A Dream Library For Communities In Crisis

Since my second home these days is my community's library, I admit to being obsessed with anything involving books! I am also fascinated by the remarkable stories of people acting to make the world a better place. So, I find the concept of building libraries in remote places around the world where people are struggling to survive very uplifting.

While I'm not sure there is one ideal library for communities in crisis, I'd like to speculate about some commonalities.

I envision a dream library as a safe haven - a place to escape harsh realities outside the library. It might even be the only reasonably permanent structure on scorched land. Local villagers would gather there freely, finding the space and its shelves filled with relevant books and materials, a symbol of encouragement for finding a better life, someday. Demand for visiting the library would be beyond anyone's expectations, because the library would be designed with and for the local villagers' specific needs and aspirations. This community library/center would provide a sense of place that is hard to describe.

Let me start to do so by mentioning a recent Washington Post article, "Black Readers are Jolted by a Chain's Demise (pgs.1 and 6, January 24, 2008), about a beloved black-owned bookstore specializing in books by African American authors closing its doors. "A bookstore closes, and suddenly there are no words," says a shocked customer. Another laments that, "this was more than a bookstore; it was community, it was culture."

Think about what this library could offer. For the first time, oppressed people may have a chance to learn to read! No one has to cite the dismal literacy rates in very poor, underdeveloped regions of the world. But, we should not underestimate how much learning to read can offer people aching for a path to change their lives.

Some people will come from cultures valuing oral traditions, so the concept of a book - let alone a library filled with many books - could be overwhelming. But, properly staffed with locals who understand the culture, villagers will be receptive to learn to read. This means that the books on the shelves will be written in the official languages of the area, and will need inviting pictures and stories covering many reading levels, starting with the most basic beginner.

Others will come with their children knowing there's a special place they can find stimulating children's books. Students will come to find books and knowledge in subject matters that match their curriculum. Others will come to find up-to-date job training manuals on potential, realistic income opportunities such as in farming/agriculture. An ideal library would support the local economy in other ways, such as purchasing books from the local book trade market. The library would also be a place to find cultural stories that the elders want to pass down through the generations. The library would also be a place to obtain helpful public health information - a place where you can ask a question and someone knowledgeable and trained can actually help you.

This vision of a dream library means the library would serve many purposes - educational, social, economic, safety, and inspirational. Certainly, libraries are all about books and reading, but for communities in crisis that have so little they can provide so much more.