With Support from the U.S. Embassy, the Edaga Hamus Embagaliano Community Library Is Thriving

Success means room is tight at the Edaga Hamus Embagaliano Community Library in Asmara

Judging by the number of people coming into her bookstore asking to “borrow” books, Alganesh Solomon realized that there was a great need for a lending library in the Embagaliano neighborhood of Asmara where her shop was located.  She decided to do something about it.  Working with leaders in the community, soliciting donations from international missions and organizations including the U.S. Embassy, and helping coordinate community volunteers to renovate a dilapidated egg processing factory and convert it into a library, Alganesh’s hard work finally paid off.  The Edaga Hamus Embagaliano Community Library, with a collection of more than 7,000 books, eight computers with internet access and enough space to accommodate 150 library visitors at a time, opened for business on November 17, 2006.

When Cultural Affairs Assistant Saba Aregahegn visited recently, it was clear that the neighborhood was putting the library to good use.  In fact the library is so successful it often can’t accommodate the number of students who want to use it.  One of the board members, Colonel Senait, told Saba that they’ve had to make the students come in shifts to assure everyone gets some time to use the resources.  Even with the time limits, when Saba visited on January 16, 2007, students were sitting two to a chair and younger children were sitting with their books on the floor.  While most of the library users are junior and senior high students, Ms. Ellen, the librarian noted that a number of university students also come to take advantage of engineering and other academic books. 

The overwhelming success of the library has the board scrambling to come up with ways to increase the number of computers and books available, according to Colonel Senait, considering ways of dealing with their spectacular success.  They’re considering income-generating activities that will make the library self-sufficient and assure it continues to meet the needs of the community.

The U.S Embassy in Asmara contributed almost $4000 worth of books, 8 computers with internet access, bookshelves, tables, and chairs for a total of $12,000.