Five countries where Room to Read libraries are flourishing

Vibrant, child-friendly libraries are essential to Room to Read’s Literacy Program. We partner with schools to establish libraries and train librarians and educators on library management that supports student learning. We advocate with governments to make sure every child has access to a library filled with developmentally appropriate, diverse and engaging books.  

Read on to learn about the progress made this year by our literacy teams around the world in library development. 

Cambodia

In partnership with Cambodia's Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport (MOEYS), Room to Read has developed a university-level course on literacy and primary school libraries for local teacher-training colleges. The course, called "Developing Lifelong Readers: The Power of School Libraries and Classroom Reading Corners," engages aspiring teachers in critical research on the power of school libraries in helping children develop strong literacy skills and lifelong reading habits. Student-teachers gain hands-on practice through model school libraries, ensuring they are well-prepared to transition into primary school classrooms, libraries and reading corners when they graduate.

Indonesia

Through new partnerships with primary schools in West Kalimantan and Maluku, Indonesia, our literacy team successfully established 12 new school libraries, making room for children to cultivate a lifelong love of reading. These colorful, child-friendly learning spaces now bring quality, local language storybooks to hundreds of children across the two provinces — books like those in our Becoming a Changemaker Book Collection, which feature stories of ordinary people in Indonesia who have made a difference in the world. Developed by Room to Read in collaboration with Ashoka, each book showcases a different social issue, from environmental protection to gender equality.

Jordan

In Jordan, library teams have been busy preparing new teachers and librarians to create successful learning environments. They have completed trainings with multiple groups of educators and provided resources needed to implement Room to Read’s approach to libraries in Jordan. In addition, they have created a series of videos covering book care, library tours, book check outs, and library classes and rules. These videos will be shared on Room to Read’s online platform, LiteracyCloud.org, and will provide training help across the Arabic-speaking population of the Middle East, especially for our projects in neighboring Lebanon. 

Laos

In Laos, our literacy team partnered with the Luang Prabang Teacher Training College to create a workshop on teaching in primary school libraries. The workshop provides current and aspiring teachers with essential training in book selection and read-alouds, establishing reading routines, creating inviting classroom reading corners and more. Plus, a demonstration classroom library offers opportunities for hands-on practice!

Through our partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sports, Room to Read aims to expand the workshop nationwide, helping to ensure all children in Laos have highly skilled and well-prepared teachers.

Pakistan

Having translated and adapted previously published children's book titles, we’re thrilled to share that our first-ever Room to Read-original Urdu-language children’s book collection has made its way to publication and distribution in Pakistan, helping to fill library shelves in historically under-resourced primary schools. Developed through a Room to Read Writers’ and Illustrators’ Workshop, which brought together the diverse creative talents of 30 local authors, artists and book creators, the collection contains 15 titles that tell a range of stories. Read more about them here!

Room to Read partners with schools to establish libraries and advocate with governments to ensure every child can access a child-friendly library filled with developmentally appropriate, diverse and engaging books.

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