Osu Children's Library Fund

This month marks seven years since the death of Nelson Mandela. As an organization that champions literacy, storytelling and reading, it is a fitting time to remember his words. "It is my wish that the voice of the storyteller will never die in Africa, that all the children in the world may experience the wonder of books, and that they will never lose the capacity to enlarge their earthly dwelling place with the magic of stories."

GHANA AND OCLF LIBRARIES FACE THE PANDEMIC Many friends of OCLF are asking how our libraries are managing during these uncertain times. Thankfully, active cases in Ghana are lower than in most countries. However, the President recently announced the closing of all primary schools until January so we decided to reopen our libraries with limited visitors. Municipal offices have supplied each library with soap, hand-washing buckets and thermometer guns. We have provided masks for those who cannot afford them. So far, all our dedicated staff are safe and there are lots of happy children. We will keep you posted.

GOOD NEWS FROM THE OSU CHILDREN'S LIBRARY FUND OCLF is proud to announce that Jennifer Kafui Kornu, 23, a long-time member of the Kathy Knowles Community Llibrary, received her BSC degree this summer in electrical and electronics engineering from the University of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa, Ghana. Jennifer has been a member of the library since she was 3, was always a voracious reader and later helped at different libraries during her holidays. Her future plans are to work in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Bravo Jennifer!

MORE HAPPPY RECIPIENTS OF OCLF'S LIBRARY-IN-A-BAG On Kathy Knowles' last visit to Ghana, she presented 40 Library-in-a-Bags to 40 delighted children. The gift costs $50 and a donor receives a tax receipt and a card is sent to the recipient. To date, more than 1300 bags have been given to children who help in their library. Details are available on the OCLF website www.osuchildrenslibraryfund.ca.

OSU LIBRARIES AND THE PANDEMIC Word from Ghana is that the cases resulting from the pandemic continue to rise slowly but a few of our OCLF libraries are managing to open cautiously. The Kathy Knowles Community Library (KKCL pictured below), allows only a few children at a time and always outside. The adult literacy classes continue to operate outside as well. The local authorities at KKCL have donated a large water container plus liquid soap, hand sanitizer and a thermometer gun. It is by no means perfect but works well for the time being.