Library Projects Coordinated by Nyali at the National Library Service

The National Library Service was set up by an act of Parliament number 31 of 1967. As a Public service its manadate is to set up, equip, maintain and promote libraries in Malawi. Currently the National Library Service has 14 branches in different parts of the country.
The National Library Service is a fully subvented Government parastatal. Its activities are based on a five year strategic plan which is reviewed on regular basis.
I joined National Library Service as a National Librarian in 2002 after serving as a College librarian at the University of Malawi's bunda College of Agriculture from 1987 to 2001. I also went to the American Embassy where I served as Information Resource Centre Director from 2001-2002.
The National Library Service has several donor funded projects that its been implementing over the years. These projects are in line with its Strategic Plan for 2006-11. Some of the projects are listed below:
Procurement, distribution and promotion of reading materials for Children funded by CODE of Canada.
Mother and Child project funded by NORAD through the Norwegian Library Association.
Malawi Development Exchange on Eldis Community Site funded by IDS of the University of Sussex United kingdom.

The procurement , distribution and promotion of reading materials for children involves the following activities:
Procurement of books for the targetted Libraries
Publishing of bookd for Children
Procurement of Furniture for the libraries
Teacher Librarian Training
Sensitization workshops for Primary Education Advisors, Headteachers and Primary School Teachers.
Capacity Building of staff of the National Library Service
Gender Sensitization Workshops
Monitoring and Evaluation of the projects.
The Mother and Child Project involves the establishment mother and child groups togethher with medical personnel from the under five clinics. The mother come with their children to the National Library Service are taught reading techniques that helps them to teach their children how to read.