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Annual Report
2015-2016
1
We are the music makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers,
And sitting by desolate streams.
World-losers and world-foresakers,
Upon whom the pale moon gleams;
Yet we are the movers and shakers,
Of the world forever, it seems.
With wonderful deathless ditties,
We build up the world’s great cities,
And out of a fabulous story,
We fashion an empire’s glory:
One man with a dream, at pleasure,
Shall go forth and conquer a crown;
And three with a new song’s measure,
Can trample an empire down.
We, in the ages lying,
In the buried past of the earth,
Built Nineveh without sighing,
And Babel itself with our mirth;
And o’erthrew them with prophesying,
To the old of the new world’s worth;
For each age is a dream that is dying,
Or one that is coming to birth.
Arthur William Edgar O’Shaughnessy
With thanks to committed friends of the Namuwongo
Community Library, old and new, near and far.
2
Contents
Key Highlights ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 4
Background ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 5
Introduction --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 6
Activity Report ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 8
Library Attendance Numbers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 11
User Evaluation ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 13
Future Planning ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 16
Appendix 1 – Calendar of Events --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 19
Appendix 2 – Surveys --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 21
Appendix 3 – Demographics of Survey Responders ------------------------------------------------------------------ Page 25
3
4
Key Highlights
Namuwongo Community Library has successfully operated for more than a year now, which in itself is a
highlight. Other key highlights of the first 12 months of the year include the following:
- High visitor numbers and reported satisfaction with the resources and services available at the library
- Provision of employment for five staff, and increased staff capacity through training and mentoring,
resulting in enhanced ability to manage their individual roles, as well as oversee the library operations in
the absence of the Director
- Valuable and consistent community participation in the oversight and operations of the library, including
volunteers running groups, representation on the Advisory Board, engagement from schools, and
interaction with local businesses and organisations
- A solid and meaningful partnership with the Kampala City Council Authority, confirmed with the signing of
a Memorandum of Understanding and planning for financial and human resource support in the future
- Steady increase in the number of books, puzzles and games available to library users, from around 100
books at the beginning, to almost 700 at the end of March 2016
- Addition of multiple new services, including regular activities for young children, school aged children, and
supportive services like access to the internet
- Beginnings of income generating activities, specifically upskilling workshops for members of the local
community, providing affordable access to relevant and practical training opportunities.
-
Library Staff –
Marie, Megan,
Dennis, Teddy and
Victor (Osillo
missing)
5
If you want to
hide something,
put it in a book.
Background
Namuwongo Community Library was established in March 2015, in response to an
observed need for access to books, and the absence of any library services within the
Namuwongo and surrounding communities. It is commonly reported by people in the
community that there is no ‘reading culture’ in Uganda. This belief is often supported
by the quote “If you want to hide something, put it in a book.” There is, however, a
strong desire for change, and much support for any idea that appears to be attempting to address this issue.
Planning for the Namuwongo Community Library began some time before its establishment, as an idea, a
fondness for a community, and an awareness of the importance of reading. Preparations by the Founder (and
current Director) included generation of start-up finances, background study in Library and Information
Science, purchasing of resources, as well as extensive discussion of ideas and motivations with all who showed
an interest. Initial formal community consultation, completed in January 2014, canvassed an extensive
network of people engaged in both the Namuwongo community and the wider public sector, including local
council representatives, city council, local NGO’s, schools, teachers, and the Ugandan Community Library
Association. The feedback and advice was overwhelmingly positive, demonstrating extensive support for the
idea of a library, both to address the lack of access to books, and to provide a communal space for people to
come together and learn. Advice was dispensed generously and the beginnings of partnerships were formed,
most significantly with the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).
Practical steps to facilitate the opening of the library began in January 2015. Links that had been made the
previous year were once again utilised for advice and ongoing consultation. A building was secured for rental
and renovations completed. Staff were identified and recruited. Furniture and shelving were prepared, and
resources organised for the initial small collection. As much as possible, local tradesmen, employees,
resources, and products were utilised; it being important that the library supports and is supported by the
local community as much as possible. Initial funding was sourced from the private finances of the Founder,
combined with some fundraising and personal donations.
The library opened on March 27th, 2015, with a little fanfare,
as is appropriate for such an occasion. The opening was
attended by supporters and new partners, including local
schools and KCCA representatives. The day was a celebration
of many months of work, and heralded an official ‘ready, set,
GO!’ for the place. Initial excitement at the attendance of one
or two children each day, quickly gave way to feeling
overwhelmed, as children flooded in during some poorly timed
and lengthy school holidays. This was the first in many
learning experiences, and set the momentum for the year, at a
much faster pace than anticipated.
