When Public Libraries and NGOs join forces!

When NGOs realise the role of already existing institutions and structures, partnerships that transform lives can be the result.

Check this NGO/Public Library partnership next door in SA.

Masiphumelele Public Library, South Africa | EIFL

This could be our HCL!

Public Libraries for Youth Empowerment and Employment?

Check this article out. What we can learn from Uganda.

National Library of Uganda, with Lira and Masindi public libraries | EIFL

This could be our HCL!

Harare City Library celebrated International Story Telling Day

We did it, we hooked into the global network and organised a story telling event on March 20th. Well done all involved!

I have been so busy lately at work with travel and functions that I have missed quite a few meetings and events.

A writing competition.

Storytelling Day.

I also missed the last BookCafe book club on Monday 25th :(

Every cloud has a silver lining, and this one is that the library is slowly but surely gathering energy and enthusiasm to get a few more things done. More staff and committee members are getting involved, and the funding partners are starting to get behind activities. Not easy in a very difficult financial and operating environment for staff to get involved, or the committee members who are mostly volunteers with day jobs.

There is no money in the renovation project for running costs, staff training or recruitment. It is all down to library members to pay their fees and their subs. And membership still remains very, very low. Not enough yet to pay a living wage to staff and interns. Without rental income on some critical library space (not ideal) the library would surley have to shut.

Go on, join the library.
Like us on facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Harare-City-Library/146502845409703?ref=hl
We need your support.

Shimmer Chinodya interviewed on Oprah?

The book cafe hosted its second book club on Monday 25th February. This time we started a little later at 6pm, but that gave everyone a chance to buy a soda, a coffee or something stronger from the bar. 

Once again it was a vibrant and lively event. 18 souls sat on white plastic chairs to discuss Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (the paper back version is $14 from the book cafe bookshop -Taku who runs it came and opened up at the end of the meeting so we could browse and buy). 

I read this book for the second time (and on a kindle too! first time ever). 

I loved the simple narrative style and the way every character reminded me of someone, just a little. Chimamanda sticks to a descriptive narrative voice that makes you feel closer to the characters and events. I like that. She has a beautiful turn of phrase that just helps bring the characters to life: 

Kembili “We did that often, asking each other questions whose answers we already knew. Perhaps it was so that we would not ask the other questions, the ones whose answers we did not want to know.” 

Sister cousin Amaka “People have crushes on priests all the time, you know. It’s exciting to have to deal with God as a rival.” 

Aunty Ifeoma “Eugene has to stop doing God's job. God is big enough to do his own job. ” 

Whilst the characters are all believable, book club members had some divergent thoughts. One of the biggest issues debated was the novels end .

     'It was thumbed in' said Shimmer. 
     'Beatrice the wife just changed character too dramatically at the end, refusing relatives on the property, speaking her mind, letting her son go to prison for her husbands murder' said one group member, Tafadzwa, with passion. 
     'It ran out of steam, it finished too quickly, it was a muffled explosion!' chipped in the others (amongst them budding writers, students, mums and dads). 

Throughout the evening the tensions between piety and guilt, faith and fanaticism, the church and colonialism in the narrative were discussed. The latter raised comparisons with Achebe's 'Things Fall Apart'. But most of all, whether the story line (and characters) borrowed a little too much from Tsitsi Dangarembga's 'Nervous Conditions'. 

In Purple Hibiscus our teenage narrator, Kambili, is struggling with two worlds; her stifling and cruel home life, and the world around her (seen especially through the contrasting family life of her paternal Aunt Ifeoma, a liberal university lecturer whose faith is much less garroting than her brothers). 

In  Nervous Conditions the teenage protagonist, Tambu, yearns to be free of the constraints of her rural village, especially the limited lives of the women. When she is sponsored to school by an uncle she meets a character, Nyasha, who is chafing under her father's authority (although her circumstances are different the strict religious overtones are a common thread).

What do you think? Read all three and find out for yourself I guess. 

I know there are few stories that do not borrow from others. The theme of religion and women in african society is a hot potato that will be tossed from writer's hand to writer's hand for, most likely, eternity. 

One thing we did agree on as a group was to come back home, and read a local Zimbabwean author next. The date - Monday 25th March. 

We chose 'Chioniso and other stories' by our own Shimmer Chinodya (published in 2012). An opportunity to ask questions to and with a present author (how exciting). We felt the Nigerian authors had been romanced enough. Indeed, internationally so. 

