The Open Library

I recently came across this lovely project run by Swati from US – https://pod.servicespace.org/my/projects?mid=215243

But since it requires people to login, I have extracted key information from there and included here:

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I would like to create a colorful library with an outer space access for Kids from every strata of the society. Where for a minimal membership fee or free if you can’t afford you can come read books, enjoy story time, have fun hands on projects run by volunteers. This will be a place where a child can come nurture love for reading and be part of a creative world. Would want to emphasize access to kids that have low access to books.

Children will cultivate love for reading and knowing more about the world beyond where they live. Kids from lower socioeconomic areas as well other parts of society will all come together under one roof just for the love of reading and sharing books. This will build bridge between these two parts of the society.

This will be mostly a volunteer run program. When they see the fruits of this community space and their labor of love blossom will be nothing like it. 

Once the place is build and set I will need some donations of books / funds for the books.
Will need to build a group of dedicated volunteers for this cause. As it establishes itself in this initial period we can set remote libraries in needed parts of the city.

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I really like this concept and maybe we can replicate it. Maybe start with just one, understand the challenges, improve it and then expand to more locations.

So looking for inputs from everyone. Need a location, preferably where:

• There are many lower income families and children
• Someone can offer a space for the library and the kids to read. Could be in someone’s house, backyard, garage of an office…
• We can find one or more volunteers to run this place even if for a limited number of hours per day
• Few more volunteers on an ad-hoc basis who can run events like story telling, book reading, etc. to engage the children

Please share your ideas, suggestions below as comments so everyone can add to it and expand.