|
Library Committee Meeting
|
|
Library
Committee Meeting (inc: planning for the future Library programs) The
agenda for the Library Committee Meeting included:
The
committee had already discussed some items on the agenda, prior to Victoria’s
visit, in order to save time. The
Library Committee meeting was very short as the Evaluation Meeting over ran. Results
of the Evaluation
The discussion centered on the perceived need for teachers by many
of the Development Clubs and the Red and Yellow Literacy Classes.
The Committee thought that teachers were not as high a priority as the
Community had presented them to be. They
advised that the Library should continue to promote and support self-study for
the literate due to the high expense of providing many specialist teachers.
In specific cases where the demand is high and self-study resources are
limited a local teacher could be considered e.g. for Swahili lessons. ID
Cards
A sample ID card was prepared by the Vice Chairman for inspection by the
Committee. The ID Cards are for the
purpose of assisting Library Committee Members in networking, promoting and
representing the Library Service. Leaders
of the Employment Skill Development Clubs and Literacy Classes were also
considered for receiving the cards. The
sample card stated that the person it identified was a volunteer working with
the Library Service and on the back had the words ‘employed by Kabubbu
Community Library’. The Committee
were asked to seek advice from Pastor George and his college Lecturers over this
wording to ensure it did not convey liability to the Library. The Committee has since been advised to submit passport
photos for the ID Cards, which can be produced for £1.50 each. Loaning
Trial
A trial scheme for the loaning of donated Library fiction books (mostly
European Fiction in English) was conducted over 3 months. The Committee reported that the trial was successful in terms
of reliable care and return of the books. Those
participating in the trial had asked to be loaned the African Readers.
The Committee recommended that participants in the trial who had proved
to be reliable would now be given loan access to the African Readers (these
books are harder to replace if lost or damaged as they have to be bought with
Library funds). Children’s
Program
Establishing a Library activity program specifically for children was
discussed at length by the Committee at the previous meeting.
There was a will to do something for homeless children and others not
attending school, who are not eligible for a place at Kabubbu Community Primary
School. There was a concern that if
the Library were to offer a key skills education program, targeting children not
attending school, then parents would take other children out of school in order
to send them to the Library classes. This
would represent a cost saving for the parents.
It was suggested that school fees should It
was suggested that a children’s activity program open to both school children
and those not attending school could be established. Activities such as singing, art and games would be Further
discussion of this issue is needed and Victoria plans to suggest that if
children who’s school fees need paying could be identified then these ones
could also be offered a key skills education program at the Library.
An open access program of fun activities would also be offered to all
local children. This will need
further discussion by the Committee. Outreach
The Committee was asked whether they would be in favour of administering
a book box loan outreach scheme at Kabubbu Community Library.
For example, boxes of books from Kabubbu Community Library could be
loaned for around 6 weeks to responsible local organizations such as churches
and schools. This would allow
nearby villages to access the benefits of the Library.
Members were asked to discuss this and provide a decision in principle
about whether they wish to consider such an outreach scheme.
The following meeting resulted in agreement to the book box loaning
scheme. Rules governing the scheme
were drawn up by a steering group of 4 Committee members and questionnaires have
been produced to survey the requirements of potential participants in the Book
Box Loaning Scheme. Once the
questionnaires are returned participant demand and book requirements will be
evaluated before a final decision on whether to launch the Scheme is made.
If the demand for books from outreach participant organizations overlaps
with the African Readers required for daily Library use and the loaning scheme
to individuals (as mentioned above), investment will be needed to provide
additional book stock before the Book Box Loaning Scheme can be started. Librarians
Both the Librarians (Annet and Ritah) were in the advanced stages of pregnancy
when Victoria arrived. This
prompted questions for the Committee about the continuity of Library Services
(especially the Literacy classes) when the Librarians take leave to deliver.
The Committee had already decided to grant each Librarian 6 weeks paid
leave after delivery. Ritah delivered a month early while the visiting Volunteer
Team was in Kabubbu. A steering
group of 3 Committee members agreed on the appointment of Hadija for two months,
on an allowance of £10 a month, during Ritah’s absence. Hadija’s role would be to help Annet with basic Library
administration duties while Annet would do all the Literacy Class teaching.
Hadija’s allowance reflects her role and qualifications.
She has already done significant voluntary work assisting in the Library
with Annet. Annet
has trained a replacement for her, during her delivery, who is able to teach the
Literacy Classes. It is also hoped
that Ritah will have returned to work before Annet takes her absence.
Four months wages at £28.50 a month were given to the Library Treasurer
to pay for supplementary staff during the Librarians absence. The
Library Committee Vice Chairman suggested a male Librarian be employed in the
future. Victoria
has asked for Committee meeting minutes in future as she was not aware of these
circumstances before her arrival, which made the budgeting difficult. Library
Opening Hours
The Committee decided that the Library should be opened 1400-1800 on
weekdays and 0830-1700 on Saturdays. This
does not add any time to the Librarian’s working hours.
The Literacy classes will now take place in the Library and independent
readers will be allowed access during Literacy class tuition.
This represents a two-hour extension in the time, during weekdays, which
the Library is open to independent readers.
Further extensions to Library opening hours were not considered necessary
by the Committee as most people work in their gardens or do chores at home in
the mornings. |
