We don’t just put books in a room. We keep the shelves fresh with new books as older ones get worn from constant use. This year, we restocked 18 libraries and created two new ones. Executive Director Trudy Marshall spends 6 months in Africa each year looking after our libraries, sponsored students and humanitarian efforts. When she is back in Texas doing the work to collect books and financing, a dedicated group looks after Libraries of Love’s work.
Trudy Marshall: So very thankful for Annet and Herbert who continue the daily work of our sponsored kids, libraries, and humanitarian work in Uganda while I’m away. Also, very thankful for Julian, (not pictured) who oversees Mbale libraries. Pictured next to Herbert is his wife, Doris. Tony, on the left, runs errands, takes sick people to the hospital for me, and checks on my house. A wonderful group!
Here is this year’s story told in photos from from Trudy. Hope you enjoy it and keep up to date on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LibrariesOfLove.
January 28: Welcome to my small hometown, Ewauso, Kenya.
January 24: Cheers for our Kenyan librarian, Victoria, who meets with all students in Ewauso Girls Secondary each week! The library looks beautiful.
January 31: Cooking lunch at Ewauso Primary – beans and maize (corn). The maize will be made into food like our thick cream of wheat.
February 7: Today, I trained 7th and 8th graders in the organization of their library. The students love the books. I will need to send funds to install a ceiling and one wall. At present, one wall just has a partition. The noise from the class next door is too much. The principal, Mr. Nkipai, is excellent in encouraging the use of the library. Cheers for Ewauso Primary!
February 19: I had a wonderful day with our Kenyan librarians. We had lots of laughter, good food, and library instruction – of course!
February 19: So funny! I had a Kenyan librarians’ meeting today. After lunch, I told them in honor of my grands, we needed to see who could make the best face with food left on their plate. They voted the ‘dinosaur’ man as the winner:)
February 24: We gave this lady a lift today. She told my driver she thought we were age–mates. She is 80. I think I’d better go double check in the mirror and then put on a gallon of age defying face cream:). Ha! Sweet lady!
March 23: Many thanks to The Delta Kappa Gamma International Chapter, ETA Tau, for providing 44 of the African themed books from our Amazon list. The students truly love these books as they can identify with the villages, young people, food, etc. A special thank you to Mary Treacy Wallace who arranged this generous donation.
March 25: Our librarian at King’s College– Budo (a high school) arrived at work at 7:25am this morning. This student was sitting outside the door reading. She was waiting to go in and borrow more books!
April 5: Monday a container of books was shipped from Texas. The books are now headed to me in Uganda for our libraries. Thank you, Jim Matthews, for handling shipping!
**Already this amazing group is preparing books for 2023 African libraries. God bless you Paula, Jim, Betty, Ellen, and Anna.
April 11: Thirty-eight librarians from 12 cities and 2 countries. We had 1 1/2 days of library training, which included library instruction, but also fun games such as Dewey bingo. We also shared interesting books. Of course, there was lots of singing. Our Kenya Maasai team led in Maasai singing and dancing. It was a great time of learning and fun!
April 27: One of Libraries of Love’s fifty beautiful libraries!! We believe the African child deserves libraries equal to American young people.
May 16: Libraries of Love never leaves a library. Namirembe Primary was our first library provided in 2005. It recently was repainted and received a new ceiling, plus new carpet will arrive this week. In two months, it will be restocked with approximately 600 new books.
May 23: One of our most beautiful libraries– Kings College Budo. It was built in 1912 to serve as a chapel.
May 24: Wonderful meeting today with 26 of our headteachers / principals. We started with prayer and then the song, ‘We are together again…’ Several came in after the song. Ugandans do not grow up with school libraries, so it’s important to hold informational meetings.
May 31: Grace Primary. One row at a time selects their books. Next, each will fill out the card in his/her book with the date of return, name, and class.
June 2: Libraries of Love provides beautiful metal bookshelves for each of its libraries. Pictured are two, of many, being provided for new libraries.
June 4: It’s a wrap! I’ve had two meetings attended by a our sponsored students, held in Kampala and Mbale, Uganda. In Kenya, I traveled to each remote home. A large librarian meeting was held which included our librarians from Kenya, as well as seven cities in Uganda. Also, twenty–six headteachers / principals attended our meeting three weeks ago in Kampala. This week, the last meeting, was for our Mbale headteachers.
