| Recession hits the creation of young researchers in Malindi |
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Malindi’s largest research library, with more than 6000 books, is reporting a stark gap in new readers, following the suspension two years’ ago of the holiday arts program built to establish the library as a ‘habit’ for many of the town’s younger generation. Set inside the Malindi Museum, Webb library was started in 2004 as a research library with funds donated by the Webb’s family, who worked for the National Museums of Kenya.
The library, which started off with a carton of just 80 books, has since grown to hold more than 6000 books, suitable for both kids and adults. Most of the books are for academic support, and include research books and journals; and although the library sometimes receives donations of fictional books, it sells them and buys books that support academic work, ‘because the library was meant to be a research facility.’ The movies shown at the library are also educative, and include movies on HIV/AIDS and historical movies such as the Making of a Nation. In its first years, the library ran an arts program every school holiday with activities that included reading, drama and poetry, and was free, for kids aged 6-18years. The majority of the youths who joined still come to the library every day of the week, says the museum. But the program, which was started in 2005, has stalled for the last two years, with kids now just reading and watching educational movies when they visit the library. Previously, corporates including FORD and Kuona Trust helped sponsor the program. The library can hold up to 46 readers in the reading area, and also has a TV area, where some can watch movies while the others read. Borrowing is however not allowed. Doris, the librarian says they previously used to lend out books, but most of them would get lost and so they stopped. To draw people to the facilities at the library, the library initially held outreach programs in schools. This and the art program paid off, with a high percentage of those now using the library being those who attended the holiday art program, most of whom are now between class seven and high school, and some even in colleges. Doris says that it helped nurture a reading culture and ‘the habit is so into them’ that they still keep coming even without program. People still inquire about the program too, but without any funding, the library cannot afford to run it, and so now only offers kids access to books and movies. The Webb library is open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5.30pm and is free to all. Written by Rose for African Laughter |
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