DONATE A BOOK TOWARDS NAIROBI A CITY THAT READS

The City Council of Nairobi will soon launch an ambitious campaign dubbed as: NAIROBI: A CITY THAT READS, says the McMillan Chief Librarian Mrs. Violet Wanyama.

The Nairobi residents and well wishers are called upon to donate at least one book towards this vision. The Assistant Director of Social Services and Housing, Mr. Alfred Ndwara says that for any meaningful transformation to be realized in our cities and towns we need to begin with a renewed mental culture, “and this is possible if people will empower themselves with knowledge contained in books.”

The City Council of Nairobi department of social services directorate is of the idea that instead of people idling in the city they need to be spending such moments reading from the McMillan Memorial Library that is at the heart of the city Central Business District (CBD) and other city council library branches at Kaloleni, Wathaka Technical Centre, Kayole, and Eastland.

“Majority of the city residents are not aware that reading from these libraries is free of charge, except when one wants to borrow – children are charged Ksh 50 and adults Ksh 100 per year,” says Wanyama, adding researchers who will like to access the Africana section rare titles that are out of publication, are charged Ksh 200 per week.

The envisioned campaign will be anchored on the premise of two books a week. Wanyama says that, “the right improvement of our time depends our success in acquiring knowledge and mental culture.”

The Liberian says that cultivation of the intellect need not to be prevented by poverty, humble origin, or unfavorable surroundings. Only let the moments be treasured, in reading.

Ndwara is encouraging youths to make use of the 22 social centres that are spread cross the city: "We are calling well wishers and partners to come overboard to avail appropriate reading materials in these centres for our young people to acquire knowledge and mental discipline which will qualify them for almost any position of influence and usefulness," he says.

He says that this centres are free to be accessed by the youths to nurture their talents through art and games. African Tumbe Traditional Dances is one of those youth groups that are training at the centres - they are out of the country, performing in German and France.

Wanyama is of the idea that for Kenya to reverse the prevailing “wanting reading culture” they need to begin with young children. Thus they are out to roll a monthly mentorship programme where various guests from a cross the world, will have an opportunity to encourage young people to cherish reading books.

The American Ambassador, Michael Ranneberger, has toured the McMillan Memorial Library twice, coming in terms with the dire need for relevant children reading materials. “He is among those whom we are looking up to, to lend a hand of help in this programme,” says Wanyama.

The social services directorate is calling all Nairobian and those who have tested the sweetness of reading, “to brave the cold” for this vision of catapulting Nairobi, to be a city that reads. All are called to contribute at least one book, yes, offer suggestions to the social service department or drop them at McMillan Memorial Library from today.