Book Aid International has been working in Tanzania since 1963, distributing books in mainland Tanzania through the Tanzania Library Services Board (TLSB), and on Zanzibar and Pemba, the autonomous islands off the coast, through Zanzibar Library Services (ZLS). Both partners distribute our books to their network of public libraries, as well as to universities, development organisations, schools and other partners.
ZLS and TLSB both prioritise children’s facilities, developing attractive and comfortable children’s reading areas and encouraging younger children to read for pleasure. For example the TLSB National Central Library in Dar es Salaam has a multimedia resource centre for children, where children can enjoy activities such as storytelling and reading competitions. Book Aid International and TLSB are working together to encourage children to read by developing bright, vibrant children’s book corners in twelve regional libraries, receiving over 20,000 donated books from Book Aid International and locally purchased books, including Swahili titles. Children benefit from new furniture, toys and games, and librarians are enthusiastic about the training they receive in child-friendly services. Initially funded by the Vitol Charitable Foundation, the project has been extended thanks to funding from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
Zanzibar Library Services have recently moved to a new building in Zanzibar Town, with a whole new wing for children’s books, and light and spacious carpeted areas for reading. We are working with ZLS to expand a successful book box scheme for primary schools. This project, funded by both the Blue Door Foundation and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, is supplying sturdy boxes filled with books in English and Swahili to 20 primary schools in the North A District of Zanzibar, and to 13 primary schools in the Kagera region of mainland Tanzania. Reading mats are also being provided, and teachers and student teachers at the schools are being trained in using books in the classroom so they become confident in helping children to enjoy books and develop the literacy skills they need for successful learning.
Thanks to a grant from the States of Jersey Overseas Aid Commission three community libraries in Tanzania will now be set up and stocked with books. The libraries will be in Turiani, Mkuranga and Rufuji. We are working with the Children’s Book Project in Tanzania to support these, and to support a Readership programme in nearly 200 schools with books and teacher training.
Book Aid International also provides books to eight universities in Tanzania, including the University of Dar es Salaam, the Open University of Tanzniza (OUT), and the State University of Zanzibar. With funds from the Greendale Foundation, we are sending books to support the extension of OUT’s library service to its students around the country. The mini-libraries project will see a starter collection of books provided to seven satellite campuses of OUT to provide better resources for the students in these areas. We also send a great number of higher education and advanced texts to specialist institutions such as the Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE),the Muhilbili Institute of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), and the College of African Wildlife Management. We support a number of the regional Clinical Officers’ Training Centres throughout the country, developing their libraries with boxes of excellent new books on medicine, health and nursing.
We are continuing to expand our support to development organisations through our Books for Development programme. We have recently added several new non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to our list of Books for Development recipients, ensuring that the latest books on human rights, poverty and development are reaching policy makers, programme staff, and lobbyists of local NGOs throughout Tanzania.
