Fulbright Scholar Position for Literacy Programming and Children’s Librarianship Education in Zambia, in conjunction with the Lubuto Library Project
Background: The Lubuto Library
Project
The Lubuto Library Project (LLP) is
a Washington, DC-based non-profit, incorporated in January of 2005 to
provide safe havens and opportunities for educational growth, discovery
and joy through reading and enrichment programs for sub-Saharan Africa’s
street kids and other vulnerable children by building and stocking secure,
open-access libraries hosted and staffed by local social service agencies
working with at-risk children. Lubuto Libraries fill an important gap
in services to these children by providing a bridge to schools and social
services that are beyond the reach of vast numbers of them. Each
Lubuto Library houses a first-rate collection of 4,000 books adhering
to careful guidelines established by expert children’s librarians.
The collections are assembled and classified by US adult and student
volunteers in community service work. Local-language books are added
to the collections in Africa. Library staff are trained by professional
librarians to offer enriching programs and services. In addition
to regular read-aloud and book discussion activities, Lubuto Libraries
offer programs in art, drama, storytelling, music, ‘motivational mentoring,’
health and HIV/AIDS and preservation of the environment.
The Lubuto Library Project has a regional
office in Lusaka, a registered Zambian NGO, and plans to build at least
100 Lubuto Libraries in Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda and other countries in
the area hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The first Lubuto
Library was officially opened at the Fountain of Hope Drop-In Centre
in Lusaka on 21st September 2007 by the First President of
the Republic of Zambia, Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda.
Need for Literacy Programming in
Lubuto Libraries
Dr. Rick Henning, Education Advisor,
USAID/Zambia, noted to a Lubuto representative in 2006 that the LLP
program’s sustainability might be threatened by the fact that collections
of excellent trade children’s books are virtually unknown in Zambia,
and that Zambian teachers do not read to their students. Also,
Lubuto Libraries target the most vulnerable children, many of whom do
not attend school. Thus, LLP recognizes the need to develop a literacy
program that is based on trade books and can make best use of a comprehensive
library collection and the library setting as the first step toward
formal literacy training. Such a program should be approached
with the intention to raise understanding in Zambia’s education establishment
of the need for reading aloud to children, and the value of children’s
books. This book-based literacy program must be designed to be
carried out by nonprofessional library staff and community volunteers.
Literacy experts have advised us that,
while exposure to high-quality children’s literature is essential
for developing a) knowledge of a wide range of words language structures;
b) breadth and depth of knowledge/concepts through non-fiction literature,
and c) an appreciation of both universal and specific human themes,
it is not an effective way for most children to develop equally
critical skills for learning to read (phonemic awareness, print-sound
code in English, word recognition). Lubuto Libraries should concentrate
on the unique role they can play that complements the formal educational
system. LLP and its advisors identified the need for a set of
‘lessons,’ to be produced for each of 10-12 core pieces of literature
that are highly valued in the Lubuto Library community. The objective
is to develop a rich, well-supported system for reading aloud that will
support volunteers to make the most of the existing Lubuto Library resources
for developing the kinds of competencies that require high quality interactions
with children’s literature.
In conjunction with developing this
program, and in light of the need for teacher training that extends
beyond Lubuto Libraries, we feel that the most sustainable approach
to developing and implementing this program is for its development to
be carried out by a Fulbright Scholar who would also teach the approach
– as well as teaching library services to children and adolescents
-- to education and library studies students in the University of Zambia’s
Department of Education. This approach is consistent with LLP’s
obligations under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of
Education, specifically to:
4.1 “… provide leadership
in establishing standards of good library practice, in supplying excellent
and well-balanced book collections, developing targeted services and
programmes, and constructing appropriate library buildings that are
environmentally suitable and connected to Zambian vernacular building
patterns, to meet national needs as identified by the Government of Zambia or the hosting
agencies.
4.2 The LLP will recognize and
cooperate with, other key the Government of Zambia bodies including the University of Zambia,
Copperbelt University, technical, educational and vocational colleges
thereby enhancing the network of competent accredited educational support
structures for ophans and vulnerable children.
4.3 The LLP will assist the Government of Zambia in attaining the objectives of the Millenium Development Goals. In particular, the LLP will –
(i) Work with the Government of Zambia to identify appropriate local host agencies in conjunction with its resource centres on the Zone, District or Provincial level;
(ii) Build open-access libraries that actively target ophans and vulnerable children, particularly those who cannot attend school, providing effective literacy and broad educational programs;
(iii) Collaborate with the Zambia Library Association in promoting the use of its libraries; and
(iv)
Collaborate with the Government of Zambia in matters pertaining to the promotion of literacy
and other library services in Zambia.”
Fulbright
Grant to support a Lubuto Literacy Fellow
The Lubuto Project is encouraging qualified
library professionals to apply for this Fulbright position to develop
the literacy program and to teach children’s literature and library
services to children at the University of Zambia, to both education
and library studies students.
While this position is with the University of Zambia, via the Fulbright Program, the candidate is expected to be working cooperatively with and in support of the Lubuto Library Project.
Qualified candidates who are interested
in the position are encouraged to discuss their application with Jane
Meyers, president of the Lubuto Project. Please contact her
via webmail@lubuto.org.
The preferred candidate will have a
Ph.D. in a library-related field and expertise in teaching library and
information science. As Fulbright award
#9109,
the position will include a salary and living
stipend for the candidate and his/her family for one year.
Anyone interested in applying should take the following steps:
1. Review eligibility requirements for the Fulbright Scholar program at: http://www.cies.org/us_scholars/us_awards/Eligibility.htm
2. Contact Dr. A. Ng’and, Registrar,
at the University of Zambia's Registrar's office (registrar@admin.unza.zm)
to request a letter
of invitation in application
for the position.
Note: The opening is for the 2010-2011 academic year. Applications will not be accepted until early March 2009.
