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Meet our three librarians at Sapana Library

Meet our three librarians at Sapana Library

Written on . Posted in Nepal, Storytime.

Today we would like to introduce you to our dear and valued librarians. During our time in Nepal, we were able to get to know them as villagers who all live and grew up in Khoramukh and as applicants for the library staff positions. After a selection process and several days of trial work, we finally decided on Pabrita, Jyoti and Rajesh based on their skills, commitment and willingness.

What we would like to mention here is that we deliberately wanted to employ people from the village, even if this meant a longer training period and more patience for us due to less education than in the city. Giving people from the village a chance first is very important to us.

We have entrusted them with the task of looking after the children and visitors to our library, as well as managing the library on site. Thanks to the skills and hard work of these young employees, it is possible for the day-to-day running of the library to function well.

All library staff are paid by Sapana. Two of the employees share a 100% workload as they both have young children. This means that they can still work and have the opportunity to earn their own money.

Roles and Responsibilities

The library staff’s tasks include maintaining the books and the entire collection, cleaning the premises, ordering, registering and shelving new books and lending them to library guests. In addition, monthly workshops are offered, which are organized and supervised by the librarians. We are very proud to tell you a little more about these three today.

Meet our librarians at Sapana Library

Pabitra Sunar

Age: 26
Workload: 50%
Children: one little boy
Professional experience: Sewing teacher for two years, teacher at Lwang School

What I like about working in the library:
I love the relaxing atmosphere in the library and it’s a great place to meet my friends.

What do I like to do in my free time?
In my spare time I like to cook new recipes, look after my son and watch TV.

What is my favorite book and why?
My favorite book is “Ejoriya” by Subin Bhattarai because it describes a captivating story and beautiful characters. It deals with love, hate and conflict of the family members in the story. Since the story is set in Nepal, I have a special connection to it.

I think the library brings us:
Sapana Library brings us joy and excitement as well as welcome changes in our lives.

What is my dream?
My dream is to impart and share knowledge and education and to work in the library in the long term.

One famous person I would like to meet in my life is:
If I had to choose, it would be great to meet Michelle Obama. She is such an inspiring and empowering personality and I would love to hear her insights and wisdom first hand.

Something special about me is:
I am very good at teaching children and have a comfortable way of expressing myself. I am good at presenting the knowledge from books in a way that is easy for children to understand.

What else I would like to say is:
I think libraries are magical places where you can immerse yourself in different worlds through books. They offer a treasure trove of knowledge, inspiration and a sense of community.

Jyoti Devkota

Age: 27
Workload: 50%
Children: Proud mother of a little girl and a boy
Work experience: Sewing teacher for two years, teacher for six months, working in my own restaurant

What I like about working in the library:
The library is a paradise for me to escape into the world of books.

What do I like to do in my free time?
In my free time, I like to learn something new and play with my children, watch YouTube videos and listen to audio books.

What is my favorite book and why?
My favorite book is “Yogmaya”. It is a historical book by Neelam Karki. This novel gives a comprehensive understanding of the women’s rights movement in Nepal.

I think the library brings us:
It brings us happiness and quenches our thirst for knowledge.

What is my dream?
My dream is to set children on the right path and help them to read books.

One famous person I would like to meet in my life is:
Haribansha Acharya from Nepal. He teaches us that being sad does not mean giving up. Flowers can bloom even if they grow from stones. You should learn to spread happiness in the outside world.

There is something special about me:
I believe in the joy of continuous learning and in sharing our knowledge!

What else I would like to say is:
The innocence of children has a special place in my heart.

Rajesh Gurung

Age: 24
Workload: 100%
Children: none
Work experience: Teacher for six months, tourist tour manager for three years and photographer for five years

What I like about working at the library:
Sapana Library is a very peaceful place where I can discover new things and do research on all kinds of topics.

What do I like to do in my free time?
In my free time, I like to research about my interests, such as nature, wildlife and photography.

