Author: ecleamus

Schools: Mengo Primary, Faithful Servants Primary, Faithful Servants Secondary, Mothercare Preparatory
Libraries: Mengo Laurel Library, Faithful Servants Primary Laurel Library, Faithful Servants Secondary Laurel Library, Mothercare Preparatory Laurel Library
Students Served: 4000

In reflection, I simply shake my head and think – incredible. As we have provided libraries the past 9 years, the administrators have constantly commented on the difference reading has made in concentration, expanded vocabulary, improved writing skills, and general knowledge.
Abraham Lincoln once said, “The things I want to know are in books. My best friend is the man who gives me a book I haven’t read.” The books are changing lives, but the continued friendships and love that are shared through LOL are changing lives as well.
Continue reading “Mbale/Kampala, Uganda – Summer 2013”

Libraries Updated: 24

Since 2005, Libraries of Love has opened libraries in 23 schools in Uganda, including this one in 2010 at Ugandan Martyrs Primary School. Our libraries now serve about 30,000 students.

Continue reading “Mbale/Kampala, Uganda – Summer 2012”

Schools: Bombo Military High, Gangama Primary, Nabuyonga Primary, Fairway Primary
Libraries: Bombo Military Laurel Library, Gangama Laurel Library, Nabuyounga Laurel Library, Fairway Laurel Library
Students Served: 5000
June 27, 2011 – Tomorrow the real world hits. Up and out the gate at 7:00. I will be meeting class after class at each of our three new schools – one school a day for the next 3 days. After school, around 6:00, I will be meeting with the teachers and administrators showing them how their library is organized and the process of borrowing! Cheers!
Continue reading “Mbale/Kampala, Uganda – Summer 2011”

Schools: Kisubi Primary, Ugandan Martyrs Primary, African Children’s Choir Primary, Kings College – Budo
Libraries: Kisubi Laurel Library, Ugandan Martyrs Laurel Library, African Children’s Choir Laurel Library, Kings College Laurel Library
Students Served: 5000

July 1, 2010 – The volunteer team from Illinois arrived at King’s College (a high school) around 10:00am. The school had planned the grand opening of the library at 4:00pm. In six hours, the team unpacked about 4,000 books, put them in Dewey order, shelved the books, hung maps and signage. They were ready for the opening right at 4:00! Read more on Trudy’s blog.
Continue reading “Kampala, Uganda – Summer 2010”

Schools: Wambwa Primary School, Namakwekwe Primary, Mbale High School, Martin Nkoyoyo Integrated School, Upland High School, Namirembe Primary School
Libraries: Wambwa Laurel Library, Namakwekwe Laurel Library, Mbale Laurel Library, Martin Nkoyoyo Laurel Library, Upland Laurel Library, Namirembe Laurel Library
Students Served: 4,500

Continue reading “Mbale/Kampala, Uganda – Summer 2009”

Schools: Mbale Secondary, North Road Primary
Libraries: Mbale Laurel Library, North Road Laurel Library
Students Served: 7,100

“It is an undeniable fact that the books will have an immeasurable impact on the students of Mbale area in general and Bugokho Secondary School in particular.
These books are an invisible ‘love’ handshake that will last forever.”
– Bugokho Headmistress 
Continue reading “Mbale, Uganda – Summer 2008”

Schools: Namungoona Primary, Bat Valley Primary, Mengo Secondary School, St. Mary Kevin’s Orphans School
Libraries: Namungoona Laurel Library, Bat Valley Laurel Library, Mengo Secondary Laurel, St. Mary Kevin’s Laurel Library
Students Served: 4,600

What can volunteers from three states, some of whom have never even met each other, accomplish in just two weeks?  They can enrich the lives of more than 9,000 Ugandan children.  And, that’s just what 19 Libraries of Love volunteers did the first two weeks of June 2007 – completing five new projects and working with libraries created in 2005 and 2006.
Continue reading “Kampala, Uganda – Summer 2007”

School: Namatala Primary
Library: Namatala Laurel Library
Students Served: 3,000

The library is indescribable. It is a large room with 8,500 books filling every bit of space on the bookshelves! The shelves wrap around three walls, with the computers across the fourth wall. We had a great time decorating the room with magnificent, huge, canvas wall hangings (posters) that say Reading is Magic, which have pictures of books and “fairy dust.” These are purple, gold, and white. We placed colorful posters showing the various sections of the Dewey Decimal System, as well as cards identifying the sections of the library (easy, fiction, nonfiction, reference)
Continue reading “Mbale, Uganda – Summer 2006”

School: Namirembe Laurel, Kampala Uganda
Students Served: 800

Huge grins, shrieks of delight, twinkling eyes, sharing, laughter, and a sea of gratitude were all part of the day as students and teachers came to hold, look at, and check-out books from Namirembe Laurel Library. The awe on their faces was overwhelming as each child chose a book for the first time!
Continue reading “Kampala, Uganda – Summer 2005”