And so it begins….

The new  library at Ecole Shalom has begun to take off.  I guess it is a good sign that the room is stuffed to the brim! Many people want the key to come in and explore. The room is shared with the computer lab and with art therapy supplies and sewing machines and other materials.

working in the computer lab

The idea was to begin teaching the teachers about borrowing and returning.  The kindergarten teacher, Miguerline,  is by far the most active borrower so far!

The new teacher aid, Jeanide, is also a frequent visitor.

The new director of pedagogy, Madame Mondestin, has agreed to have each grade visit the library at the same time every Friday noon.

Grade 5/6 this week.
Grade 3/4 next week
Grade 2 the week after, etc.

The grade 5 & 6 teacher, Nathalie, is excited to have kids borrow books over the weekend and agreed to help monitor the books come back the Monday right after.

Yesterday, Adam (OLPC volunteer)  asked the oldest students  about their wishes from a new Croix-des-Bouquets library. Here is a description:

I gave them all a 30 focus group interview of their greatest desires from a new Croix-des-Bouquets library.
 Each kid had to request 1 book, DVD, research resource, or computer/internet, archive desire they want in the library.  After 20 full minutes of talking about what the best library in the world could truly be (many did not know what a library really was, and how it would work) we then brought all 14 kids from Grade 5/6 into the library to borrow their fave book, until Friday morning.  A grand success!

This is what they hope for: Grammar, math, princess novels and prince novels too. Videos, Internet etc was requested as well of course. Then French history books on Haiti. But lots of interesting research ideas too, and magazines on this & that. Newspapers too. (It never occurred to them to ask for better lighting, tables or comfortable chairs.)

And this is what they actually chose:

This shows a few books in Kreyol and most of them in French. Of course 3 books were forgotten at home today… but their teacher is on top of it!

One parent in particular is excited about the books available now to his children.
And a HUGE thanks to Junior for keeping Ecole Shalom’s emerging library and computer room organized!

“When you sell a man a book you don’t sell him just 12 ounces of paper and ink and glue – you sell him a whole new life.” 

^{– Christopher Morley}