Despite his first books being published when he was just 18 years old, the much acclaimed 'Harvest of Thorns' , a caine prize short list for 'Can We Talk' and even being Distinguished Visiting Professor in Creative Writing and African Literature at the University of St Lawrence in upstate New York, we have not yet had a Zimbabwean author on Oprah (though her favourite guest was reportedly a Zimbabwean). 

Shimmer Chinodya wants to be on Oprah. I heard it from the authors mouth :D

But my money is on Noviolet Bulawayo. That is another book for another time. 

2013 Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers -

Got a teenager who doesn't like reading fiction? I Do :(

BUT he is currently reading The Hunger Games by Suzane Collins. It's dramatic.

This list is fascinating...young adults sure like some very challenging topics (drug addiction , fake pregnancies and a lot of murder mystery). Check out this list.

2013 Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers - Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)

We need a Senior Librarian

My old and very dear friends at VSO finally posting the Job Description. This is where my love of Zimbabwe began. What goes around, comes around :D

We have had interest from Ireland already and have had one very good CV sent on. Anyone else out there? Here is the link!

Senior Librarian: As the volunteer senior librarian, your role aims to support the development of Harare City Library as it seeks to develop its services for the people of Zimbabwe.

Its a tough post people, with very few resources but you will have a very supportive Management Committee and a terrific time in Harare :)

Our Library Republic

Today the Harare City Library had its Annual General Meeting. It is held upstairs in an especially grotty corner of the main library along Rotten Row. The room overlooks a now deserted and dingy atrium. The mineral build up on the damp, warped and dripping ceiling could very soon be named 'stalagtites', beneath which worn speckled linoleum tiles fade and tear.

Still, into this environment some 30 library subscribers sat and listened to the Chaiperson's report and the Treasurers' Report from the Management Committee.

Then the action started.

As a library held in trust by the people for the people, ordinary committee members are nominated from the subscriber base and nominees elected by those paid up subscribers in attendance. All 8 candidates, of which I was one (regulations say I cannot stay co-opted forever), had to introduce themselves. Most spoke simply and honestly, others rallied and campaigned (sigh) and then we were all given a piece of paper with 8 names and told to tick 4 names. Quite exciting really.

So here I am, a full committee member with 2 years to make a difference. Crikey....

Auld Acquaintance

 Happy New Year to you and yours lovely blog reader :)

Having frittered away the festive season at home and with family and friends, it is sooooo hard to get back into 'organised' mode. There have been vague attempts at order and routine, but not the standard well planned stuff that pays the bills.  More likely a sudden onset military cleaning 'blitz' when I discover every towel in the house is wet and on the floor of the bathroom or that all the dishes are in the wrong cupboards when its time to set the table....

I also have to get back to normal eating patterns. Some days started as late as 11am [ I am blushing dear reader, I really am] breakfast and lunch were rarely two events and the withdrawal of anytime mince pies (stock out) is causing an outbreak of petted (pouting) lips and the drawing together of eyebrows.

Still, what did help me realise that responsibility awaited me was a lovely encounter at the supermarket today. There was I, buying school socks and perusing the bedlinen section at the Westgate Pick and Pay when a lovely young lady of around 12 years or so appears at my side with a purple waistcoat, brightly colored 'tackies' and red ribbons in her hair. She confidently announces to me,
     
       'You're the lady from the book fair last year'.

The last year bit had me flummoxed for a minute, then the penny dropped, the 2012 (aha!) Zimbabwe International Book Fair (Harare City Library runs a children's reading and storytelling tent in the garden).

        "Did you attend the reading tent?" I asked. Her enthusiastic nodding made me smile. How fabulous. We reintroduced ourselves. Nadine is keen to hear more stories. She attends Westridge school so either Mabelreign or Mount Pleasant could be options for her. I shared with her that we would be telling stories again at the Harare City Library. I thought that would be a good idea.

Then she asked when we were reading and I gulped.

        'Gosh' said I 'we haven't yet made a plan'.

        'How will I know?" she pressed. I was flummoxed again. I told her to check at the library where there should be a notice by the end of the month. I hope that is a start. I will make a special effort, I think, to let Westridge school know our plans.

So, its good to be back dear reader. My work and my library hats are being dusted off and set out on the chair.

More posts soon :D

DailyGood: Mary Oliver On Mornings

DailyGood: Mary Oliver On Mornings

Enjoy the mornings

Brightening a child's world

I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far a little kindness can go.

- Rachel Joy Scott -

What I've Learned From The Children In My Life, by Shaheen Mistry