Street Library Ghana

Growing up as a child, Hayford lived in several parts of Ghana because of his father's job. In all these ten communities he lived before completing basic schooling, only once did he have the opportunity to attend a library, in the capital of the Eastern Region of Ghana. He grew a love for reading, which eventually helped him venture into development work, where he continually encountered many children in rural communities who have no access to reading books other than their school notes. Many children as old as 18 years were illiterate. Indeed, in summer of 2011, while he was conducting interviews with villagers for some health-based field research, he came to understand the grave effect that a lack of literacy and a basic education has on a population's health. The misconceptions based on ignorance he witnessed were overwhelming and disheartening. This realization ultimately led to an in-depth understanding of some deeply rooted societal issues related to the lack of basic education. In August 2011, Hayford started a mobile library by collecting books from volunteers into his car trunk to make them available to children in rural villages. Working closely with communities, Hayford moved his car into communities inviting children to read. In early 2012, Street Library was selected in to the Reach for Change three-year incubation program where funding and technical support are provided to help early start-up child centered initiatives flourish. The Global Fund for Children has since also supported Street Library in diverse ways to increase its impact, footprint and growth.

• Vision

  All children in Africa have equal access to literacy, educational and cultural resources..

• Mission

  SLG responds to educational needs of vulnerable children in Africa by providing sustainable literacy, cultural resources and personal development.

• Methodology

  Street Libraries are set up outdoors in close cooperation with community leaders, creating a less intimidating and welcoming library environment for vulnerable children.

• Goals
  • Improve literacy, education, and cultural curiosity among children
  • Enable access to a diverse collection of suitable reading material
  • Develop respect for literature and pursuit of knowledge among its participants
  • Spread the joy of reading
  • Provide rural youth with opportunities for better educational development
  • Provide a cost-effective and sustainable library option for rural communities
  • Preserve indigenous folklore through digitization for easy accessibility at Street Libraries.
• Key Operating Principles
  • Inclusivity—SLG acknowledges that success relies on partnerships and relationships from strategic support level to local actors who bring their ideas, experiences and know how.
  • Local ownership—Individuals and communities receive training and skills to manage their own street libraries, as true sustainability depends upon local actors solving local problems.
  • Contextual solutions—SLG tailors its approach with each community to co-develop unique approaches to achieve its mission and to meet the community's needs
  • System changing—SLG programs are designed to change the underlying causes of illiteracy—it addresses the lack of access to quality literature by directly providing access to books and program officers on location to address learning needs.

Ghana has a rather low literacy rate of 71.5% for age 15 and over, due in part to a severe lack of educational infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. A chronic lack of exposure to engaging reading material inhibits the cultivation of interest in reading. Indeed, book and other literature (e.g. newspapers) consumption in Ghana is relatively low, for numerous reasons, including a shortfalls in the quality and quantity of public libraries (only 63 in a population of 25 million, or approximately 400,000 people per library), a low average income, high cost of printed material, and a lack of appealing publications in both English and other indigenous languages.

The founder and president of Street Library Ghana, Hayford Siaw, asserts that the concept of the street library does not need a physical structure to create opportunities for the children to read with there being no need for children to be denied the opportunity to read just because government does not have the money to build a library for them.[1]

SLG aims to addresses the lack of reading material by providing access to various styles of literature, using high quality and engaging titles. The program attempts to distinguish itself from regular library initiatives in that outreach to children is amplified by engagement and literacy activities that make reading and learning enjoyable and desirable. This in turn, is expected to increase academic performance across all reading-related subjects, feeding a positive cycle of improving motivation, performance and attitude towards education.

In providing books, library services, literacy training, SLG operates via four modalities; mobile van, book chest, reading hub, and digital app. Each meets needs in a particular manner:

• Mobile Van

  Since 2011 Street Library Ghana has been running a mobile library which visits different communities, bringing both books and staff to engage children in outreach activities. Dedicated staffs attend the van and engage children in outreach activities such as reading and educational exercises. The footprint of this operation Eastern Ghana & Greater Accra.

• Street Library Book Chest

  Book Chests are collections of approximately 150 books for children, spanning a broad variety of reading level, non-fiction topics and fiction genres. They are designed to serve as a portable library, suitable for schools and communities. The mix of carefully selected high-quality books aims to develop literacy skills by nurturing a joy of reading and pursuit of knowledge. Book Chests are packaged in a sturdy water- and airproof box to keep books in good condition for as long as possible.

• Reading Hub / Library Kiosk

  Due to the community of people targeted by this program, a “street” library is considered to be the best approach. When set in a building, a library often seems intimidating for less educated people. A mobile library set outdoors, in a friendly and informal atmosphere, makes books more accessible and visible to the whole community, and facilitates interpersonal exchanges and relationship building. This helps to swerve the barrier imposed by "genuine" libraries while keeping the same impact. The first permanent library kiosk was completed in 2013 in the community of Anoff-Damang, Eastern Region. The kiosk differs from a regular library building in that its purpose is to house the book collection and provide an inviting and accessible hub for library activities, with shaded seating placed around it. The architect-designed structure is to provide a permanent space for the community to conduct library activities in on a daily basis, greatly enhancing local children's access to reading material and learning opportunity. A rollout of future kiosks is being planned, with a switch from concrete and brick to a more flexible and cost-effective mobile shipping container-based structure.

• Street Library App

  In a medium- to long-term project, Street Library is involved in a strategic partnership with international organizations to develop a raft of digital innovations addressing literacy issues. Currently in active development, these are designed to engage more children in the interconnected world of communications technology, bringing greater mobility and access to information and broader interaction with each other. This aims to level the playing field that tomorrow's citizens, workers and leaders will have to operate in.

• Reach for Change
• Global Fund for Children
• Tigo Ghana
• Viasat 1
• Ghana Post
• Bayer Care Foundation
• TaleXchange
• TransCAP Foundation
• Architecture Sans Frontiers-UK
• Volunteer Partnerships for West Africa
• NGO News Africa

Through its close relationship with Volunteer Partnerships for West Africa (VPWA), SLG has been engaged in volunteer recruitment and placement since 2011. It recognizes the role of volunteers in its areas of operation. The recruitment process allows both skilled professionals and students to work with SLG and its partner projects, and contributes directly to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Local and international volunteers are accepted, and beside onsite volunteering, those unable to travel to Ghana are given the opportunity to work virtually with SLG through the United Nations Volunteers Online Volunteering Service.

Various opportunities are frequently published and updated on both SLG and VPWA websites.

Street Library Ghana currently relies on multiple funding streams to sustain its initiatives. As a non-profit organization, Street Library is primarily funded by seeking competitive grants from dedicated donor and development agencies, as well as corporate sponsorship. Notable large sponsors include Global Fund for Children, Reach for Change; telecommunications company Tigo, and Television Corporation ViaSat 1.[2] Donations are sometimes received from civic organizations and individuals via book drives. A volunteer internship fee provides a regular stream of income.[2]

• VPWA Volunteer Opportunities
• Street Library Ghana