2025 Libraries – 16 restocked, 1 new

We now have 53 libraries: 46 in Uganda and 7 in Kenya. We have 43 school libraries in Uganda and three prison libraries: men’s, women’s and juvenile.

Each school provides a room for the library. All that is needed to make it an oasis in the school – new ceilings, flooring, curtains, posters, painted walls and a painted blackboard – is provided by Libraries of Love. Libraries of Love also provides all the bookshelves and books, as well as the training of librarians. The school’s responsibility is to select and pay their librarian.

Our libraries are as nice as any school library in America, though often in schools that are are not well kept. A faithful group each week types spine labels for the books and also labels for pockets and cards – the old fashion check-out method. All of our African libraries are organized by the Dewey Decimal System.

Following is this year’s story told in photos from from Executive Director Trudy Marshall. She travels to Uganda and Kenya for six months each year and keeps everyone up-to-date with social media posts. The following are in chronological order as they were posted. You can follow us here:  https://www.facebook.com/LibrariesOfLove. 

January 23 – Countdown! School starts on February 3rd after a long break. I’m ready to see the libraries full of students again in Uganda!

Febuary 7 – The students were enjoying their books in one of our libraries in Kenya. Some were reading their books out loud, while others were still filling in their cards so they could their books home with them.

February 24 – This was the welcoming committee at Najile Primary today. I enjoyed visiting our library. They will receive close to 400 new books this year.

February 24 – This is why we restock and provide tape to repair. The students love the books but take them home down dirt roads to their native homes. This year we will restock 23 libraries with hundreds of new books each, plus provide one new library. Most popular: Guinness Book of World Records and Bible story books:)

March 4 – Library time. 3rd grade- Mengo Primary. I enjoyed reading a book about Sloths to them. FYI: Sloths are the slowest mammals in the world.

March 4 – Having fun finding unusual places to read books!

March 5 – These three were busy looking up countries on a map in their book today!

March 6 – I visited in this classroom today at one of our schools – 1 teacher….180 students. They were waving their hands to send me flowers.

March 7 – It’s nice to walk in high school libraries and see students on their break reading books!

March 12 – Presently, 43,000+ students have access to our libraries in Uganda. Plus, thousands of others have read from our libraries since 2005! This doesnt include our libraries in Kenya. So thankful for those who make our work possible…blessings to you.

March 17 – The little one on the right was absent on Friday, his library day, so he brought his book back today so he could get a new one. He was all smiles picking one out with his friend’s help!
** I noticed his uniform was in bad shape so I went to the bursar and paid for a new uniform. He will be happy!

March 18 – So nice to go in libraries where there is a stack of cards with the front and back totally filled out with student names who borrowed the book. The librarian then prepares a new card for each book.

March 20 – The beginning of the ‘Most Unusual Reading Pose Contest!’ Way to go Prime Junior School!

March 25 – They make me smile!

March 26 – Shoes and more shoes! Waiting on the rest of his class to come from the library!

April 1 – Today at the men’s prison all six sewing machines we provided were in use. However, they needed a sewing machine that would make button holes and zig zag stitch around the edges of the uniforms. Presto! I found one! It is electric and treadle, plus does everything they need! The inmates were so excited! Passing on God’s and your goodness….

April 2 – Inspiring librarians meeting today in Mbale. Our Kampala librarians will meet on Friday.

April 4 – Our wonderful, dedicated Kampala librarians!

April 8 – If you ever miss the old push button phones, come here. I can help you out!
Herbert and our librarians from Kings College- Budo.

April 9 – One of our most beautiful libraries. It was provided in 2010. Kings College library used to be a church until they built new one. It looks like churches in Europe.

April 9 – Pure cuteness! Library time …

April 11 – The ship arrived. Our container, holding close to 15,000 books, will be loaded on a truck, and should arrive here in Kampala, Uganda, next Thursday. We will unload 113 boxes here. Next, 44 boxes will be unloaded in Mbale (5 hours from here). Last, 126 boxes will be taken to Kenya and delivered to schools there. So much work ahead…..

April 15 – Our first library was in Namirembe Primary in 2005. Pictured is our lovely new librarian, Tabitha. I enjoyed time at the school today.

April 21 – Kenya: Today we restocked Ewuaso Primary with 433 new books. Tomorrow we will restock Isenito Primary with 535 books, plus put in a new library at Itanki Primary providing the school with a library of 2,477 books. Only 19 more to restock! It will happen! Pictured are Herbert, our Ugandan supervisor, and Rachel our librarian.

April 22 – My other home away from home – the small Maasai village of Ewuaso, Kenya. Yes, I’m the only mzungu (white) in my village – what a privilege.

April 24 – These two girls work at one of our Kenyan schools. They are not teachers or librarians but wanted to help organize all the new books on the shelves. They did great!

May 2 – We provided a new library today at Oltanki Primary. The principal had been at one of our previous schools before being transferred. The school received 2,400 books! Pictured is our new librarian, Joseph.

May 2 – Enjoyed visiting a class today at Isenito Primary in Kenya!

May 7 – We enjoyed a meeting with several of our Kenyan librarians this week. Two of our new ones are men.

May 10 – This little one had me laughing. Doesn’t he just look onery? So cute! 

May 19 – My neighbor kids playing chase with their guns made out of banana stalks 🙂 They love for me to take their picture so they can see themselve

May 20 – Playground at one of our schools!

May 27 – The things I do for funToday it was raining and 34 boda riders and passengers took shelter at the gas station, as did Tony and I. I ran in and bought each an individual package of cookies and started tossing to everyone. So many laughs!

May 29 – Herbert and I enjoyed visiting the men’s prison today. Those guys are readers! I took my accordion and entertained. This guard thought he could play it:) Too funny!

June 4 – Always a good day when students have books to read!

June 9 – Today 450 books were added to Kings College- Budo library bringing their total number of books to 8,252. It is a huge job. Most of the books on the shelves have to be removed and organized with the new books. Amazing group helping today!

June 10 – Only sixty-six kids in this class. 🙂 This is our very first library, provided in 2005. We added 485 new books today. Namirembe Primary has been given a total of 7, 108 books.

June 14 – Meet the RAD (Read and Discover) Club at Mengo Secondary. We had a great time with them yesterday. They sang the Ugandan anthem, followed by singing the American anthem perfectly! Amazing group!!

June 16 – A record! We restocked four libraries with hundreds of books each all in one day, and still had time to visit students!

June 18 – Crazy kids showing off their library books!

June 19 – We added hundreds of books to Mengo Secondary library today. Thankfully members of their reading club arrived to help! We enjoyed their company.

June 27 – It was wonderful to have Americans from Virginia reading to students in our library today. I enjoyed their company! Welcome to Karin, Quinn, Rev. Saul, and others! Wonderful day…