What is my favorite book and why?
It is “Usle Diyeko umer” (NEPALI) by Buddhi Sagar because it contains many stories where the author has learned a lot and teaches us a lot about daily life and the mistakes we have made in our lives.

I think the library brings us:
The library encourages the reading habit and brings new wind and three jobs to our village.

What is my dream?
My dream is to become a successful person.

One famous person I would like to meet in my life is:
This is Nims Dai from Nepal. He is a famous Nepalese mountaineer, known from the movie “14 Peaks – Nothing is Impossible”. He teaches us to never give up in life.

There is something special about me:
I can live in the same place for a long time without getting the feeling that I’m getting bored.

Another thing I would like to say is:
Don’t hesitate to learn new things in life, and NEVER give up!

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The library's current splendor: A glimpse of its diversity and dynamism

The library’s current splendor: A glimpse of its diversity and dynamism

Written on . Posted in Nepal, Process, Storytime.

We must truly say, the library has become even more beautiful than we imagined. Honestly, it wasn’t an easy task for us Swiss people, who like to organize things in a structured manner, to make progress in Nepal. Sometimes we heard the advice, “Relax, relax, it will work out. Here things work differently.” But they were right, and the effort has definitely paid off.

The library today

Inside the library, there are a whopping 1,400 books. Approximately 1,000 of them are in English, and 400 are in Nepali. Particularly, the Nepali books are popular, so this collection is constantly expanding, and book requests are considered. Our team member Jasmina took on the challenging task of categorizing all 1,400 books, which sometimes proved not to be so simple. Late into the evenings, we individually stamped the books, affixed them with the corresponding category labels, and arranged them.

We observed that existing Nepali libraries often go unvisited because nobody really knows what books are available and where to find them. We wanted to do things differently! The categories range is very diverse and goes from agriculture, guides, children’s and youth books, novels, biographies, health, religion, general knowledge to natural sciences such as chemistry, mathematics, English, physics, and nature, as well as community development.

Additionally, the library is equipped with a color printer, Wi-Fi, two toilets, and 10 laptops. To ensure the smooth operation of the library, regular exciting events, expansion of the book collection, and proper maintenance, we have hired three librarians. They will be introduced in more detail in a separate blog post.

Amazing transformations: Before-After pictures that inspire

Joyful activities in the children’s area

Not only us but also the children of the village particularly enjoy the children’s area. Many of them even diligently helped with painting. Together with various artistically talented volunteers, we painted the walls with many cute figures; from ladybugs to butterflies, ants, snails, spiders, and snakes, the little creatures on the walls abound. Painting the walls was a multi-day process, accompanied by good music, although not always good singing. At the same time, we sawed, sanded, and painted small wall bookshelves.

The toys, from puzzles to Uno to plush toys, were mostly donated here in Switzerland and transported to Nepal along with the books.

As soon as school is out at 4 p.m., the children flock to the library, eagerly securing a spot in the children’s area. It’s a wonderful sight; some eagerly solve a puzzle, others write their names on a board, while in another corner, children’s books are being looked at, and there’s cheerful chatter. After a few days, however, we had to divide the children into groups to keep track, as it got quite loud and chaotic.

We are delighted that even after these three months, the library has remained the first stop for children after school, where sometimes homework is diligently done before playing or reading.

Before-After: Children’s area makeover unveiled

What we couldn’t implement

Originally, a computer area was also planned, which was to be equipped with the ten laptops. Since the designated area was being used by another organization for computer courses during our stay, we couldn’t implement this plan yet. The courses have now ended, and the space behind the bookshelves is currently being used as a workshop area. In the meantime, the laptops can still be used until we officially open the computer room.

Since people aged 40-50 in the village of Khoramukh and surrounding areas cannot read or write, we wanted to create a small audio area for their integration. However, since surveys among the respective residents showed little interest in this, we left it as it is.

The next steps

To further promote visitor numbers, book lending and reading habits, the library committee is working together with schools to establish reading clubs. The goal is for schools to visit the library at least once a week during school hours and be motivated to read.

Monthly, exciting, free workshops for residents continue to take place in the library. More on this soon.

