Libraries creating reading material for rural children readers in Burkina Faso

Abstract

This paper discusses the growing concern in Africa over reading habits and reading culture from the point of view of small rural community libraries, striving to promote reading. The experience of Friends of African Village Libraries (FAVL) has been that young readers respond very positively to locally-produced books that feature local people and themes. Realizing this, FAVL has experimented successfully with two initiatives. The first is the production of photo books, printed through fastpencil.com. The second is the establishment of a small media center in the town of Houndé, where a production team uses scanner and laser printers to produce pamphlet-style books. Both kinds of books are widely read in the community libraries of the region.