Monthly Mobile Library for Albanian Children

Winter has arrived in Tropoje District and that means cold weather and the snow! The New Year has come and gone and the children are now back at school. For many of them this means walking through the snow as the mountain roads and tracks are not cleared. Once they arrive at school many of the classes are not heated and there is a lack of electricity and light. The children sit in their coats trying to keep warm and listen to the teacher’s lesson. 

Despite the difficult weather conditions, blocked roads and snow drifts the Mobile Library maintains its regular routine of visiting the villages, hamlets and children across the mountainous district. Before the holidays, Ilir had given the children some sketches of famous characters that children are familiar with. Barbie, Goku, Naruto, Hello Kitty, Tom and Jerry, Batman and Super Man are some of the children’s favourites. These simple sketches give the children hours of fun colouring them in while they spend time at home.

The children want to tell Ilir about their holidays, the celebrations to welcome in the New Year and also tell him about the books they have read. Those who have enjoyed the book they read, recite and describe some of the parts they liked best. Children being able to remember and describe the parts of a book is really great to hear as many children do not comprehend what they have read. These children are developing good and effective reading skills.

Neither the cold weather nor the snow prevented children walking from their homes and coming to the Mobile Library. In the villages of Kovac, Kerrnaje, Pac, Tropoje and Lekbibaj we had some new children who had never visited the library before. So in the last two months we have had nine new registrations of children between the ages of 8 and 10 years old. The interest and the need for the monthly services of the Mobile Library is not diminishing and is as necessary as it was two years ago.

As the wintry weather subsides the children will begin to look for more activities that they can do outside, so apart from a new supply of books we will also be buying some footballs, skipping ropes, basket balls and jigsaw puzzles. Can you help us to update and renew our supplies for the children of Tropoje District?

Dear Supporters,

With the start of the new school year, more children are finding out about the Mobile Library and look forward to a new book to read and games to play every month.

During the three month summer break Ilir had an assistant helping him with the monthly library visits and games in the villages. Endrit is eighteen and attends the high school in the main town of Bajram Curri. He decided that he would like to see more of the district in which he lives and help Ilir at the same time. Although Endrit has lived all his life in Tropoje he was surprised to see how far the library travels and how distant many of the houses are to a road or even a village. He spoke with the children who came to borrow a book and learnt more about their lives up in the mountains. Endrit was a great assistant and would set up the games and activities whilst Ilir helped the other children to choose new books. Now Endrit is back at school and has much to tell his friends about how he spent his summer holidays.

“I saw many small places that I did not know existed whilst working on the Mobile Library. I can see why the library is so important to so many children.” Endrit.

A stocktake of the library resources has shown that many of the books for young children need replacing, so October will see us visiting the publishing houses to see what new titles and stories they have. For older children and for the teachers new books are also needed to assist them in their lessons.

Also in October, the new children who have come to school for the first time will be registered as users of the library. All children need their parent or guardian’s signature and agreement to them becoming library members. Although a simple document it ensures that parents take an interest in their children’s reading and also ensures that all the books are returned in good condition.

A busy month for all of us to rejuvenate the books and games and ensure that every child who visits the Mobile Library can find a book that he or she wants to read and enjoy. Your support in ensuring the shelves are full of interesting books is very much appreciated by every child in Tropoje!

All donations on Wednesday 7th October will help us to achieve our aim of more books for the children. Donations will be matched by YOUTH SPARK, so please help us to double the number of books we can buy!