Libraries of Love Africa

The purpose of Libraries of Love is to promote literacy in Africa by partnering with Africans to create libraries in individual schools, provide financial support to assist in the educational development of individuals, and address humanitarian needs in Africa.

In 2005, Namirembe Primary School in Kampala was the first school to receive a library. Namirembe was provided with 2,000 books. It has now been restocked six times, receiving a total of 7,108 books. Books are borrowed and taken home by students to share with families. At times, books are worn out or lost. Restocking is vital to the future of each library.

Students in 2026 show their favorite books during reading time in the library.

In 2026, we restocked 16 primary school and 7 secondary school libraries, as well as a prison library.

Libraries of Love ships 13,000-15,000 hardcover, new or like new books, to Africa each year. The Monday team of volunteers in Texas types a spine label for each book, plus labels for pockets and cards so the students can borrow the books to take home.

At present, we have 34 active school libraries in Uganda and eight in Kenya, along with three prison libraries: men’s, women’s and juvenile. The libraries each contain thousands of books and are as beautiful and organized as any library in America. We have people in Uganda and Kenya that work with us and check the libraries twice a month to make sure students are borrowing and the libraries are well kept. The schools must ensure books are being used to keep their libraries.

A large library is located in Muluku Men’s Prison, which has 1,600 inmates. This library is located at the end of a long rectangular room. On a recent visit, we found that 250 books had been borrowed at that time by inmates. In the middle of the long rectangular room is the sewing room. Libraries of Love has donated funding for eight sewing machines, after seeing one elderly inmate working on an extremely old machine, which was the only one in the prison.  Also, at the other end of the rectangular room is a new barber shop. We have helped provide barbering equipment. Inmates who will be released soon are trained on the sewing machines or in the barber shop so they will have a skill when their time is served. An administrator told our Director that he would guess approximately 40 percent of the inmates are innocent.

In addition, there are 10 libraries that Libraries of Love has donated thousands of books to that are in various parts of Uganda, the majority started by missionaries. We also have donated 1,100 books to the public library in Mbale, Uganda.
We truly believe that Readers are Leaders.

More about 2026 Projects

Thankful for our Monday team that will sort the books and then type spine labels, plus type labels for pockets and cards. Go team!

Thanks for the book donations.
Special thanks to the following for recent donations:
Bearport Publishing
Mackin Educational
Pflugerville Public Library
Disney Publishing
Bound to Stay Bound
Jump! Publishing
Phi Delta Kappa
Delta Kappa Gamma
Tom Rathbun – book distributor

June 23, 2026 – Betty, Dave, Ellen, Jim, Paula and Anna already have 7,000 books ready to ship in 2027! 🚢 For 21 years, each week volunteers have weeded through books, typed spine labels, and typed labels for pockets and cards. Amazing people!

February 13, 2026 – We had our first Dell group today processing books for the 2027 shipment. From Dell 2T CFS led by Randy Maynard we had 10 volunteers. Pictured are Miranda Sepulved, Shawn Dooms, Shane Latouf, Patty Martinez, Christina Rattanavong, Chris Jones, Mark Deremer, Danny Gonzales Sabra Louton and Randy Maynard. This group of faithful volunteers completed 18 boxes. We are always so grateful for their help!
Read More …

Thanks to Austin station KXAN for this interview with our Executive Director. We appreciate the community support.

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Video Overview of Libraries of Love

Many thanks to supporters Lynne and Anne Dobson for their firm faith in our mission and for funding this wonderful video showing Libraries of Love’s work in Uganda. The video was produced several years ago by Micah DeKorne, Co-Founder + Creative Director | DESIGNED4, but it still represents all that we are about.

Libraries of Love was started in 2005. We now have 34 school libraries in Uganda, 8 in Kenya and 3 prison libraries. We provide each school with books equal to three times its number of students. We also provide book shelving, painting and new ceilings if needed, plus sheer curtains to keep the dirt out, but let light in. Librarian training is constant.

2025 Libraries – 16 restocked, 1 new

Libraries of Love also has a sponsored student program. Fifty-four students are sponsored at present, with 14 of those in college. Fifteen of the total sponsored are students in Kenya, with 39 in Uganda. We have 25 college graduates. Three more of our students will graduate college this year. Our graduates are employed as nurses, bankers, procurement arranging safaris, as well as local travel, hotel management, chefs, civil engineering and an attorney.

We are so thankful for sponsors. Many of the students will soon be starting college, requiring additional sponsors. If you are interested, please let us know. Definitely you would be changing a life!

2025 – Sponsored Student Update

College Graduates

College Students

A special part of Libraries of Love is the humanitarian work. Often medical needs are met, uniforms and shoes are provided at schools for those who are the neediest, and food is provided for families that are without. Each time a need is identified, supporters come to our aid and provide funds. We are grateful.

2025 – Humanitarian Aid