Two new school libraries now brings our total to 55 libraries: 46 in Ugandan schools; 3 in prisons, and 6 in Kenyan schools. We have 60 sponsored students of which 15 are in college. We have 13 university graduates. We never leave these libraries. They are constantly checked on, and training is continual for our librarians. Librarian meetings were held this year in Kampala and Mbale Uganda, plus Ngong, Kenya. There is always teaching, learning, and singing. Our librarians are a family.
We never leave a library. They receive new books every two to three years.
| Libraries of Love is grateful for this small but amazing group that prepares 10,000-15,000 books each year for our libraries in Uganda and Kenya. Many, many thanks to Anna, Betty, Jim, Paula, and Ellen! Your work is appreciated by thousands who receive the books on the other side of the world! |
Here is this year’s story told in photos from from Executive Director Trudy Marshall. Hope you enjoy it and keep up to date on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LibrariesOfLove.
January 12, 2023 – Board member responsible for book shipment, Jim Matthews, reports: “The books have started their journey to Uganda at about noon today.” That means they are just a day behind Executive Director Trudy Marshall, who flew to Uganda yesterday. Her trip will be more than 24 hours. The books will go by sea and take about 2 months.
January 25, 2023 – Something new! Our librarians didn’t know what a book cart was until we delivered our first ten today. More will be made soon! The cart has shelves on both sides. It will be a great place for kids to put their return books! Librarians will then put the books in order and roll them to the shelves. THANK YOU to those who support our work and make this possible.
February 4, 2023 – We just had 20 new shelving units made for new libraries and some for previous libraries in which we are adding books. Our metal fabricator does great work!
February 10, 2023 – Meet one of Libraries of Loves’ wonderful librarians, Winnie. Winnie and I have spent two days weeding endless books, repairing others, then totally reorganizing the library once more. North Roads library was provided in 2008. It has 3,000 students and approximately 9,000 books.
February 13, 2023 – I trained a librarian and students at a new school today. There is so much to teach: the sections of books – easy, fiction, non- fiction; how to use shelf markers to mark the place when you are looking at a book; the way to fill out a card for borrowing, etc. I then asked the teacher to take all the boys out. The girls were to select, then leave with their books. Next, the boys could come. Too many kiddos.
Thousands of children read daily from our libraries. Promoting literacy – changing lives! It is one of the best possible legacies!
March 2, 2023 – So wonderful to visit in libraries and see how much they truly love the books! There are 109 students in this 4th grade class! I visited in three school libraries today.
March 6, 2023 – Impressive! This morning, I found that this 1st grade class knew how to use shelf markers and also how to fill out their cards for borrowing. Namirembe Primary was the first of our 52 school libraries. We never leave a library. They receive new books every two to three years.
March 23, 2023 – The container arrived today. Over 10,000 books were delivered to 23 schools. Thankfully, the team in Texas put the name on each box of the receiving school, using different colored labels. The 230 boxes were delivered in four towns. Many thanks to those who helped unload. Special thanks to Herbert Segujja for simply taking charge of the entire process and working 12 hours straight. He gave directions to all, but probably moved more boxes than anyone. Also, thanks to Tony, my boda driver, for delivering boxes to various schools and taking all the boxes for Kenya to storage. Extra special thanks to the Texas team and our donors that make this possible! We also appreciate our awesome customs agent, John Kisitu!
April 21, 2023 – We had a wonderful meeting with our Kenyan and Mbale, Uganda, librarians! Information about best library practices was shared. Afterwards, everyone joined in singing and Maasai dancing! Great day! We are a Libraries of Love family.
April 21, 2023 – We appreciate Herbert Segujja, our Ugandan Libraries of Love supervisor, who helped lead the meeting!
May 3, 2023 – Meet Suzan! Suzan first became sponsored in 5th grade. She now has her two-year education certificate and is teaching at a private school. During breaks, she attends college classes to get her four year degree. Libraries of Love has 60 sponsored students, plus 13 university graduates. Blessings to our sponsors!
