During the month July, we recorded an average number of patronage in both day and night time at Sumbrungu Community Library (SCL)-Ghana. This is because of the rain fall. Sometimes the rain falls all day long which makes it difficult for patrons to visit the library. Some students from Bolgatanga Technical University came to the library to study. And also Hon. Rex Asanga the Executive Director of CESRUD paid visit to SCL, he encourage patrons to make good use of the library. We were able to rehabilitate the library after the fire outbreak. We have fix the burnt doors, windows, and the electrical works. Due to splashed water during the fire outbreak, we had two faulty laptops repaired and one is still on repair. The SCL wish to express their gratitude to the FAVL/CESRUD Board for their tireless support to the community library.
Furthermore, the month of August was a very busy month because we started the vacation classes. Majority of the patrons were our Reader’s Club members. They are on vacation. So, we had a lot of activities with them in the library during this month, we had group reading, quiz, individual reading, creativity/colouring, movie show and outdoor games. In the first week of August, our goal was to help the younger ones who are unable to read to learn how to read. We did a lot of writing skills and pronunciation of words. We asked them to copy the words and take it home as an assignment so that they practice at home. We also read story books with older ones who came during the first week, some of the books included; ‘Jafta’s Mother,’ ‘Peter’s wish’, ‘Cat and Dog’ and ‘Grace and family’. We taught them also moral lessons from the story books read. We discussed things like ‘obeying parents’, ‘being serious with studying’, ‘caring for each other’, ‘how to get good role model’ and ‘wishing good for others’.
On the second week of August, our library users came in their number. In turns, we tell stories and asked them to also tell a story of their choice. The Coordinator of the Community Libraries (CCLs) encourages us not to employ librarian-centered learning when teaching, having library activities or doing any work with the patrons but it should be patron-centered learning. This method will give more opportunity for the patrons to develop themselves in learning. The patrons come regularly to the library when they are involved in the library’s activities. Also, we taught the patrons how to always keep the community library clean by following the rules of the library and all the procedures of keeping the books safe for the next user.
As mentioned earlier, we experienced frequent rain showers during the third week of August but this did not interrupt our activities. We asked the patrons to write an article on what they learnt in the library during the classes. During the fourth week, we recorded high patronage during the day and low number of patronage at night. Some students of Bolgatanga Technical University comes to the library at night to read. They said our library is a very good place to study at night because it is always silent at night, they can concentrate on whatever they are reading. On the other hand, we helped patrons to read perfectly before resuming back to school, so that their various school teachers will know that the library is a serious center for their pupils. At least more than half of our regular patrons can read perfectly, which is an achievement for us. I hope our efforts on working towards the mission of the library will be achieved by our hard work.
At Sherigu Community Library (ShCL), the turnout for the month of July was good. Most patrons came to the library both day and night time. The activities were carried out accordingly. We had group reading, practicing drawing, colouring and painting, individual reading, and storytelling as well as given assistance to some patrons who needed it for their assignments. Some of the books that were collectively read were “The Lucky one”, “My Green Book”, “My Yellow Book”, “Back to School”, “Hanatu, a seamstress learn to read”, and “Crocodile bread”. The most interesting activity for the month was the individual reading. The individual reading had been a modified strategy that has been set up by the librarian to test the understanding of patrons that do come to the library to read especially story books. In the course of the individual reading, patrons are asked to pick a book of their choice and read, after which the patron is then asked to narrate the book that he or she has read.
The CCLs and the library committee members were our visitors in the course of the month and of which their aim of visits were to discuss about how to improve the maintenance and the sustainability of the community library, formation of new library committee and also for monitoring and supervision respectively. To evaluate the month of August, we had a lot of activities at ShCL. In terms of attendance it was very encouraging for the first and second week because of the ongoing end of term examination. Within those weeks, students from the nearby communities used the library. They came to have personal study time and for their revisions towards their exams. The third and the last week attendance was not all that good due to the holidays. Most of them travelled for their vacation.
The activities that were carried out in the library were the group reading, Storytelling, individual reading, Spelling of words Competitions, video show and a clean-up exercise. On the first and second week, patrons read story books like; “The Lucky One”, “Otu goes to Sea”, “Why fish live in Water”, “Kente for a King”, “All about Ama”, “Tail of the Blue Bird”, “Blue shoes and Happiness”, Tears of the Giraffe”, “Teen Princess” to mention but a few. Some of the patrons also narrated beautiful stories they read. From the third and the lasts week, we took some of the pupils through extra classes on Maths and English Grammar. Also, we told stories and also watched educative videos for children, using the librarian phone due to lack of Television or a computer at ShCL library. We also had dictations after reading the story books. On the 27/08, we did general cleaning in the library. The ShCL opens all the time because of the passion Diana, the librarians has for her job and the patrons. She always used her free time to read story books. So from 8am the children will always come and closed at 2pm. And our adult users will also use the library till 5pm. We open the evening sessions at 7pm and closed at 9pm.
At Gowrie-Kunkua Community Library (GkCL) during the month of July, thus the first week, we did painting. This distracted reading in the library due to the painting of the new tables, the new shelves and the new doors. During the second week, the library had a lot of patronage due to the exams. Patrons have been coming from far places to the library to study for their end of term exams. What took place in the library during the month were completing of puzzles, which most of the kids like playing it, we also played ludo games, the sitting bird and kick the ball. In the month we were able to also read three [3] story books entitles ‘Secrets of the sorcerer’ by Bali Neble, ‘The flying Ostrich’ by Diana Bamford and ‘Amoako and the forest’ by Deborah Cowley. All these books we read were very interesting and enjoyable. We told the stories to patrons and friends. Apart from that the librarian also had a Classroom Group Reading (CGR) at the primary school. Since we introduce the CGR with the pupils, they master reading skillds now. The books that were used were ‘Kente for a king’ by Angela Christian and ‘Amoako and the forest’ by Deborah Cowley. We also sprayed the weeds around the library. We water the trees around the library every day, evening and morning.
Some parents and the library committee members also paid their usual visit. Also our CCLs also paid a number of visit to the library for monitoring and supervision especially during the painting weeks. The major problems that GkCL faces are the ceiling and the lighting system. We hope this issue is solved once and for all. We are always up and doing, preparing hard towards the group reading and hope for the best outcome.
During the month of August, several activities were carried out. On the 20th of August, the Library Reader’s Club (LRC) carried out a lot of activities. We had games like; ludo, oware and cards. Quiz competition were also organised among the groups, each group leader had three representatives. After the quiz the winners were awarded a prize of two exercise books and one pen each, the second position had one exercise book and one pen each and the third position had one exercise book each. Furthermore, we had group reading activities in the library, books shared patrons by the librarian. They read after him and after that dictation conducted for them, to test their level of understanding and awards are given them to motivate them to read more books. It is always interesting. We again planted more trees this month around the library. They are been taking care of by the librarian. He waters them every morning and evening. On 22th of August 2022, after our games and all others the health director came to supervise his works in the clinic nearby and decided to pay a visit to the library. He educated the patrons on some disease, how to protect oneself from contructing them. Such as Covid-19, HIV/AIDS and BP.