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The Open Door Children's Corners (ODCC) project was initiated by Book Aid International (BAI) following a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between BAI and the City of Bulawayo on 20 January 2016. BAI was the major donor of the books that constituted the Bulawayo Municipal Library Service (BMLS) collection in the existing nine libraries. ODCC encouraged individuals, families and communities to discover the potential that books held in beginning a lifelong learning through reading especially in our environment where books were scarce.The project presented an opportunity for the libraries to enhance the promotion of education to marginalised communities from an early age. The libraries were situated in the high density suburbs where most of the schools did not have school libraries. Therefore, the project provided an opportunity to inculcate a reading culture. Book Aid International realised the feasibility of establishing ODCC to five libraries out of nine all servicing the high density suburbs of the city. Residents used libraries as zoned in their respective designated areas to avoid crowding in a given library. All BMLS libraries had separate children's section. The book collections met the user information needs of all residents at all levels of literacy starting with the first grade in the primary school. The inclusion of early childhood development (ECD) in formal schools posed a challenge to the existing book collection. Added to challenges were effects of the new media prevalent in the environment which diverts children's focus and concentration on reading as a culture. For most children and residents in general municipal libraries were the only place where residents could have access to reading material suitable for their varied information needs. In addition almost all schools where the libraries are located did not have school libraries to speak of. The proposal by BAI to create vibrant libraries gave librarians, teachers and parents an opportunity to instil a reading culture from an early age.The project set out to create, educate and improve library environments for children in which reading for pleasure and learning could flourish. By that the refurbishment of children's corners would be vibrant and colourful places where children could begin to explore books. The project would aim to provide books that would inspire children to read from an early age. That was meant to encourage children to use the library to its full potential. The library had to be visually impressive and attractive with paintings, murals, cushions, mattresses to make it conducive to read and learn. The project had a total of 56 814 beneficiaries made up by 32 357 (57%) and 24 457 (43%) direct female and male beneficiaries respectively. There were 36 000 indirect beneficiaries who comprised of 18 006 (50%) females and 17 994 (50%) males. Altogether there were 92 814 beneficiaries made up by 50 363 (54%) females and 42 451 (46%) males. The project had a total budget of $85 125. The local authority had allocated $800 towards the project. The rest came from partners who included BAI, schools in Bulawayo, City of Harare libraries, Edward Ndlovu Memorial library, Bulawayo Public Library and the Bulawayo Community at large. The partnership was at local, national, regional and global level.The partners and the local authority met regularly discussing work experiences. Attendance and training of teachers, headmasters and librarians had marked a new era in the libraries’ activities. The number of community members monitoring the project had increased and it showed interest. The feedbacks consolidated what the beneficiaries who were the children would have learnt. Maintenance of the collection was properly done and always been accounted for. The statistics of user numbers, comments from teachers, parents and records of user numbers were also available for the partners to check. Regular visits to see the condition of corners were randomly done by council officials, ward councillors and the community leaders.The project faced financial constraints but the local authority’s resilience finally paid off. The implementation of the project was affected by shortage of staff at the processing stage. To meet the deadline for delivering the project, staff members were removed from their working stations to team up with the processing staff. It meant that all libraries operated under pressure. The project was supported by senior management from its onset. The strength of the libraries in the project was that the council had to employ qualified library staff which meant they understood their role in the project. Council had existing library structures which were conducive to make the project a success. Based on the success of the project BMLS had an opportunity to increase the ODCC to the other libraries not included in the project. There was a need to extend the ODCC project by next year in order to meet the needs of children in other areas of the city without libraries.A parent who preferred anonymity said, “As a parent I take my time twice a week to bring my child to the children'sEntry 13337
corner. When we get there we go straight to the colourful children’s corner to browse on the picture books. I have seen the collection and as a parent I am happy and satisfied that my children will grasp the concept of reading and adapt a reading culture at a tender age. I am quite assured that he will do well at school with the knowledge and information that he gets from the ODCC books.”In Bulawayo’s high density suburb of Nketa, an 84 year old grandfather, Clark Mpofu, always brought his grandson to the library at least twice a week.Fanwell Nyathi, who acted as the Pumula branch librarian reported, “The ODCC has given me the opportunity as a librarian an opportunity to learn, observe, and understand more about children and reading needs. It has opened more doors as children from the community are coming in numbers to view and admire colourful and attractive children`s corner. They are passing the message to others who have not seen our spectacular site, therefore making more and more children aware of the library, services provided and improving my public relations with the community". Libraries became popular with children because of the corners. They visited the library to play games and play with toys provided in the library corners instead of watching television at home and playing in the streets.The programme needed more funding to empower the community. The capacitating of the community should be ongoing. The program could be replicated in other towns and cities.The local authority played its full part in the implementation of the project and regular evaluation reports enabled the local authority to act on time and therefore sustain the project.The good practice could be extended to all areas of the city where library and information services were requested by residents. If the ODCC were to be implemented in a different geographical area the below conditions were a prerequisite:Full support of authorities.Council’s engagement of enough qualified librarians.Budget for the purpose of constructing more libraries.Desired community needs must be accessed.Librarians, teachers and parents to work as a unit.Budgeting for the creation of a conducive and attractive reading place for the community should be highly considered.Comments
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