6
Introduction
Namuwongo Community Library has a vision to see that ‘all people have the opportunity to learn, and through
learning, to imagine and create a life of their own’. The library aims to support the wider education of the
members of the Namuwongo and surrounding communities, specifically encouraging creative thinking and an
increased capacity for independent thought. As such, the mission of the library is to ‘provide a place for all
community members to come together and learn, equipping them to make the most of life’s opportunities’. It
is the purpose of the library to create a space and provide resources that encourage and facilitate life-long
learning and enhance social capital within our community.
The values and objectives of the library, as stated in the constitution, are to:
- Accept and include all people, regardless of age, background, socio-economic status, religion, gender;
recognising and reflecting the value of these differences to the community
- Foster imagination, independent thinking, and a love of reading in those who use the library and the wider
community
- Build community spirit through shared space and experiences, and become a valued part of the
community
- Focus on sustainability, ensuring the library remains viable into the future through community
engagement, meaningful partnerships, and income generation
- Equip individuals with knowledge and life skills that are relevant to their needs, and support them to
maximise their potential
- Support learning in local schools and other organisations within the community, through partnerships and
shared vision.
Namuwongo Community Library is a Community Based
Organisation, registered in the Makindye Division of the KCCA.
It is located in Namuwongo, a suburb of Uganda’s capital city,
Kampala. The library is in a secure compound, accessed off the
main road to the Namuwongo market. It is situated between a
relatively affluent area and an area of high-density housing. As
such, while many residents of Namuwongo and nearby
Muyenga/Bukasa have access to adequate housing, work
opportunities, and community amenities; approximately
20,000-30,000 people live in situations of extreme poverty,
residing in densely populated slum areas. Approximately 50% of the population are children under 14 years
old. There are a large number of nursery, primary and secondary schools in close proximity to the library,
both government and private; however despite a policy of free, universal primary education, attendance at
school remains dependent on the families’ ability to afford uniforms, books, and other requirements. Schools
are often under-resourced, having limited access to the books and other teaching materials required to
support the children’s learning. There are also many churches, NGO offices, a large hospital and university in
the community.
7
The organisational structure of the library is simple (Figure 1), receiving oversight from an Advisory Board
made up of members appointed from within the local community. The library staff includes a full-time Library
Director, a full-time trainee Assistant Manager, one full-time, qualified Librarian, one part-time Librarian, a
full-time Domestic Worker, and a work experience student on a short term contract.
Figure 1. Organisational Chart – Namuwongo Community Library.
The library provides free access to all people to enjoy the use of resources within the library facility. There is a
small collection of approximately 700 books; including both non-fiction and fiction, for adults, young adults,
children and the very young. In addition, there is a growing collection of O and A-level text books for use by
secondary school students. The library also purchases the two major English speaking newspapers each day,
and holds a variety of puzzles and games that are made available for library users.
A significant proportion of the initial collection of books and games were
purchased prior to the opening of the library, and transported from New
Zealand. There have been a number of generous donations of new and
good quality second hand books, games and puzzles received from visitors
to the library, as well as a donation of approximately 80 new books from
Book Aid International, through the Ugandan Community Library
Association. The focus for the purchase of new books in the first 12
months has been on increasing the number of locally written and
published books, to ensure the collection is culturally relevant to the community.
The library offers printing, photocopying, and laminating services to the community, at a small cost. There is
wireless internet available for library users with their own devices, also at a small cost. Afterschool clubs and
school holiday activities are provided for children and young adults. Regular workshops and special events
provide further opportunity to link with the community. Income generating activities are an ongoing priority
to support the financial sustainability of the library.
This report contains details of these and other library activities over the 12 months from March 2015 to March
2016. It serves as a summary of the highlights and challenges of the first year of the Namuwongo Community
Library. It is by no means exhaustive, and anecdotally there are many more stories to hear. However, we
intend this snapshot to serve as an encouragement, to us, to the community, and to our many supporters.
May we work together to see many more years, and reports, to come.
Advisory Board Director
Assistant Manager
Cook (Work
experience) Domestic Staff
Librarian x 2 (1 full time, 1 part time)
8
Activity Report
A large number of activities have been completed at the library and by library staff in the 12 months since
opening, too many to detail here. Considering the library began with only about 100 books and a few puzzles
for people to use while they are here, each new addition to the timetable, however small, has been a
celebrated activity. The following are significant events that have occurred and services that have been
introduced over the year; a calendar of all completed events can be found in Appendix 1.
Generation of new services
The most significant area of activity has been the development of new services that respond to the needs of
the community. School holiday activities, including a short story competition for students, have been initiated
every school holiday period. During term time, afterschool clubs run, from 5-6pm every week night, including
activities such as reading, creative writing, debating, sewing, gardening, and physical activity. Other weekly
activities include Kiswahili clubs for both adults and children, and a regular kid’s movie showing on a Saturday
afternoon. Special theme days have been celebrated, including International Women’s Day and National
DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) Day.
