The Blue Lupin Community Library

The proposed library will be the first community library in Kanungu District. This project will benefit the 330,000 residents of Kanungu District. The library is intended for all ages. Currently, access to literary materials is extremely limited. Printed materials are rare and the Internet is not available in most rural communities. Through the development of a library, a space will be created to help enhance the quality of life for the entire community. Library management will be developed and managed by Nyaka.

The project mission is to increase the level and culture of literacy within Nyakagyezi and Kanungu District, as a means to economic self-sufficiency and education.

The library structure will include five rooms and two bathrooms to accommodate women, staff, and the disabled. The public will use an outside restroom. Three children’s reading rooms will be constructed and organized by reading level. The youngest reading room will include books in English and Rukiga (the local indigenous language), as well as educational toys. The second reading room will be meant for students in Primary levels 3 and 4 while the third room will benefit students in Primary levels 5, 6, and 7.

A fourth room will serve as a general lending library to the community. In addition to books and magazines, there will be computer access with appropriate software for both child and adult learners. Internet access will be made available for vocational training purposes. Library staff will be hired to manage the library’s resources and to teach and access needed information. Printers and paper will be available to community users.

A fifth room will be a large, multi-purpose room, equipped with a public address system and a project and screen. Chairs and tables will be manufactured locally to accommodate groups as large as 500. Adult education classes, meetings for grandmothers and host families of children of the Nyaka School, anti-AIDS Club performances, teacher trainings, conferences, and special event rentals are envision for this room. Room rentals will generate income for the upkeep of the building and some of its operating expenses.

Matthew Miller, a volunteer from Architecture for Humanity will be designing the building. Matthew also design the Kutamba School so we are confident that the library will be built quickly and efficiently, and turn out beautifully.

It is well documented that maternal education is one of the strongest predictors of a child’s educational success. The Nyaka Library therefore will engage the adult population as well as the student population, so that families can reinforce each other’s learning. The Library will also assure that women will be given the opportunity to learn along with their children so that subsequent populations will pass along the culture of literacy. The Library will also reinforce the use of English as the children’s primary language, a necessary step towards secondary education.