Our Library has over 6,000 members!

Since our new library at Chibolele opened its doors in December 2024, we have been overwhelmed (in the best possible way) by visitors. The response of the local community has been incredible, with people of all ages finding their place within our walls to such an extent that we are now struggling to cope with the numbers. We have taken on four new interns to assist our current staff until we can put some more permanent arrangements in place.

During its busiest spells, we have queues stretching out the door as eager readers wait for their chance to come in. The new library has been most successful in attracting children, but as word of what we have on offer has spread, we have a greater number of teenagers and adult visitors now coming to experience the library for themselves. Whether it is a young child’s first experience with picture books, a student finding a quiet space to do their homework, or an adult trying to find an interesting novel, we also have a core staff of teachers and librarians available to help.

By mid-May 2025, we have over 6,000 new members!

In keeping with our aim of making the library open to all, we have a purpose- built Children’s Corner, designed to be an informal space for children to play and explore our books away from a desk environment. This area has quickly become a favourite among the children, offering a welcoming environment for little ones to develop a love for books without pressure.

Another aspect of library which has become over-subscribed is our Reading Clubs. Our librarians and interns read a book out loud to large groups of children in the afternoons from carefully selected books, where we can provide to the participants a copy of the book being read. The books are chosen from the vast collection of Irish-donated readers which we have shipped out to Zambia. As the children can read along with the librarian, they develop their own reading skills while having a very enjoyable experience.

The books donated in Ireland introduce our Zambian friends to engaging stories, rich language, and new perspectives. The school readers, in particular, have become an invaluable and very popular resource for the children. Local schools have reported that literacy levels have increased noticeably, even after just two months.