We have been privileged to have had offers of support from
library users to run activities at the library. One volunteered to
run a weekly story and song session for young children, Mikwano
Rhyme Time, which began in June, 2015. A clear example of
capacity building, library staff can now run this session
independently as required. We have also initiated a similar
weekly outreach session at the Namuwongo Market; aimed at
children who are there each day while their parents sell food and
other items, and are too young for school or to attend the library
alone. Another library visitor volunteered to teach people to
play chess on a weekly basis. Chess club is now a permanent after-school club, and continues throughout the
year. Adults and children attend, with chess becoming a commonly borrowed game from the office.
This type of initiative and commitment of library users and community members is encouraging, and will be
essential for the long term sustainability of the library.
Registration as a Community Based Organisation
The library was officially registered in September 2015 as a Community Based Organisation, or CBO, in the
Makindye Division of the KCCA. The process called for drafting of an organisational constitution, the
formation of a board, proof of membership of people in the community, a record of current activity, and
detailed objectives for the coming year. The certificate of registration formalises the existence of the
organisation within the community, ensures that the library is operating within the bounds of the regulatory
authorities, and allows the library to move forward with development of meaningful partnerships.
9
Partnership with the Kampala Capital City Authority
As previously mentioned, the library has enjoyed the support of the KCCA
since the initial consultation stages, and has benefited greatly from their
advice and enthusiasm for the idea. In April 2015, the Executive Director of
the KCCA, Jennifer Musisi, visited the library as part of a tour of initiatives in
the area. Along with all of the Directors of Departments at the organisation,
she was impressed with the place, and emphasised the importance of
partnership between the two organisations. This partnership was
formalised officially in January, 2016, with the signing of a memorandum of
understanding (MOU). The MOU states that the two organisations will work
together to support the delivery of library services to the community of
Namuwongo, and surrounding communities. As part of the agreement,
KCCA has pledged to support the library financially, which will occur within
their next budget. The partnership with the KCCA is another key component
of the long term sustainability of the Namuwongo Community Library.
Upskilling of library staff
As detailed in the organisational chart, the library has four permanent staff, as well as one work experience
student. The majority of the staff has no formal qualifications, and little work experience. It has therefore
been a priority to focus on supporting the professional development of each of these staff in their roles.
During the year, three of the staff members have had an opportunity
to attend an external conference or workshop, predominantly in the
area of literacy and library services. International visitors have
provided extensive capacity building in the areas of library
categorisation and cataloguing, working with young children,
business planning, as well as team work and conflict management
skills. Internal staff development, including through staff meetings,
mentoring, professional development planning, and availability of
pertinent resources, has occurred throughout the year also.
A significant achievement for the staff was the maintenance of the services and operations of the library
during a three month scheduled absence of the Director, to raise further funds for library operations. With
external support from volunteers and partners, the number of visitors remained constant, feedback was
positive, and momentum was maintained, through a busy school holiday time.
Unsurprisingly, there were some challenges over the time of the Director’s absence. Following a thorough
reflection process, key learnings have been revealed and proposed solutions actioned. The hierarchical
structure of the organisational chart was developed to specifically respond to uncertainty around
accountability and responsibility in the absence of the Director. The Assistant Manager position has been
taken up by one of the existing staff, who is receiving mentoring and support to develop skills in the area of
people management and business planning. The future sustainability of the organisation is further supported
by the development of this structure, and these skills within the library staff.
10
Building relationships
A core component of the ongoing sustainability of the
organisation is strong relationships held with individuals
and organisations in the community. During the initial 12
month period, the library staff made concerted efforts to
build relationships with schools in the area, through
awareness raising and invitations to attend special events.
Support has been given to schools setting up libraries, or
attempting to organise their collections of books. Many
schools have welcomed the library as an addition to the
community, bringing classes along during book weeks and
inviting library staff members to attend graduations, and special celebration days.
Collaboration with NGO’s in the area has been undertaken, including an interschool debate with local NGO
Hands for Hope. Other community libraries from around the country have visited to see the place, and discuss
ideas together. In addition, many individuals have been referred to visit the library to discuss their desire to
set up a community library in their home village or area.
Relationships with local businesses have been a focus, attempting to support the local community as much as
possible. Many now offer a discount, or special price to the library. Others display our posters and advertising
on their doors and walls. These types of relationships are a way for the library to cement its place in the
community, a route for people to hear about and know about the library, and contribute to the sustainability
of the organisation.
Finally, and as mentioned earlier, relationships with local officials and authorities are important. The library is
well thought of amongst the local authorities currently, smoothing the path for new and innovative service
development and support with bureaucratic processes.
