Rotary Club of Sedona Joins International Library Project

As an Imagination Library affiliate the Club gifts new, age-appropriate books monthly to every child under five years old in Sedona and Village of Oak Creek.To participate the child's parent or guardian merely needs to sign their child up for this free literacy programRecently the Club extended its work to support literacy projects into central Mexico.  The Rotary Club of Sedona has agreed to become an international partner with the Boca del Rio Costa de Oro Rotary Club in a project to organize and promote school libraries in the municipalities neighboring Veracruz, Mexico.

 

The Veracruz initiative began with a needs assessment by the Mexican club.  The Costa de Oro Club found over 20 local school libraries that were lacking in a number of fundamental ways.  Even beyond the lack of books, they found that books that are available are not catalogued for accessibility and are often on shelves out of reach of most children.   The Club found that when children were able to find a book to read, lighting, ventilation and quiet reading spaces were often not available.

 

Following their extensive study the Costa de Oro Club proposed a comprehensive solution for the 20 Veracurz area libraries.  They proposed expanded and accessible library materials for the school libraries and environments conducive to research and learning.  They backed this up with a plan for leadership and training of library staffs.  Priorities for the project will be to provide a wider range of books, install adequate and appropriate shelving, install a desk top computer in each facility with a bar code scanner and cataloging system.  The project will also provide for lighting, ventilation, chairs and tables for the children.

 

The Boca del Rio Costa Oro Rotary Club has selected the Director of Library Services Unit of the Veracruzana University as Project Leader.  School library personnel and volunteers will be trained at the University as part of the project.

 

The Costa de Oro Rotary project represents one of hundreds of Rotary International projects in which Rotary clubs from different countries work together to solve problems around the world.  In this case the Rotary Club of Sedona’s District leadership recognized the perfect fit between the Veracruz library project and the pre-school literacy work of the Rotary Club of Sedona.  When the Sedona Rotary club learned of the project its International Committee leapt at the chance to help.  The Club agreed to help fund the program and become the international partner for the project.  In so doing the Club secured matching funds from Rotary District, International and World funds to support the Costa de Oro Rotary Club.

 

Dick Youngberg, Rotary Club of Sedona International Chair reflected on the value of this program.  “This was a perfect fit for The Rotary Club of Sedona.  Our Club has worked hard to gift all the pre-school children in Sedona their own personal library of age-appropriate books.  The Imagination Library is helping children locally to get excited about learning and get prepared for kindergarten.  The Veracruz Project is a program that will help school age children explore the wonders of reading in the towns around Veracruz.  We’re excited about working with Rotarians from Mexico and helping children in both our countries reach their full.  Here are the before and after photos: