Libraries
Arivina Mane - Library Program
The first step in improving learning levels of children is giving them an opportunity to read. Most communities and villages in India do not have access to a library. ILP seeks to establish a library in the slum communities of Bangalore. The initial two libraries proposed here will act as a model to scale up the program.
The Library program is explained in the following sections.
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The First All India Status of Education Report has highlighted that 36% of children in elementary school cannot read a para. Access to schooling is not enough, quality of learning is also important. Proficiency in subjects is linked with language reading and comprehension levels. These will improve only when children have an opportunity to read. Children in most villages and slum communities do not have access to libraries with good books.
- To provide a community library in the slums of Bangalore so that women and children in the community have access to good books
- To make the library attractive to children by conducting activities every fortnight
- To provide volunteering opportunities for corporate sector volunteers as well as college students through these activities
- To provide computer literacy to the children
- To provide a space for children children's activities and do their homework every evening
The library will also be used by the neo-literate women in the area and will act as a resource center for information on the latest government schemes. The libraries will be housed in community centres which will provided by the community rent free. This will ensure community ownership and sustainability.
ILP will strive to create a child-friendly learning environment, complete with as many as 500 age-appropriate Kannada and English children's books, magazines, posters and puzzles. Fortnightly activities will be carried out to attract children to the libraries. These activities will range from: story telling, book reading, crafts such as origami, mask making, spoken English sessions etc. The intention is to make it 'fun' for the children to visit the library. We hope that the Libraries will also grow into a space for children's activities.
ILP will provide training on proper library implementation with three years of support, which includes the provision of additional children's books and further training for staff.
ILP will also try to acquire a computer for each of these libraries. Multi-media CDs with educational software will be loaded on these computers. Access to the computers will be used as an incentive to get children to read.
Corporate and college volunteers will be engaged in the fortnightly activities at the libraries. Corporate volunteers could train the Computer teacher as well as the librarian on the use of the software and computer basics.
Measuring usage and impact
ILP will develop metrics to measure usage of the libraries.
The metrics could include:
a) Number of members: Girls, Boys, Women, Men
b) Number of books issued out
c) Number of books read (at the centre)
d) Type of books which are issued out (A book-usage matrix)
e) Activities conducted in the centre: Attendance during the activity
f) Reading Level Measurement: Before and after one year