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Colourful October 2023: Jacqueline's perspective on our progress

Colourful October 2023: Jacqueline’s perspective on our progress

Written on . Posted in Nepal, Process, Storytime.

How it all began for me

Just over two years ago, our founder Fernanda and I were at the Vitaparcour in Embrach when she told me about her dream of opening a library in Nepal. Even then, I thought it was a great idea and wanted to be a part of it. I love travelling, getting to know new countries and cultures and knowing that you can do something good for the local population at the same time, I thought it was a great idea.

A short time later, we had our first meeting in Fernanda’s living room, where she showed the team her ideas and the work to be done. Everyone joined in the discussion and soon we were talking about wall colours, decorations and much more. Topics that were still a long way off, as there was still so much to do before they could decide on colours or decorations. This euphoria and attitude fascinated me and never let go.

Each of us was aware that there was a lot of work ahead of us, but everyone was willing to put in the work to realise the project.

A look behind the scenes of our library work in Khoramukh

When I sat on the plane on my way to Kathmandu or Pokhara in Nepal, I had no idea what was in store for me. It was my first visit to Nepal and my knowledge of the culture was superficial. I had two weeks ahead of me to make my contribution on the ground and see for myself what our work had achieved over the past two years. I was very excited and curious about what to expect.

Our accommodation was in Pokhara. The library is in Khoramukh, a village about 45 minutes away by scooter. The scooter ride alone was both an experience and an adventure. The roads, if you can even call them that, were an experience in themselves. In Nepal, they alternated between concrete sections and extremely challenging passages. Numerous stones, potholes, dusty and muddy sections required skilful driving and constant swerving. Crossing rivers by scooter was still the easiest part. The fact that Nepal drives on the left required additional concentration.

The young Nepalese speak relatively good English, so communication was easy. The older generation, on the other hand, spoke little to no English, so we had to make do with gestures and facial expressions. At the beginning, they were rather reserved and observed the events from a distance. But over time, it became clear that the older locals were also becoming more open and curious. They regularly came to the library to see what we were doing there.

I was fascinated by how the people in the village go about their everyday lives. In contrast to our lifestyle, everything is simpler there. One example of this is how they paint the walls in the library. Paint rollers are used in both Switzerland and Nepal. The difference lies in the material of the roller – here it is made of plastic, in Nepal it is made of bamboo, which is cut right next to the library. These small differences show how different and yet similar we all are.

From primer to a blaze of colour: the transformation of our room during the stay

During the two-week stay, we first had to prime all the walls twice and then apply at least two coats of paint to ensure that the colour would adhere well. It was a time-consuming and energy-sapping task that required perseverance. The walls now shine in vibrant colours and the room is slowly taking shape.

The time had finally come and I was particularly looking forward to this part: we were able to start decoratively painting the walls. The children’s area is now almost unrecognisable. A dark room has been transformed into a beautiful place that radiates happiness and joy.

Community action

Whilst we were busy designing the interior of the library, toilets were being built behind the building. The library is located on a small but steep hill. The materials, including lots of stones and cement, had to be painstakingly transported from the bottom to the top. It was impressive to see how many villagers came together to help us carry the heavy sacks and stones up the hill. Big or small, young or old, everyone lent a hand. The techniques used were very interesting and impressive. Some carried the loads by hand, others used baskets on their backs, which were fastened over their heads with a carrying strap. This allowed the weight to be evenly distributed.

I had a fascinating time in Nepal, characterised by the natural beauty of the country and the impressive commitment of many people to this library. It filled me with joy to see how many individuals were part of this project and I am proud to be a part of it myself. In the coming weeks, more team members will be travelling to Nepal to offer their help and ensure that we can successfully complete the project.

It is a great pleasure and satisfaction to see the development and progress of our project. We can’t wait to open the doors to the community. This project is not just a library, but a place of knowledge, education and community.

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Unusual donations: Exciting books we received

Written on . Posted in Books, Storytime.