Income generation
It is supremely important that the library is able to generate income, in order for financial sustainability to
become a possibility. While the focus of the first 12 months was to develop and consolidate basic operations,
income generation was also a priority. Income generating services have the potential to provide added
benefit to the local community, as well as supporting sustainability. Those activities that saved the library
money were considered of equal benefit to those that could make money.
Printing, photocopying, and laminating services were begun soon after opening. Wireless internet is available
for users with their own devices. The Reading Room is available to hire for meetings or workshops. A
substantial vegetable garden aims to produce food for use with staff meals, in order to reduce costs of
purchase at the market. At this stage, the garden is not producing enough for on sale of the vegetables,
though any surplus is often used as a gift to volunteers and supporters. A more recent, and ongoing income
generation project, is the running of workshops, utilising the skills and knowledge held by the library staff and
volunteers. A workshop, held in January, 2016, attended by 10 local teachers and librarians, focussed on
learning through play and the importance of reading; others are planned for the next 12 months.
11
98%
2%
Reason for Visiting
Readers
Enquiries
Library Attendance Numbers
The number of people visiting the library has been recorded each day
since the library opened, as an indicator of library usage by the
community. Individual library users are recorded as either being adults,
young adults (approximately 15-20 years), or children. A record is made
for each person who attends to read, use the internet, play a game, or
attend a club or activity. If an individual attends only briefly to check the
place or ask about the services, the figure is recorded as an enquiry.
Enquiries from new visitors often lead to people staying or returning to
read.
Figure 2 shows the total number of attendances, or visits, per week over the first 12 month period. This
number is inclusive of adult, young adult, and child visitors, as well as those making enquiries. The number
does not indicate the total number of separate individuals each week, as some visitors return daily or a few
times a week, and therefore will be counted multiple times in the same week. The overall total number of
visits to the library in the 12 months from the opening day was 18,226. This equates to an average of 344
visits per week, or 69 people per day.
Figure 2. Bar graph showing the number of visits per week over the first 12 month period.
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
Tota
l Nu
mb
er o
f V
isit
s
Week Since Opening (Date Ending)
Number of Visits per Week In First 12 Months
12
There has been limited advertising undertaken to attract people to the library. Most people report that they
heard about the place from another person, or came by after seeing the sign post. Fluctuations in attendance
are due to a wide variety of factors. Increases often coincide with school holidays for local schools, or when
there is a specific celebration or event that draws many people to the library. The weeks with low numbers of
visits can usually be attributed to the scheduled closure of the library, for a public holiday or workshop. Other
factors that affect the attendance numbers have been identified to be the rain, intermittent restrictions
placed on after school attendance by one local school, and when days of opening are irregular and
unpredictable, for example during the recent election period.
Visitors to the library are predominantly children, of primary
school age. During the initial consultation period, it was
agreed with the community that children over the age of 10
years should be allowed to visit the library without the
supervision of a guardian. These children are deemed able
to take responsibility for themselves, and their younger
brothers and sisters who may come along with them. Many
parents of children are working during the day, and are
unable to attend the library with them. The library offers
these children a safe place to spend the day, as well as an
opportunity to learn and make friends outside of school.
The acquisition of resources is heavily influenced by this age distribution, with a significant proportion of the
library collection and services tailored at younger users. There has been some discussion that if we had more
resources for adults and young adults, we may find that more of them visit regularly. While it is sometimes
difficult to prioritise a group of users who may be only potential users, the frequency of requests for some
resources, for example text books for secondary school students and book borrowing services, can lead to the
development of new priorities. All visitors to the library are encouraged to make suggestions and requests to
better inform the collection development process.
Subjectively, the number of girls visiting the library has decreased over time, to a point where significantly
more boys attend regularly. Though there is no record kept of the specific number of children of each gender,
the trend has been noted over time by the staff. It has been difficult to identify the reason for this disparity,
though speculation would suggest that boy children are freer from expectation to assist in the home,
especially during the school holidays. Efforts have been made to encourage the attendance of girls at the
library, including recent International Women’s Day celebrations.
7% 7%
86%
Age Distribution of Library Visitors
Adults
Young Adults
Children
13
52%
4% 0%
35%
9%
Frequency of Visit - Children
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Not often
My firsttime
User Evaluation
A survey of library users was completed in February 2016, towards the end of the first 12 months of operation.
The purpose was two-fold, both to seek feedback from library users and as an exercise in community
consultation. Two surveys were designed; one for adults and young adults, and one for children (see
Appendix 2). Over a period of one week, every adult and young adult who attended the library, and a small
sample of children who could complete the form independently, was offered a survey to complete. Additional
female adults and young adults were sought the following week, due to a lack of response from the group in
the initial sample. In total, 18 adults and young adults completed the survey, and 23 children. Responses
from the survey were collated, and the feedback used to inform planning for the next year. The demographics
of survey responders can be found in Appendix 3.
