Update: Mid September 2005
(First time visitors to this blog may want to read the prior post(s) for background)
Mid September Update: This new blog address has now been emailed to many of you. Hope you will find your visits here of interest.
Our new library is up and running at God's Golden Acre! (Pictured left)
I'd like to reminisce about it's establishment.
When I first arrived, my announcement that I was here to give the children a library was met early on with some skepticism. Myrtle had cleared a room in the "hospice" building, but there was talk of other uses for the building in the near future. I gathered that they had been talking about the need, but didn't know how or where.
Image left: (room before the new library).
There was awareness that the reading levels of nearly every child needed to be improved. So maybe I could start there. But, instead, I was put on regular volunteer duty - playground and homework supervision, food drop duty, etc. Then after several weeks, I started by going around to different groups of children and reading Edward the Emu and Edwina, the Harry books and Cat in the Hat. I would always end by tell the children about their new library.
My first purchase for the library was 2 library carts with four slanting shelves. I packed them with books I have gleaned from the warehouse, cupboards and shelves and my own collection of 50 books. I brought children in groups to the "new" library to let them "read" books and I always read to them. It was a nice, manageable start.
I got the older kids hooked on "Titanic" and the younger ones fell in love with "Junie B. Jones". Lots of learning went on those first few days. Several times I had to send the whole group home because they just couldn't listen and sit still. But the more we talked about what a library was, and the more stories I read, the better it got.
I started letting the children check out a book by signing their name and the title of the book on a lined sheet. You would have thought it was gold. To see the biggest and the littlest among them hugging a book to their chests as they left the room was priceless. It was better still to see them when they returned the books and crossed their name off the list.
Around this same time I did one of those little drawings of the proposed library layout. I showed it to all the directors, so they could see it was really going to happen. I think they still couldn't believe it.
Image left (Regina & the Electrolux)
And then providence took over. I have no other way to explain it. First a work mission of Idaho Catholic youth and Rotary members came for a weekend. They offered to buy the materials and do the painting in the library. I picked"Terra Cotta", and the next day it was done. It was beautiful.
The following weekend the Terblanche's came from Centurion to check on me, and we went into Durban to purchase rugs, tables, chairs, a TV cabinet and bean bags. When we drove up to the library in the combie with the furnishings piled high, we were followed all the way by cheering children who then fought with each other to help carry the things in. It made me cry.
Next Wimpy, one of GGA's drivers, came to me and offered to build the shelves to my specifications. He said he knew of an inexpensive supplier, and I showed him "my drawing." It was to scale, ΒΌ' = 1'. It all had to be converted to m and cm. (I'm learning a lot too.) He turned out to be an amazing craftsman. The cost of the whole thing was less than a thousand dollars and Wimpy asked for no pay for himself. He said he could see what I was doing for the children and wanted to contribute.
And then a young volunteer from Scotland had a visit from her parents, Jim and Elaine Cochran. They just happened to come the weekend I purchased drapes and rods for the library. They went right to work installing rods and hanging the curtains, and they actually went out and purchased bamboo shades for the two smaller windows. We are all truly blessed.
Image left: (girls playing game in library)
Well, I think that's about all for this time. Hope you like the pictures. I've enjoyed hearing from many of you. I'm grateful for the chance to share my experience.
I thank you all again for the things you've sent and the support you've given; the Powell's for school and library supplies and Judy Jennings for Beverly Cleary books.
My highest regards and love, Dorothy
email: dkenne2@ilstu.edu
Mid September Update: This new blog address has now been emailed to many of you. Hope you will find your visits here of interest.
Our new library is up and running at God's Golden Acre! (Pictured left)I'd like to reminisce about it's establishment.
When I first arrived, my announcement that I was here to give the children a library was met early on with some skepticism. Myrtle had cleared a room in the "hospice" building, but there was talk of other uses for the building in the near future. I gathered that they had been talking about the need, but didn't know how or where.
Image left: (room before the new library).There was awareness that the reading levels of nearly every child needed to be improved. So maybe I could start there. But, instead, I was put on regular volunteer duty - playground and homework supervision, food drop duty, etc. Then after several weeks, I started by going around to different groups of children and reading Edward the Emu and Edwina, the Harry books and Cat in the Hat. I would always end by tell the children about their new library.
My first purchase for the library was 2 library carts with four slanting shelves. I packed them with books I have gleaned from the warehouse, cupboards and shelves and my own collection of 50 books. I brought children in groups to the "new" library to let them "read" books and I always read to them. It was a nice, manageable start.
I got the older kids hooked on "Titanic" and the younger ones fell in love with "Junie B. Jones". Lots of learning went on those first few days. Several times I had to send the whole group home because they just couldn't listen and sit still. But the more we talked about what a library was, and the more stories I read, the better it got.
I started letting the children check out a book by signing their name and the title of the book on a lined sheet. You would have thought it was gold. To see the biggest and the littlest among them hugging a book to their chests as they left the room was priceless. It was better still to see them when they returned the books and crossed their name off the list.
Around this same time I did one of those little drawings of the proposed library layout. I showed it to all the directors, so they could see it was really going to happen. I think they still couldn't believe it.
Image left (Regina & the Electrolux)And then providence took over. I have no other way to explain it. First a work mission of Idaho Catholic youth and Rotary members came for a weekend. They offered to buy the materials and do the painting in the library. I picked"Terra Cotta", and the next day it was done. It was beautiful.
The following weekend the Terblanche's came from Centurion to check on me, and we went into Durban to purchase rugs, tables, chairs, a TV cabinet and bean bags. When we drove up to the library in the combie with the furnishings piled high, we were followed all the way by cheering children who then fought with each other to help carry the things in. It made me cry.
Next Wimpy, one of GGA's drivers, came to me and offered to build the shelves to my specifications. He said he knew of an inexpensive supplier, and I showed him "my drawing." It was to scale, ΒΌ' = 1'. It all had to be converted to m and cm. (I'm learning a lot too.) He turned out to be an amazing craftsman. The cost of the whole thing was less than a thousand dollars and Wimpy asked for no pay for himself. He said he could see what I was doing for the children and wanted to contribute.
And then a young volunteer from Scotland had a visit from her parents, Jim and Elaine Cochran. They just happened to come the weekend I purchased drapes and rods for the library. They went right to work installing rods and hanging the curtains, and they actually went out and purchased bamboo shades for the two smaller windows. We are all truly blessed.
Image left: (girls playing game in library)
Well, I think that's about all for this time. Hope you like the pictures. I've enjoyed hearing from many of you. I'm grateful for the chance to share my experience.
I thank you all again for the things you've sent and the support you've given; the Powell's for school and library supplies and Judy Jennings for Beverly Cleary books.
My highest regards and love, Dorothy
email: dkenne2@ilstu.edu
posted by Dorothy Kennett | 2:23 PM
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