Discover the stories behind these extraordinary books

In order to achieve our goal of opening a sustainable library with a children’s section in Nepal, we need a multitude of books. Thanks to the support of numerous individuals from our association, and the generous contributions from various libraries as well as many donors, we have already collected over 800 English books in Switzerland. Among them, there are some extremely interesting copies that we would like to introduce today.

Generous donation and diligent preparations

A kind lady entrusted us with her husband’s National Geographic collection. We are very grateful. The specimens will surely inspire many, as who doesn’t enjoy looking at distant places and dreaming of exploring them?

For an accurate inventory and to categorize the various subject areas in our collection, we have recorded all over 800 books in our database. The process of recording author, title, and publication year took some time. Subsequently, all the books were carefully prepared in banana boxes for transport.

Enthusiasm in book form

Among these books were extremely amusing, curious, and fascinating works from various categories that left us in awe and with smiles on our faces. We would like to introduce our favorites from each category here.

Biography: My Spin on Cricket by Richie Benaud

This book contains anecdotes, memories, and reflections of Australian cricketer Richie Benaud, providing insights into his experiences and observations from the world of cricket. It was published in the year 2005.

Fiction / Literature: The Road to Yesterday by L.M. Montgomery

This book presents a collection of short stories by the Canadian writer L.M. Montgomery. It takes us on a journey into the everyday joys and challenges of rural life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The book was first published in 1974.

Sport: How to Hula by Patricia Lei Anderson Murray

The title already reveals it: This book is dedicated to the art of Hawaiian Hula dance. It provides instructions for various dances, offers cultural insights, and tells stories about this dance. We can only wonder about the journey this book has already taken. Was it possibly acquired in Hawaii and brought to Europe? Now it appears to be on its way to Nepal. We may never know, but the thought is exciting.

Classical Literature: Little Women by Louisa M. Alcott

This book was first published in 1868 and has since become a timeless classic. It tells the story of the four sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March and their coming of age in New England during the Civil War. The book explores themes of family, friendship, self-discovery, and the transition from youth to adulthood. “Little Women” is a significant work in American literature and has inspired many generations of readers.

Science-Fiction / Fantasy: Saga (Volume 4) by Brian K. Vaughan and Illustratorin Fiona Staples

“Saga” is a comic book series written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Fiona Staples. The work combines elements of science fiction and fantasy and tells the story of Alana and Marko, an intergalactic couple who found each other amidst a decades-long war between their respective species. The series explores themes of love, family, prejudice, and overcoming conflicts. “Saga” Volume 4 was published in 2014, and there are now over 66 volumes. Saga has already received numerous awards and continues its success story.

At this point, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the donors. Without their generous support, it would not have been possible for us to compile such a diverse collection of interesting, amusing, and curious books. We look forward to rediscovering these treasures in the soon-to-be-opened library in Khoramukh.

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The beautiful story of the first 150 books collected

Written on . Posted in Books, Storytime.

We met Krish at our guest house in Pokhara. It didn’t take long before the talkactive Indian asked us what brought us here to Nepal. After we described our intentions about an establishment of a sustainable community library, he was immediately hooked. He will fly back to India in a few days and then bring us some books on his next visit to Pokhara in two weeks.

In amazement, the open-minded Krish returned with more than 150 English books and told us this touching story: “My wife Bharti Patel passed away 3 years ago and I have been looking for a long time for a suitable opportunity to do something good on her behalf. I am so happy that I have this chance right now. Normally I would have flown back here to Pokhara from India, but that wasn’t possible with these three heavy boxes full of books, so I put up with the bumpy bus ride, which lasted more than twelve hours. Lovely and helpful people also helped me to carry the boxes and now they are there for the Sapana library!”

He donated all these books to us:

He did a really good choice with the books: a mixture of colorful children’s and picture books, exciting knowledge books, legendary novels and inspiring books for those who want to achieve great goals.

We were really touched by the effort he put into it and it is so nice to know that sometimes in life you just meet the right person at the right time and you are able to give each other something.

Thank you Krish!

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