Frequency of visit
Respondents to the survey were a mixture of regular and frequent visitors, as well those who do not come
often. Among the adult visitors, it was most common to attend the library about once a week, whereas
children commonly attend daily, made possible by the free entry and use of the resources onsite. The library
has indeed become a place of familiar faces and returning guests. Most people who come along to the library
quickly become known to the staff and are welcomed as friends. These individuals, adults and children alike,
commonly bring new people along and are the best advertising within the community, for the library and its
services.
Popular activities
Those completing the survey were asked which activities they participate in when they attend the library.
Respondents were able to tick as many activities as were relevant, most ticking multiple options.
Adults and young adults showed a greater variety of activity preferences than the children. Almost half of the
chosen activities for adults constituted reading the library resources; fiction, non-fiction, and the daily
newspapers. Private study and use of text books were relatively popular activities. Use of the services such as
the internet, printing, and room hire were completed by only a few of the users surveyed. It is important for
the sustainability of the library that these services, which attract a small fee, are more highly utilised by the
28%
39% 0%
33%
0%
Frequency of Visit - Adults/Young Adults
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Not often
My firsttime
14
Popular Activities - Adults/Young Adults
Fiction
Non-fiction
Newspapers
Puzzles
Games
Internet
Printing services
Clubs and groups
Text books
Private study
Read own books
Read books with my children
Hire room
Popular Activities - Children
Fiction
Non-fiction
Newspapers
Puzzles
Games
Internet
Printing services
Clubs and groups
Text books
Private study
community. It is evident from these
results, that more advertising is required to
encourage every adult and young adult
who visits the library, to see it as the place
to come for their printing, photocopying,
and internet needs.
Popular activities for children are reading
fiction books, doing puzzles, and playing
games. Many children also reported
participating in clubs and groups, including
both afterschool clubs and the clubs and
group activities that occur each Saturday.
Few children reported reading newspapers
or non-fiction books, though given the
frequency of children observed reading
non-fiction books, perhaps some of the
respondents were not familiar with
difference between fiction and non-fiction.
Additional library services were not taken
up by young users, especially those with a
cost associated. One child reported in the
‘other’ section that they enjoy making
friends at the library, a delightful
comment, and hopefully something many
people would have ticked if it were an
available option.
Library resources, space, and services
Feedback across these areas was
predominantly positive. Most people, from both groups surveyed, reported that the quality of books available
was excellent, with many suggesting to bring more books and new or different books. There were numerous
requests, from people of all ages, for an increase in the number and range of text books available. In addition,
children made requests for more puzzles, games, and ‘fun stuff’. It is worth noting that the library collection
has increased by over 500%, and now includes a much larger range of books and games.
Comments about the library space were also mostly positive, with some suggesting a shaded outdoor space
would be good. Some adults and young adults reported that they would appreciate a very quiet space, away
from the younger library users. The Reading Room is available for this purpose, but as was reported, more
seats and tables are needed to allow for increased use of this space. Additional comments were made, mostly
by young adult respondents, about keeping the children silent, making children read rather than do puzzles,
and to reduce on the number of noisy children.
15
‘The library is
like a second
home to me.’
It is likely this stems from the dominant culture of libraries in Uganda being one of ‘quiet reading’. One of the
overall aims of the Namuwongo Community Library however, is to encourage the coming together of different
groups of people in the community, causing them to interact, learn from each other, and ultimately become
more socially connected to each other. It is not a place of quiet aloneness. For some of our visitors, this
change in library culture is difficult to understand. Hopefully though, these visitors are able to realise the
richness of the experience available to them and come to enjoy being part of the ‘community culture’ that
exists within the library. Perhaps it is the different feel of the place that keeps them coming back each week.
Feedback about the library services was sought specifically from adults and young adults only, though some
comments were provided by the children who responded when asked what could make the library a better
place. All of the adult respondents reported that the library services were good or better. The comments
regarding services that could be added or improved were limited, but included computers for public use, an
internet café (currently people can use the wireless internet if they come with their own device only), book
borrowing services, training opportunities in English and computer skills, a book club, mobile library, and more
clubs for children. Many of these are in the future plans for the library already. It is important the library and
its expenses, grow only as fast as is sustainable. Therefore, large expenses like investing in significant
information technology resources, are currently not viable.
A further comment in this section suggested the library provide jobs to unemployed members of the
community. Currently we have four permanent staff and one work experience student, four of whom were
unemployed prior to starting work at the library, three of these grew up within the community the library
serves. The intention is that at least two of the roles will always be filled with unemployed youth, who have
not had the opportunitiy to complete further study or perhaps even finish their schooling.
