Hi everyone,
I'm in the process of building a small community library for children in a rural village located in a very poor part of the India. The infrastructure (building, electricity, fans, lights) is already taken care of, and now I have around $20,000 USD to invest purely in books and reading materials.
The kids who will be using this library come from very diverse and challenging backgrounds:
- Some have never been to school.
- Some have been to school, but never had access to actual books outside of textbooks.
- Some only know Hindi, and wouldn’t benefit from English books (at least initially).
- Some might know or be curious about English, and we’d like to cater to that curiosity too.
- Some who just need a place to study in peace.
Currently, few kids commute 10 miles to visit a library in a nearby town—just to sit in a peaceful place with fans and lights and a few books. That shows you how motivated they are to read and learn.
So, here’s where I need your help:
What kinds of books or genres should I include? I’m trying to create a diverse and accessible collection that can ignite curiosity, improve literacy, and entertain at the same time.
I'd love to hear from librarians, educators, book lovers, or anyone who's done something similar—what would you suggest including?
Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.
by dadiamma