Public Library Transforming Communities: Innovative Projects through Partnerships for Sustainable Developments

Public Library Transforming Communities: Innovative Projects through Partnerships for Sustainable Developments

Kenneth Dike State Central e- Library (KDL) Awka, Anambra state library Board, South- Eastern Nigeria, introduced wide range innovative activities and programs between 2016 -2018. Its objective was to transform the communities by creating fun, sociocultural inclusion, improving the quality of life, facilitating lifelong learning and enhancing economic empowerment through collaboration, partnerships with corporate bodies and Higher Education Institutions. KDPL as an educational and cultural institution projected on meeting the communities’ needs. This proactive stance align with IFLA WLIC’s 2019 theme ‘Dialogue for change’, and the SDGs. KDPL developed diverse unique participatory programs as described by the poster which include: (i) Diverse reading activities for attracting children/young adults to print books –‘Spelling B’, reading programs ,schools outreach from and readership promotion campaign (ii) cultural heritage space- collecting and preserving communities’ artefacts, collection of oral history research documented resources of various topics/themes from collaboration with LIS Department , Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. (iii).Fun- filled social activities for children- hosting Christmas parties featuring dance and puppet shows.(iv).Skill acquisition programmes which include maker space for making bags/hats/hand fans ,sewing, arts and crafts such as painting, collage, lettering, drawing and tie and dye of fabrics.(v).Community services featuring cancer awareness talks , visit to orphanages /prisons and advocacy meetings with President Generals of town unions. (vi)ICTs involving Internet/automated services for training users and staff. (vii). Democratization programs for creating political awareness and sensitization of members of the community such as ‘vote not fight’, ‘my vote, my power’, Anambra Budget Team (ABUT). Methodology: the research is case study. Data was collected through participant observation. Photographs and text were used. These multifaceted projects resulted in increased library’s visibility, user base and the receipt of BEST PUBLIC LIBRARY AWARD 2018, from the Nigerian Library Association.