Changing Lives, Book by Book. Work together with AYLUS!
In January 2023, the Greater Princeton Branch of AYLUS (GPA) started a new project to build a Community Library in Africa by collecting up to 1000 gently used children’s books (preschool to 8th grade reading level books) and $650 (to cover the domestic and international shipping cost, all the way to Malawi, Africa).
The African Library Project website: https://www.africanlibraryproject.org/
The African Library Project was founded in 2005 by Chris Bradshaw and her family from Portola Valley, California. While visiting remote villages in Lesotho, a small mountainous kingdom in Southern Africa, Chris was inspired to work toward ending the cycle of poverty and illiteracy when she found out that there was only one public library in the country. She realized the simple act of establishing libraries within schools would have a profound effect on communities as a whole.
Our Mission: The African Library Project changes lives book by book, together with partners in Africa and North American volunteers, to create, improve, and sustain libraries in African communities.
Our Vision: expand opportunities by creating spaces that nurture literacy.
Why Organize a Book Drive with the African Library Project?
- Too many children on the African continent grow up without books, while bookshelves and landfills elsewhere overflow with books no longer read.
- In many of the communities we serve, young people have little to no access to reading materials beyond textbooks (when provided).
- We serve Anglophone countries where students are tested in English for standardized exams that are required for advancement. However, these students lack books to support their reading development.
- Reading fosters critical thinking skills and creativity.
- Teachers in many rural areas may teach reading, writing, math and English without a single book to use as a resource.
We are proud to partner with capable and hardworking organizations and individuals who are dedicated to promoting literacy and library development in Africa. In the United States, volunteers organize book drives and raise funds to ship the books overseas. Once those books are gathered and mailed, the African Library Project relies on a network of dedicated partners within Africa to get them to each community – no matter how far. In addition to selecting and vetting each library recipient, our trusted partners provide training on how to set up and run a library in a rural community. They also follow up to evaluate the use of our libraries and encourage good library practices. The African Library Project’s goal is to make sure our libraries remain active and continue to enrich those who need them the most.
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Thank you for your prompt reply! I greatly appreciate it. I am very happy to inform you that your African Library partner in Malawi is Myuobe FP Primary School. You are the only book drive matched with this school, and they are thrilled that you are helping them! I’ve attached the school application and a short Fact Sheet about Malawi so you can learn more about the country where your library will be.
NOTE ALSO!! If you decide not to continue with your book drive at this time, PLEASE let me know a.s.a.p. Even with the pandemic “in retreat,” it is very understandable that you may not be able to proceed at this time. We will welcome you back when life returns to normal, but we do need to keep our commitments to our schools in Malawi.
Collect your books
Your goal for this PRIMARY community school library is to collect 1,000 new and gently used books at the Preschool to 8th grade reading level. For a community school, others have access to the books, so we ask that your collection comprise about 2/3’s Primary level books (PreK to 4th grade reading level) and the other 1/3 for upper elementary and middle school reading levels. We also encourage you to send teacher resource material, posters, and flash cards.
If you collect more than 1,200 books, please let me know; we may be able to create a 2nd library from the extras.
Please review the book drive guidelines (https://www.africanlibraryproject.org/10884-2/) for instructions on how to collect, sort, pack, and mail the books, and for lists of what books you should and should not send.
Collect your funds
You also need to collect about $650. It takes approximately $250-$375 to mail 1000 books to our warehouse in New Orleans with the US Post Office Media Mail, by far the cheapest way. These figures are based on about 2/3 paperbacks and 1/3 hardbacks. The more hardcover books you send the higher your mailing costs. Please note: The cost of USPS Media Mail has definitely risen! You also need to make your International Shipping contribution of $250 to cover your portion of shipping the container to Africa. Include your book drive code M15-41. Important: Send only your international shipping fee of $250 to the African Library Project. As a non-profit we cannot refund excess donated money to you for your US mailing expenses. Tips for setting up a GoFundMe page will follow. We advise that if you are fundraising this way that you have donations directed to you, not to the African Library Project.
What to expect next
I will be sending you a specific email about fundraising in about a week or so, which will then be followed up with an email regarding book mailing instructions.
Please keep me updated about how things are going! If you have any media coverage, please send a link. Also, if you snap any pictures of your book collecting, packing, and fundraising activities, those are always great to receive!
Finally, please reply to let me know you got this email and verifying that you will be moving forward. I will try not to inundate you with emails, but M15 is a LARGE Container, and there will be about 60-90 Book Drive Organizers whose progress toward their library goal I need to track to ensure we are able to meet all our commitments. That being said, please understand that I always GREATLY APPRECIATE your timely responses to my emails. And, one last tiny detail, it would greatly help me if you could keep your Book Drive Code (M15-41) in the subject line for me!
I am very happy to be working with you on this exciting project!
Very best regards,
Pamela Bostelmann
Volunteer Container Manager and Country Liason for Ghana
African Library Project
pamela@africanlibraryproject.org
510/232-8417
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3,698 libraries | 13 countries | 3,851,368 Books!
Attachments:
Malawi Fact Sheet
Application material
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GPA members Claire Tang (1/24, 2 hrs) and Emma Liu (1/24, 2 hrs) are leading this African Library Project. Book drives and fundraisers are being organized, both among GPA members and at schools.
AYLUS volunteers: Sarah Yan (1/22, 3 hrs; 1/25, 3 hrs), Enxu Jiang (1/21, 6 hrs; 1/22, 6 hrs; 1/25, 4 hrs), Dawson Lin (1/25, 1 hr), Isaac Chen (1/21, 5 hrs), Alexander Chen (1/25, 5 hrs), and more.
