Reopening the Lending Library

In June of 2008 HAFF created a small library of mostly English books, that was a first for the community around us because it was a lending library. Invited members could actually take books to their own homes and be trusted to return them. The library is mostly a collection of English books from missionary homes and the HAFF dormitory porch where American visitors have often left devotional books and Bible studies.

This spring we were able to reopen the small HAFF lending library, which had been closed since November of 2008 when the volunteer librarian left for Santo Domingo. This year’s library committee is composed of 3 graduates from IPB and missionary Carla Wilson. At our member intake meeting of new 12th and 13th grade students at HAFF we thought we had covered everything, but we’ve since realized that putting books back with the spines showing is something many students didn’t realize they should do.

The library also contains an entire bookcase of agricultural books in French, Kreyòl, Spanish and English on a variety of subjects from husbandry of various animals, to government monographs on fish-raising, to raising fruit and vegetables. Many of the sources were left by our former partner at HAFF, ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization). (The brown leaf on the table is tobacco which keeps away the many page-eating insects we have here in the tropics.)

These agricultural books have been very helpful for university students who needed to write papers over the holidays. They say that we have books in Kreyòl and French not found at their university. One young woman who has not been able to go to school since she graduated was excited by these resources because she has always desired to be an agriculturalist but has never had much hope of finding money to continue her education.

This young woman was studying to become a teacher in Port au Prince when the earthquake destroyed her school. She does not know when they will start up again or if she can find money to return. With these library resources local students can improve their English, maintain their study habits, and keep their dreams alive as they wait to see what doors God opens up in their futures.