Library Project – State of Affairs Feb 2023
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Introduction:
For a long time La Kpee UK had debated the feasibility of setting up a Library in La. The issues that held us back were:
- The logistics of putting up a library building and
- Long-term financing, namely the cost of maintaining a building, paying utility bills and recruiting and paying staff.
Various attempts to make progress on these issues failed to yield results. We decided to proceed with plans to start the Library when we received a commitment from LaDMA that they would provide accommodation for one and also pay the utility bills and staff salaries. Ms Doris Yemoh-Tetteh had brought up the issue with then Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Ms Gladys Mann-Dedey. The room they eventually made available for the purpose was in a new building in the Enobal Cluster of schools next to the old cemetery.
We went to great expense to make the room weatherproof and secure before proceeding to furnish it, equip it and supply it with books. We tiled the floor; we designed the Library furniture ourselves and got it made; we supplied the room with an air conditioner and even had to pay an electrician to provide an appropriate power supply. We provided curtains for privacy (Doris Y-T). As a goodwill gesture we had even provided an executive desk and chair for the Headteacher of La Boney Primary B, the host school (courtesy of one of our members, Sidney Ankamah).
We procured books through purchase and donations and supplied 5 computers and a multipurpose printer. We solicited for donations and received help (all the money for the IT equipment was donated). We have a maintenance contract for the computers and printer with the supplier.
LaDMA paid the Ghana Library Board to train the staff, posted to the Library under the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) programme, in some basic aspects of running a library.
It has always been our intention to give the Library internet access so that it will be able to access the vast amounts of resources available online through the computers we have already provided.
