource Centre (TRC), ‘Me Mosa ‘Muso, on a visit to the Kingdom of Lesotho, Africa. She explained that while English is used in all subject areas in schools, reading for pleasure is not an African custom, and that learning to read, and in English, was important for the future of schooling in Lesotho. This project

springs from Mosa’s plan that TRC should facilitate the establishment of libraries in schools. Since the start, the Rotary Club of Maloti (RCoMa) has joined the project mainly focussed on developing libraries in communities. To February 2022, over 1000 schools, some 10 institutions, and several community libraries have received books, totalling about 230,000.

10 computers, wall posters, various board games, jigsaw puzzles, pens, pencils, rulers, staplers, blank paper, exercise books, folders, and for filling spaces, issues of National Geographic, Australian Geographic and tennis balls have been sent in addition to books. HOW WE OPERATE
Fiction and non-fiction books are donated by schools which no longer require them, municipal libraries cleaning out their shelves, charity bookshops and op shops, and private donors. These are sorted and packed by volunteers according to their suitability for different age groups, ensuring each school receives a range of books for different reading proficiencies. IMPORTANCE OF LIBRARIES IN LESOTHO’S SCHOOLS
The project works under the principle: Schools supported by TRC and Books For Lesotho Inc. receive three boxes of books per year over a five year period. These are then used by students in class to help develop their ability to spell and use correct grammar, to widen their vocabularies, to increase their confidence in English, and to allow them to develop an appreciation for reading for enjoyment. Since receiving books to create libraries, schools have entered and achieved highly in English competitions, seen better results in students’ schoolwork, allowed students to take books home to read, encouraged students to share what they have learnt from the books during assemblies, formed reading clubs, and shared their libraries with the wider community.

Address

Operate Out Of Springbank Secondary College, Daws Road
Pasadena, SA
5041

Opening Hours

9:30am - 12pm

Website

http://www.booksforlesotho.org/

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Our Story

OUR VISION David and Liz Linn, on a visit to Lesotho in southern Africa in 2006, met the then librarian of the Transformation Resource Centre (TRC), ‘Me Mosa ‘Muso. She explained that while English is used in all subject areas in schools, reading for pleasure is not an African custom, and that learning to read, and in English, was important for the future of schooling in Lesotho. However, few schools in Lesotho had, or still have, a library. This project springs from Mosa’s plan that TRC should facilitate the establishment of libraries in schools. The first shipment of 4 pallets with 4,700 books was sent in late 2007 for distribution in 2008.

From inception of the project and up to January 2019, 144,845 books have been shipped and distributed to some 100 schools and child/youth-centred organisations in Lesotho.

Small quantities of reading aids such as wall posters, board games, jigsaw puzzles, pens, pencils, rulers, staplers, blank paper, exercise books and folders have been sent. Issues of National Geographic and Australian Geographic and tennis balls are used to fill spaces in the packed boxes. HOW WE OPERATE Books for Lesotho receives donated fiction and non-fiction books from many sources, mainly based in South Australia. Sources include school libraries, municipal libraries, several second-hand bookshops including Mitcham Rotary Bookshop and Glenside Lions Bookmart, private donors and publishing houses. Volunteers then sort and pack the books according to their suitability for different age groups thereby ensuring each school receives a range of books for different reading proficiencies and interests. Before starting Books For Lesotho Inc., David and Liz worked in conjunction with South Pacific School Aid (SPSA) volunteers to pack the books. In April 2017, Books for Lesotho negotiated an agreement with Pasadena High School (now Springbank Secondary College) to use The Barn (previously used by SPSA), as its operating location.

Books are packed in boxes and stacked on pallets which are then transported to a port for sea shipping. The cargo goes by ship to Singapore and then to Durban. From Durban the shipment goes by road to Maseru, the capital of the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho.

Books for Lesotho Inc. does not have a presence in Lesotho, nor does it distribute books in- country. Within Lesotho, the project is totally under the control of in-country organisations. Traditionally our partner has been TRC. For the first 10 years of the project, schools supported by TRC and Books For Lesotho Inc. received three boxes of books per year over a five year period. This was deemed to provide sufficient books for a school to have the basis of an operating library.

Since 2019, TRC has changed the process such that more schools are being serviced through each shipment.

In 2017 Books for Lesotho was engaged by Rotary Club of Maloti (RCoMa) to provide books for their projects which are “community-based” and are more concentrated that the TRC approach (see below). The projects can extend to providing buildings for a library (with shelving) and other community activities and services. Sufficient books are supplied to form the basis of a library which is then used by one or more nearby schools; use often extends to the local community. The RCoMa distributed the first shipment during 2018. IMPORTANCE OF LIBRARIES IN LESOTHO’S SCHOOLS The first and main objective is to establish a “library”. The books can then be used in various ways including use by students in class to help develop their ability to spell and use correct grammar, to widen their vocabularies, to increase their confidence in English, and to allow them to develop an appreciation for reading for enjoyment. Since receiving books to create libraries, schools have entered and achieved highly in English competitions (TRC conducts reading and spelling competitions), seen better results in students’ schoolwork, allowed students to take books home to read, encouraged students to share what they have learnt from the books during assemblies, formed reading clubs, and shared their libraries with the wider community.

From 2019, TRC has been providing training to teachers on how to set up a library including cataloguing, shelving and borrowing procedures. During the training teachers explore ways to use the books in class including teacher reading to class, students reading to the class, student describing what they have read about, dramatisation and other innovative activities.

Linked with teacher training, TRC and RCoMa monitor the use of the books to ensure prudent use of the resources and the value of providing additional books in subsequent years.

The whole chain makes up what has been described by local people as a “Nation Building Project”.