Never mind, the junk filled side room was quickly cleared and once the clutter and dirt were gone it was easier to start removing books that would never ever be read. We made some headway. Broken shelves were removed and space created for new cupboards as well as a reading and story telling corner where a mural will be painted (eventually when we get some paint). We removed three large boxes of damaged books and super-dated encyclopedias (of no interest except perhaps to the most cliched of interior designers) and filled my 'bakkie' with books that maybe would sell at a car boot this coming Saturday 1 December at Gateway High School 9 to 12 noon (so if you want, come buy a few books and donate a few dollars to the Jairos Jiri library project). 
I just feel it is really important that these lovely children have access to books. Evelyn who teaches at the school tells me at least 20 young people at the school there are competent readers in English, and more than this can read well enough in Shona. So I am determined to weed out and find those books they can read (even if it is just a few shelves) so the children can see and reach them.
Just as importantly the teachers at the school have no staff room and this library space will double up as a teachers meeting room, resource space and library space. Maybe the children will not use it as a typical library space, but with some murals on the wall maybe we can encourage some story telling to take place there and the teachers to get enthused. Just now and again will be fine.
So, am I taking Harare City Library on an outreach to some of the neediest children this city houses? Hope so.
Look out for part 3 of the blog sometime soon I hope! In the meantime, back to work. I have a Friday deadline :/
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