First Impressions as a Librarian

by Mary Akayini

Since Kasadwini Atenaeɛ was opened, there have been a lot of happenings. Asisiriwa is a farming community in the southern part of Ghana where English is hardly spoken and reading is hardly a hobby. But the centre has so far created an avenue for the kids – who had little interest in reading – to build up their interest.

Saturdays are always either for farming or funerals if there are any, but since it’s a rainy season and time for sowing crops, parents go along with their children to farm on Saturdays very early in the morning. But those kids who have fallen in love with watching pictures, reading, and listening to stories from me will do their work on the farm with haste and run straight back to the library.

You can imagine the dirt on their hands and how dirty the water becomes when they come in and wash their hands. I have to change the water three to four times a day. Some rush back just to watch pictures since they cannot read, and those who can read a little are being helped with the pronunciation and explanation of some difficult words.

It’s worth admiring sometimes when the kids who cannot read still run back to the library from the farm. And its always fun when they change books just to flip through the pages, watching pictures and smiling to themselves. When you ask “Have you finished reading the book you just put back?” they will say “yes” boldly, but deep down they know they just viewed pictures.

I have started guiding those kids how to pronounce words and some are doing really great! One thing I have learnt from these kids is determination. No matter the situation you find yourself in, with determination, you can forge ahead and achieve your aim. Going to the farm never stops them from coming to the centre, and not knowing how to read has not stopped them from coming.

Some adults also come around to learn from the kids how to play Scrabble, and I am always glad when they come because even adults are making good use of the library. Kasadwini Atenaeɛ has been really helpful to the people of Asisiriwa and its environs. Children and even adults from the other villages such as Mim and Brodekwano come to read, listen to stories, fix puzzles, and play Scrabble. Anytime they fix the puzzle, they come around to show it to me and ask me to take a photograph of it, but unfortunately my phone’s camera is very bad so I am not able to snap it. But they are always happy and I become happy too.

Our only problem now is desks to sit at and a container to store drinking water. Some of the kids would have to run home to drink water and come back, which is not helpful. Getting a container to store water for drinking will be helpful.

Kasadwini Atenaeɛ is a great asset, and the people are making very good use of it!