Library staff
The comments made about the staff at the library were overwelmingly positive, including one visitor who
reported feeling as though he was ‘greeted like a brother’at the library. The staff were reported as being
friendly and active, taking a keen interest in the children, and working well to make the library a good place to
come. There were some constructive suggestions about having an improved orientation for new users, and
checking in to offer assistance for those people who are visiting the library.
Community consultation
Most visitors thought there were ample opportunities to offer their suggestions and feedback. Many
expressed an interest in being part of the ongoing consultation process, including on the Advisory Board,
attending community meetings, and completing further surveys. There was a comment about providing a
suggestion box and many reported they were already verbally offering their feedback to staff.
Other feedback
Final comments were overwhelmingly positive, with a ‘keep it up’ message. Many
respondents thanked the library for what it is doing for them and the community. The
words of one young child; ‘the library is like a second home to me, if you are bored at
home, you can come to the library and have fun with books, puzzles, games and clubs.’
16
Future Plans
The future of Namuwongo Community Library rests in the sustainability of its services to the community. In
this circumstance, sustainability has many components, namely financial sustainability, personnel
sustainability, and the sustainability of services and resource provision.
The largest risk, or threat to the sustainability of the library currently is financial sustainbility over time, as the
financial support from the Director reduces. As has been detailed earlier, a reliance or dependence on
ongoing funding from an international source, following the establishment and consolidation of local efforts to
generate funds, signifies a failure of financial sustainability. It is important to the management and oversight
of the library, that the community dictates the direction and purpose of the library. As such, it is expected
that a strong desire for the ongoing provision of these services and resources by the community, would
stimulate the financial support required, either through utilisation of income generating services or through
partnerships involving financial support.
As such, a significant priority for the library in the coming 12 months, and into the future, is to establish and
extend services and ideas that generate income. Thanks to previous capacity building from our volunteers,
staff are now able to prepare a basic business plan and forecast for the likely benefit of certain income
generating activities, though it is expected that some of these ideas will be more successful than others in
practice.
The following ideas are currently being implemented, planned, or considered for the coming 12 months:
- Workshops providing relevant upskilling opportunites for groups within the community, including:
o Learn, Imagine, Create – learning through play and the importance of story reading with young
children
o Get the Job! – applying for jobs, writing a good CV, and interviewing well
o Beginners Drawing – pencil drawing for beginners, focussing on portrait drawing
o Library collection management – classifying and cataloguing books, arranging a collection,
collection management policies
o Other ideas include – simple budgetting, first aid, writing skills, computer training, and any other
ideas that the staff or volunteers have!
- Business ventures, where profits would be put directly into the library income, including:
o Tourist cooking classes – a chance for new people or visitors to Uganda to experience the local
food, including a visit to the market, learning to light the charcoal stove (sigiri), preparing and
enjoying a meal of local Ugandan food of their choice
o Goat farm – farming of goats for meat, including the purchase of a small block of land and an initial
group of goats with the support of international fundraising efforts
- Development of current income generating services to increase their profitability, including:
o Advertising available services – room hire, internet, printing and photocopying services
o Acquisition of computers – support use of internet by those who do not have their own device
o Selling products made from recylced materials – draughts sets, painted tins, children’s shakers
17
- Addition of new services that attract a fee for use, including:
o Book borrowing services – annual fee for borrowing of fiction books
o Homework club – a small fee for simple tutoring services provided in the holidays to support
children with their homework packages and encourage creative learning opportunities
o Book club – with a small donation for each person attending, contributing to covering cost of space
and preparation
o CV writing – offered to those attending the workshop, an additional fee for preparation of a
personalised CV
o Computer training courses – for children and adults wanted to learn computing basics
o Services to schools – support in managing book collections and libraries, visits from classes for topic
research or reading activities, preparation of learning activities to support curriculum.
In addition, partnerships will be pursued and developed with local organisations, that have the potential to
provide long term financial support to the library. These partnerships potentially include:
- KCCA – ongoing discussions regarding possible support and planning for the future
- Rotary Uganda – creating links with the organisation, discussing possible areas of similar interest and
potential for support to provide these types of programs
- Vodafone Uganda – plan to approach to discuss potential for supporting affordable access to the internet
for community users.
Further to the sustainability of the library is the personnel sustainability, or the ability of the staff to manage
independently their own roles, and successfully support the operation of the library. This involves staff
development and retention, to ensure continual growth in capacity and consistency of service delivery.
In the coming 12 months, staff retention will be supported by:
- Access of affordable professional development opportunities for relevant staff
- Internal professional development planning
- Mentoring relationships for staff to support their ongoing learning through experience
- Provision of resources for personal study and development.
Finally the sustainability of services and resource provision must be considered. The approach for the library
so far, has been to grow only as much as was realistically sustainable in the long term. This approach will
continue into the next 12 months, and likely the long term future. As such, we have purposely kept furniture
to a minimum, not rapidly expanded the collection, and, despite frequent requests and encouragement from
others, we have not yet invested in a lot of technology, such as computers and projectors.