June 14: Pictured are 107 kids, all from one class, having library time at one of our elementary schools. The kids have hardly any room to move and select books. I have suggested the librarian divide the time in half, seeing girls the first half, and boys the second. We have some schools with even larger class population – up to 180.
June 18: A small part of the 400+ boxes of books that arrived from Texas today! We are very thankful for the HM (principal) of Kitante Primary and staff members who had the boxes unloaded and stacked in order by school. Many thanks to those who donated books and funding. We appreciate each of you! It is a happening! Eighteen years of providing libraries in Uganda and Kenya!
June 21: Students love their library!
June 27: We restocked three libraries today with hundreds of books each. I enjoyed reading book reports at MotherCare Primary that were displayed in two places in the library.
Book reports at MotherCare Primary are displayed on the wall in the library.
June 28: Library #12 restocked! Bombo Military Secondary received 574 new books today. I’m thankful that at each high school we’ve had students that have volunteered to help organize the books.
June 28: The ‘Lunch Bunch.’ These students all came to read books during their lunch break at Kitante Primary.
They left their shoes at the door …
July 6: Mengo SS was busy with students today! 8th and 9th grade classes come as a group. The remainder of students come in their free time. This beautiful library is well used!
Libraries of Love is set up legally to provide libraries – which is our focus, but also to provide humanitarian assistance if needed. As I leave my village each day for a three mile walk, I tuck some funding from donors, as well as some of my own funds, in my jeans. As I see women, such as these, hoeing gardens in the hot sun, I slip them some money for food. After I had given these ladies food money, I turned back to look. They were jumping up and down hugging each other.
All 320 boxes containing approximately 13,000 books have now been distributed to 18 schools. Each book is a new or like new hardback book, complete with a Dewey spine label for organization, and a pocket and card for borrowing. We are so grateful for those who donate these incredible books.
Libraries of Love only puts hardback books in our libraries. This year, we did send some paperback and board books to give away. I (Trudy) had to smile as I was walking to town and spotted this little one with her book!
It’s a wrap!
This team is incredible. They restocked Kings College-Budo in record time — with help from their friends. Impressive!
Need more vinyl flooring? Then go get some on a boda, what they call their motorcycle taxis here.
The 2019 team had a great time playing games, reading stories, and singing with many of our sponsored in Mbale.
One of our librarians reading to her class! Sweet!
Time to say goodbye to this wonderful team. They have accomplished so much and were a blessing to many. We are going for an evening of worship at the Africans Children’s Choir and then off to the airport!
Pictured are some of the hundreds of boxes of books that arrived in May in the 2018 shipment of 13,000 books to restock 12 libraries in Uganda and organize 1 new library.
These kids were happy to receive 500 new books for their library. It’s part of the continuing commitment Libraries of Love has with all of the schools that receive libraries.
Loved finding these kids with their class borrowing books at Buganda Road Primary. Another class was waiting to come in.
Library time at Bat Valley Primary. I enjoyed time with second and seventh grade classes.
We had a great time Skyping between Namirembe Primary in Uganda and Forest Creek Elementary in Texas. The kids loved it. Each group had prepared questions to ask. Smile and more smiles!
(June 2, 2018) – Much singing, dancing, laughter, new friendships and learning took place the last two days as our 40 Libraries of Love librarians met in Mbale. A special treat was having our Kenyan librarians join with our Ugandan librarians. We are a family. Great meeting!
(June 10, 2018) – Great time today at the launching of Cathy Kreutter’s two new books, ‘Amina’s Choice’ and ‘The Rock and Roll Rolex.’ (A rolex is like our breakfast taco. ) Two of Cathy’s books, ‘Nitendo’s Wish’ and ‘I Know a Mzee (old man) Who Swallowed a Fly’ are on our 
Great team work resulting in a beautiful library. Namatala Laurel Library was our second library, established in 2006. Libraries of Love restocks each library at least every three years.
(July 7, 2018) – We had an awesome Libraries of Love HM / principals’ meeting. Principals learned how to use the libraries to their fullest potential. Two groups that won our high school reading competition presented. One presented Romeo and Juliet. The other group shared a travel brochure they created about Kenya. Two were dressed as Maasai. Some of our librarians presented good / bad librarians skit. Great day. Very worthwhile!
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