May 17, 2023 – Our Kenyan librarians came to Uganda for a librarians’ meeting. They returned to Kenya with new books for their libraries!
June 4, 2023 – This is one of our Kenyan libraries. Also, pictured is Joseph, who overseas our libraries in Kenya. Great guy! All the libraries received new books this year!
June 5, 2023 – The new library at God’s Care Primary is a wrap. So beautiful. The team did great work. Our van driver even pitched in as we organized books. We just picked up the Richards with their four children at the airport! We will have a busy two weeks!
June 6, 2023 – Today was an amazing reading competition by members of the book clubs at Mengo SS, Kings College- Budo, and Makerere College HS. Each entry was related to books or the library. 1. Best original poetry related to a book. 2. Best Character dress up with book summary. 3. Best original book cover. 4. Best art piece related to a book. 5. Best skit summarizing a book. 6. Best actor, acting out part of a book.
June 7, 2023 – Mengo Secondary was crowded today as the students were so anxious to borrow the new books. They have a huge readers club that entertained the team. So thankful for Epapaphras who arranged everything the last two days!
June 9, 2023 – Beautiful day. Patty got to meet her sponsored, Drake. The Richard’s family met with their two sponsored, Kato and Sam! We all had a wonderful visit! Sponsors change lives!
June 9, 2023 – Such a wonderful team this year: Patti Jurena Turner, Bonnie Foy, Harold and Diane Williams Holland, Ben and Kristi Richards – plus their four children. They have been a joy, as well as hard workers! Pictured with them on the left is Herbert Segujja, our Uganda supervisor and his family. On the right is one of our sponsored, Sam, standing with his sponsors.
June 13, 2023 – We had a royal welcome today when we put in a new library in Prime Junior School in Sironko. Many grade levels sang welcoming songs and recited poems of welcome. The library is beautiful and the kids are excited about the books.
June 16, 2023 – Safari time!
June 22, 2023 – I had a wonderful time with students in our library at Kepeto, Kenya. They love the African themed books! When we first went to this school many had not been around white skin and they were afraid of us. Now we are good friends. They love their library!
June 23, 2023 – I enjoyed time with 9 of our 15 Kenyan sponsored students today. I’m so thankful for those who change lives through sponsorship.
June 30, 2023 – The swings are finished at Prime Junior Primary School, where we placed a new library. Before, they had two frames for swings. Donors gave money to put new, real, swings on both frames. The school added some to our money to fix up some other equipment. Happy kids! Thanks to the donors!
July 3, 2023 – Monday is market day in my little town in Kenya. Maasai come from the surrounding areas to sell all their various goods – clothing, shoes, Maasai shukas /wraps, jewelry, food, cows, sheep, goats, etc. I enjoy walking through the market.
July 4, 2023 – A lot of teaching, learning, singing, food, and fellowship took place with some of our Kenyan principals and librarians today! Wonderful group of educators!
July 6, 2023 – Kids going home from school. The driver told me I would fit on the back. Maybe not!
July 11, 2023 – Today I walked into a classroom in one of our schools in Kenya. I was happy to see each student reading a book from our library!
July 11, 2023 – I’ll miss my little Maasai town of Ewauso Kedong. It’s nice to be in a small village here and in Uganda where everyone knows each other, including the lone mzungu!
July 14, 2023 -Definitely will be missing my Uganda neighbor kiddos as I return to Texas.
July 16, 2023 – THANKFUL! Seriously, I wasn’t sure I would make it back this time. Malaria – with bacterial and viral infections at the same time, was too much. I quit counting after fifteen bottles of liquid had been pumped in my veins along with other injections. I am thankful the doctors and friends from my church, Pearl Haven, in Uganda, took charge and put me under their care.
I felt sure you – my friends, and my family – were praying. The worst night, I closed my eyes and felt those prayers / His presence, wrap around me. May God bless you for lifting me up in prayer. Those prayers truly made a difference. God must have more plans for me in the future…..’Here I am Lord. Send me!’
Libraries of Love Africa 