Sustainabilty of resource provision is also the reason we do not currently lend out books. Due to the small size
of the collection and the limited ability to follow up via reliable addresses or contact details, it was decided
that book borrowing was too much of a risk. Hopefully this year though, we will begin a fee for borrowing
service, the fee for which would cover the cost of book replacement if need be. People will be able to borrow
from the fiction colleciton only, and with one book at a time, to reduce the impact on the size of the colleciton
available for users visiting the library to read
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A further endeavor in resource sustainability, is sourcing as many books as possible from local sources. These
books are affordable and replaceable, and usually more culturally relevant. Text books are a priority for the
coming 12 months, but we will be purchasing those that are commonly requested and in high demand first,
and only increasing that colleciton as need requires.
Additional services that are likely to be added
this year, include more outreach services for the
community. We currently have one outreach
Mikwano Rhyme Time, but would like to begin
another at some point. It is possible we may
also try a mobile library idea for specific
locations in the community. We would also like
to spend more time creating links with schools,
championing books and stories in that
environment, perhaps through attendance at
assemblies, running outreach programs within
the schools, or lunch time clubs.
As mentioned, any new services that we begin at the library need to be achievable within our current
resources, including staffing levels, physical resources, and the budget. We always enjoy the challenge of
responding to an observed or reported need within the community with a creative and sustainable service.
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Appendix 1 – Calendar of Events
Date Event Activities
3 March, 2015 First Community Consultation Meeting Met with councillors - LC 1’s, LC 2’s, and AC’s in the area to discuss details of library operation
12 March, 2015 Second Community Consultation Meeting
Met with teachers, church representatives, and NGO’s in the area to discuss details of library operation
25/26 March, 2015
National Reading Association Literacy Conference
Attendance by librarians staff at National Reading Conference, focus on learning literacy skills in your mother tongue and making books available through libraries and other routes
27 March, 2015 Opening Day Official ceremony, performance from local school, wall painting, reading, puzzles, music
23 April, 2015 First weekly Librarian Professional Development Network session
Discussion with invited local librarians from other organisations regarding issues and ideas pertinent to the profession
28 April, 2015 Visit from Executive Director of KCCA and Directors of Departments
Promotional visit for new initiatives in Makindye Division, supported by local Mayor and Education Division of KCCA
8 May, 2015 Book donation from Rotary New Zealand
Visiting members from Rotary New Zealand delivered books, games, and puzzles for the library
16 May, 2015 First School Holiday Short Story Competition prize giving
Short story entries published in a book for library collection, winning stories read aloud, prizes and certificates for winning entries
5 June, 2015 First weekly Mikwano Rhyme Time session
Local volunteer supporting beginning of a weekly story and song session for very young library users
11 June, 2015 Capacity building visit from Australian volunteers
Three week visit supporting development of library catalogue, policies and procedures, and income generating ideas
16 June, 2015 After School Clubs begin Clubs for children to attend during the week after school hours, including creative writing, reading, gardening, debating, sewing, Kiswahili and others
23 June, 2015 First quarterly Advisory Board Meeting Advisory board members attended to discuss function of board and support community engagement in the management of the library
1 August, 2015 African Story August international fundraising month
Fundraising drive in Australia and New Zealand to support an increase in the number of African stories in the library collection
19 August, 2015 Book donation from Book Aid International
Received two boxes of books for use in the library
5 September, 2015
Second School Holiday Short Story Competition prize giving
Short stories published library collection, prizes and certificates for winning entries
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8 September, 2015
Advisory Board Meeting Meeting to discuss preparations for Director’s absence and issues to be resolved at the library
16 September, 2015
Community Based Organisation registration issued
Certificate received from KCCA to operate for 12 months as a Community Based Organisation
17 September, 2015
First weekly Chess Club session Local volunteer supporting adults and children who want to learn how to play chess
20 September, 2015
Director returned to New Zealand/Australia
Three months work to save for financial support of library, staff prepared to manage with local support
7 October, 2015 Schools Debate Competition at Hands for Hope
Interschool debate organised in conjunction with local NGO Hands for Hope
5 January, 2016 Re-open for 2016 Library opened again following break for Christmas period
12 January, 2016
Capacity building visit from New Zealand volunteers
Three week visit supporting improvement in human resource processes, business management, and early childhood programs
16/17 January, 2016
Ugandan Community Libraries Association Annual Conference
Attendance at the annual professional development conference by one staff representative and presentation of achievements of the library for the year
27 January, 2016
Learn, Imagine, Create workshop Interactive workshop for teachers and librarians about learning through play and the importance of stories in education
15 February, 2016
Memorandum of Understanding with KCCA signed
MOU describing partnership between Namuwongo Community Library and KCCA into the future
3 March, 2016 First weekly Mikwano Rhyme Time session at the Namuwongo Market
Singing and stories with small children who spend the day at the market with their parents
5 March, 2016 International Women’s Day celebrations – ‘Beautiful Girl, You Can Do Hard Things’
Afternoon with young girls from the community sharing stories about inspiring women, hearing from invited guests, and thinking about dreams for the future
15 March, 2016 Advisory Board meeting Meeting to discuss the achievements of the past 12 months and planning for the next 12 months
17 March, 2016 National Drop Everything and Read Day (DEAR Day)
Invited local schools to send representatives to attend the celebrations of the day, children participated in reading and sharing stories, a quiz, and a debate
2 April, 2016 One Year Anniversary Open Day Celebration day with schools debate, sharing stories, market stalls, wall painting and music
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Appendix 2 – Surveys
Library User Evaluation Survey
Namuwongo Community Library has now been open for almost one year, and we
would love some feedback on how you think it is going! We would appreciate if you
could take the time to complete this survey so that we can evaluate how we are doing and use the
information you provide to inform our plans for the coming year. Thank you for your time and thoughts!
