You can find magic wherever you look

Sit back and relax, all you need is a book. (Dr. Seuss)


Little Libraries (LL) was started in 2013 by Camille Quine as an act of kindness to one school and was not intended as a project but, like KAS and Topsy, it just grew.

It has been mentioned before as it now distributes educational supplies for KAS.

LL builds and delivers small, colourful little libraries to care facilities in underprivileged areas, providing a cheerful corner where kids can learn, dream and enjoy a whole new world through words and pictures.  They are a painted bookcase with books and a small cupboard is often also donated for supplies.

After 6 months there were 13 LL.  They have now delivered 150 - that is over 5,500 children who previously had little or no access to books representing about 19,000 books.

For Mandela Day, the 100th library was delivered which was a large community library in a container.  This is for children of all ages and 250 now attend a reading club there.  The children in the creches are 1-5.

To see the container library (and the 99 before it) Google LL Mandela Day You Tube (I couldn't make a link work).

In November they will be delivering their second community library.  This is a tribute to a young boy, Ndimphiwe, that Camille had grown to love, who died unexpectedly two months ago.

This week (5th to 11th September) is National Book Week in South Africa and Little Libraries is planning something big (which is top secret so you will have to watch out for details).


HOW WE CAN HELP:

Books

LL distributes all books - used are fine as long as they are in good condition:

- Cover and spine not falling apart
- No torn or missing pages
- No scribbling or writing on the pages

The children are giving a few rules when the books are delivered

- No throwing the books around
- No tearing of the pages
- No writing in the books
- No chewing of the books (!)

It is not fair to expect children to respect damaged books and LL wants the teacher to have something she can be proud of.

The books can be on any subject suitable for children, including those with European and Western themes, but it obviously more fun if the children are subjects closer to their own lives.

I bought these books second hand online and apart from a small crease on the cover of the Lazy Lion book, it is impossible to tell that they are used.

Rachel Isadore does lovely illustrations and it makes a change to see a princess who isn't blonde although she does shorten the writing quite a bit.  Her 'old Mikamba has a Farm' seems popular.

The one exception is Three Little Pigs as the children often live in the kind of houses that get blown down by the wolf!

Educational Supplies

Pens, pencils, coloured pencils, erasers, paper, pencil sharpeners, pencil cases - all the usual school supplies that young children and their teacher need.


Games for play learning.

There are a number of sites that have free educational material that can be downloaded - I took these from www.activityvillage.co.uk and www.colouring.ws.

If you are sending downloadable posters, it would be helpful to send drawing pins or bluetack as well.

Financial Support

Buying and sending books and stationery can be expensive and you may prefer to make a financial donation.

LL works through the umbrella of a registered NPO and so can issue 18a certificates which are tax deductible (you will need to check if your own jurisdiction gives tax relief for donations to overseas charities as it does vary.

There is no online link but if you would prefer to do this, email Camille Quine at thelittlelibraries@gmail.com and she will send you bank details.

For more pictures and information, see their facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/Littlelibraries

You need to be a member of Square Circle Forum to add comments!

Join Square Circle Forum

Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • THIS DISCUSSION WILL NOW BE CLOSED please go to KAS Connects for further updates.here

  • I didn't really Like my own report!  Just pressed the wrong button.

    • You should Joan, I like it also.  it is a wonderful and moving report! Thanks! 

    • Lol Joan.....that brings back a funny memory of me 'liking' my own profile (on KAS) a few years back......there again, pressed the wrong button....I was mortified....lol.

  • Today is World Teacher Day - so here is an extra photo to celebrate.

    2965365737?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

    The inset is the boy who made the bookcase and cupboard with his father.

    • Thanks for all these wonderful and touching photos Joan.  They truly show how important books and reading are to children.  I know in the US we tend to forget that.

      • I think in the absence of ipads and all the electronic devices, children appreciate books more.  :))

  • Thanks for this wonderful update Joan.  They really go the extra mile to get books to children.

  • Camille has set up a crowdfunding page to make donations easier.  They can be made in any major currency to

    http://www.givengain.com/cd/campaigns/17384/view/

    If you want to make a donation for a particular reason you can email her at thelittlelibraries@gmail.com

    A little library costs R4300 including the bookshelf, paint, books and carpet and a little cupboard R3500 so any help towards that, or filling them, is appreciated.

    • Hi Joan. I would love to donate, but I usually do it through paypal and I can't see that that option is available.

This reply was deleted.