Ulundi Book Drive!!On Thursday December 14, 2006, Thula Hlongwane, Durban Consulate Information Resource Center Director and I drove for 3 ½ hours up to the Nondweni Library near Nqutu, KwaZulu Natal for a library survey. While at the library I delivered 500 books.
Nondweni library has 10,000 registered subscribers, 25,000 homes are in the immediate area of the library. The library serves 1,000,000 people. The library’s total annual book budget is R2000 or about $300. The library relies on temporary book loans from other libraries to stock its shelves.
These young boys eagerly grabbed up the books and started reading them when we sat them out for a picture. The smiles say it all. When asked if he wanted to be President of South Africa, the little guy in front with the million dollar smile said “No, an Architect”. The gentleman with the tie is Thula Hlongwane from the U.S. Consulate.
On this trip, I learned that schools in Zululand do not have libraries. There is no money for books in school budgets. Schools are very poor in Zululand.
This is Hlubi High School, a typical Zululand school.
During the drive up and back, Thula and I discussed future book distribution. We have decided to be a bit more selective. There is plenty of need, but some have greater need. In the Durban area the city provides an infrastructure that includes libraries. So although a school may be poor and in need, the children can still get access. The kids in Zululand don’t have that luxury.
From now on we are going to focus getting books to the rural areas. We are also going to seek out orphanages and children’s AID’s hospitals, as those kids can’t get out.
To date I have received 1,700 books. I have delivered 1,300 books to needy libraries in KwaZulu Natal. Another delivery is planned for Christmas morning at Isandlwana School.
Still another delivery is planned to an Orphanage in the Durban area. After these deliveries I will be out of books. We still have another Zululand public library to get to.
I need more books!!
Here is how you can help out. Send me books. I will get them to the libraries in need. These could be new children’s books but good clean used book would be just as good. Books should not be torn or covered in crayon marks etc. Good books only!
Where to get books? Stop by thrift stores and ask for them, check yard sales and look in your own kids’ room.
Ed Fitler has sent over 700 books himself. He sent me this email the other day:
“On Friday my wife and I were visiting the Life Changing Ministries Thrift Store to find and purchase item we really don’t need. The manager Keith approached me and asked if we still wanted children books for Africa. Of course, I said sure. He pointed to the back of his rather large store to the children’s book section and told me to take whatever I wanted for free.
My wife & I spent probably an hour selecting books we thought were appropriate to send over. We were able to completely fill up two large shopping carts of books and probably over 100lbs in total. When I have a chance sometime soon, probably after the first of the year, I will pack some of them up and send them along to you.”
Check the Thrift stores. Tell the management what you need the books for, maybe you will get lucky also.
You can also help by passing this message on to your friends and family and ask them to send books, and oh yeah, and ask them to pass this message along.
How to send the books? Book rate! Boxes can weigh no more than 50 pounds. 50 pounds of books at book rate from West coast to East coast is less that $20.
Send the books to me at:
I will continue to get them to the kids!!!
