General News Release

The African Library Project
Helps Americans To Start Libraries in Africa

With 1000 books, $500, and a little elbow grease, anyone can build a library in Africa. That is the bold promise of the African Library Project.

ALP organizes book drives in the US and partners with African communities to create small libraries in African schools and villages. The libraries consist of gently used books collected through book drives in the United States. The effect is profound:  ALP’s libraries transform communities and change the lives of children.

ALP provides guidance for the book drives, but it’s hundreds of children and adult volunteers here in the United States that make them happen. Across the US, volunteers organize book drives through local schools and community organizations.  They collect 1000 books and raise $500 for the cost of shipping the books to Africa to establish a small library.  Some book drives are so successful that several libraries can be established from a single effort.  ALP pairs each book drive with a specific African community, so book donors know they are making a real difference for other children.  

In Africa, ALP works with reliable partner organizations to set up the libraries in schools and villages, train the librarians, and develop simple procedures for the library. Each village is responsible for its library and reports back to ALP on its progress using clear metrics. ALP also sponsors conferences in Africa for local librarians to gather, share, and learn from each other how to better manage their libraries.

In its first five years, the African Library Project has established well over 500 libraries.  Over 600,000 books have made the journey from U.S. bookshelves across an ocean to small villages in Africa.

ALP was started in 2005 when founder Chris Bradshaw, on a trip to Africa with her family, visited a village and met school children who had no books. She made an offer to the village leaders: If they built and staffed the library, she would send enough books for a small library. ALP expanded rapidly as more volunteers offered to run book drives.  Now, five years and 600,000 books later, ALP has given the gift of reading to about half a million children in eight countries. To learn how to start your own library in Africa, visit www.africanlibraryproject.org.