1. Please help us by circling the correct answer for you:
Gender: Female Male
Age: 0-10 years 11-15 years 16-20 years 21-25 years 26-40 years 40+ years
Occupation: Student University Working Unemployed
Nationality: Ugandan Other – please state: _______________________
2. How often do you come to the library?
Daily Weekly Monthly Not often This is my first time
3. What do you do when you visit the library? (tick as many boxes as you need to)
Read novels
Read non-fiction books
Read newspapers
Do puzzles
Play games
Use internet
Printing, photocopying, laminating
Attend clubs and groups
Use text books for study
Use reading room for work or study
Other – please state: __________________________________
4. How well do the resources (books, textbooks, newspapers) of the library meet your needs?
Excellent Very good Good Somehow ok Not well
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5. How well does the space of the library meet your needs?
Excellent Very good Good Somehow ok Not well
6. How well do the services of the library meet your needs?
Excellent Very good Good Somehow ok Not well
7. What improvements would you suggest could be made to the library? Please make comments about
the resources, space, and services, as well as any other area you have thoughts on.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
8. How do you find the staff of the library?
Excellent Very good Good Somehow ok Not good
Please make a comment to support your answer:
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
9. Do you feel you have the opportunity to be involved in the planning and decision making within the
library?
Yes No
10. Please indicate your preference for how you would like to be involved in the library planning and
decision making for the community.
Become a member of the Advisory Board (an elected position)
Participate in a community consultation meeting
Offer feedback through surveys and questionnaires
Give verbal feedback and make requests to staff members during your visits to the library
Another way? Please state: ___________________________________________________
I do not wish to be involved in the planning and decision making process.
11. Do you have any further comments or advice for the library?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Thank you very much for your time!
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Library Survey
Namuwongo Community Library has now been open for almost
one year, and we would love some feedback on how you think it is going. If you
can finish this survey for us, we can use what you say to make the library better!
1. Please circle the right answer for you:
Gender: Girl Boy
Age: 0-10 years 11-15 years
Nationality: Ugandan Other – please state: ______________________
2. How often do you come to the library?
Every day Every week Every month Not much My first time
3. What do you do when you visit the library? (tick as many boxes as you need)
Read story books
Read non-fiction books
Read newspapers
Do puzzles
Play games
Use internet
Printing, photocopying, laminating
Attend clubs and groups
Use text books for study
Use reading room for work or study
Other – please state: __________________________________
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4. What do you think of the books that are available at the library?
Excellent Very good Good Somehow ok Not good
5. What do you think of the library rooms and outside area?
Excellent Very good Good Somehow ok Not good
6. What improvements could be made to make the library better?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
7. How are the staff at the library?
Excellent Very good Good Somehow ok Not good
8. Do you feel like you can give suggestions and make requests at the library?
Yes No
9. Do you have anything else to say about the library?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Thank you very much for your time!
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Appendix 3 – Demographics of Survey Responders
Gender
Age
Nationality Occupation
22%
78%
Gender - Adults/Young Adults
Female
Male57%
43%
Gender - Children
Girl
Boy
22%
44%
22%
6% 6%
Age - Adults/Young Adults
11-15years
16-20years
21-25years
26-40years
39%
52%
9%
Age - Children
0-10 years
11-15years
Not stated
83%
5% 6%
6%
Nationality - Adults/Young Adults
Ugandan
Rwandan
Kenyan
British
65% 13%
9% 13%
Nationality - Children
Ugandan
Kenyan
Indian
Not-stated67%
5%
22%
6%
Occupation - Adults/Young Adults
Student
University
Working
Unemployed
