Lubuto Library Partners

On April 14th, we hosted a roundtable discussion with the Embassy of Finland at the Model Library on how public library services promote reading and are a crucial complement to public schooling.

Panelists at the roundtable included Finnish Ambassador Saana Halinen, Lubuto Founder & President Jane Kinney Meyers, Lusaka Mayor Chilando Chitangala, Mandevu Member of Parliament Christopher Shakafuswa, Director of Primary Education at the Ministry of Education Felix Ngoma, Head of the Department of Library and Information Services at the University of Zambia Abel M’kulima, Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden Christina Wedekull and Child Protection Technical Specialist at Save the Children Katongo Mwansa.

Before the program, Lubuto’s Director of Operations Hadassah Kasukumya led tours of the library for nearly 50 attendees, where children and parents shared why the library—and especially its books—were important to them. The program opened with Hadassah's welcome and introduction of Jane, whose remarks were both on film and live via Zoom.

Jane noted the transformative importance that raising expectations about the role public libraries can play in addressing educational challenges: "Two-thirds of Zambia’s population is younger than 25. More than half of Zambia’s children cannot read and understand a short age-appropriate text by the end of primary school. We need to change this urgently. Providing effective library services for children will be a critical component of doing so."

She went on to point out that "when we started Lubuto Library Partners over 25 years ago, it was based on an experience that showed that public libraries could support children in going beyond the constraints their local environment put on them. In the ensuing period, we have learned a lot from the communities and their children that we serve….We hope that you can see this library as a change from the status quo that provides a vital component in a Zambian literacy breakthrough."

"From the beginning, Lubuto Library Partners' objective was to learn about how free public library services for children could meet the needs of Zambian communities. Public libraries are a public good. They are the province of the people – and good library services for children, like those that you have seen today, are needed across Zambia. After 25 years, we have done what we can in demonstrating possibilities and impact, and, working with the wonderful faculty of the Library and Information Services Department at UNZA and the Ministry of Education, we have tried to communicate their importance. By the end of 2027, Lubuto Library Partners will start winding down our U.S. operations. This sets a critical target for the transition of the organization to a fully Zambian entity, and we need your help."

The ensuing discussion reinforced important policy, funding and partnership considerations to strengthen public libraries in Zambia. When she summarized the discussion, Ambassador Halinen pointed out that the Zambian Ministry of Education had made a commitment to support the advancement of public library services and that she was sure that Lubuto Library Partners will keep that moving forward. Now we are poised to proceed in partnership with them to address the Ministry's mandate.

(Photos courtesy of the Suomen suurlähetystö Lusaka - Embassy of Finland Lusaka and Bwalya Kalimanshi for Lusaka City Council, respectively)

We are so grateful to Suomen suurlähetystö Lusaka - Embassy of Finland Lusaka for bringing together a wide range of people for this important discussion. With everyone surrounded by great books and Moomin and Pippi dolls, we also hope that in the book vs. phone competition that books have won the day! When she summarized the discussion, Ambassador Halinen pointed out that the Ministry of Education- Zambia had made a commitment to support the advancement of public library services for children and that she was sure that Lubuto Library Partners will keep that moving forward. We have been grateful for our longstanding and close relationship with the department of Library Information Science at the The University of Zambia -UNZA and are excited to move forward with them to support the Ministry's mandate. Lubuto Library Partners have truly created "teaching libraries"!

Congratulations to Jon Klassen on winning the 2026 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. We love "This is Not My Hat" so much that there is a mural of it at the Model Library! With Lubuto having been nominated 17 times for the ALMA, we greatly appreciated the remarks from Ms. Wedekull from the Embassy of Sweden in Lusaka on the importance of Astrid Lindgren and the ALMA at today's roundtable that we hosted with Suomen suurlähetystö Lusaka - Embassy of Finland Lusaka.

From the beginning, Lubuto's public youth libraries were understood as cost-effective complements to public schools in Zambia. Library and Information Association of Zambia - LIAZ U.S. Embassy Zambia

“It should not be taken as a project but an integral part of the school system for the benefit of both pupils and those out of school in the local community.” - Late Hon. Chrispin M. Musosha, Deputy Minister of Education, for the 2010 opening of the 2nd Lubuto library.

With this library, Lubuto and the Ministry of Education- Zambia entered into an MoU establishing Lubuto as a national partner for providing services to children and youth, an agreement that continues to this day. Next week in a roundtable discussion with suurlähetystö Lusaka - Embassy of Finland Lusaka we will highlight how public library services that promote reading are a crucial complement to public schooling in Zambia.

“It should not be taken as a project but an integral part of the school system for the benefit of both pupils and those out of school in the local community.” - Late Hon. Chrispin M. Musosha, Deputy Minister of Education, for the 2010 opening of the 2nd Lubuto library.

With this library, Lubuto and the Ministry of Education- Zambia entered into an MoU establishing Lubuto as a national partner for providing services to children and youth, an agreement that continues to this day. Next week in a roundtable discussion with suurlähetystö Lusaka - Embassy of Finland Lusaka we will highlight how public library services that promote reading are a crucial complement to public schooling in Zambia.

In 2006 U.S. Amb. Carmen Martinez made these remarks at a premiere of Lubuto film "Kids Just Like You" at American Centre, Lusaka:

Referring to the “urgent need for this project,” Amb. Martinez noted that “The concept of Lubuto Libraries includes the same standards of library services for children in the U.S., and reflects the American tradition of free access to information and learning.” She stated, “professional library communities in the U.S. and Zambia, along with top international children’s books and literacy organizations and leaders, have joined in this groundbreaking effort with great enthusiasm.” Convinced that Lubuto libraries will be a model for other countries in the region, the Ambassador said they were looking for ways the U.S. Mission can offer their facilities for future training and other support:https://jane-meyers-rfcv.squarespace.com/s/remarkskidsjustlikeyou.pdf

Suomen suurlähetystö Lusaka - Embassy of Finland Lusaka U.S. Embassy Zambia

Astrid Lindgren, the great Swedish children’s author—creator of Pippi Longstocking—and crusader for children’s rights, said, “Everything big that occurred in the world occurred in someone’s imagination.” Lubuto started out in an imagination—an idea that grew from a clear understanding of the profound impact collections of great stories in welcoming and nurturing spaces has on children of all ages.

April 14 is not only the date for the Lubuto Library Partners– Suomen suurlähetystö Lusaka - Embassy of Finland Lusaka roundtable discussion on public library spaces and services where anyone can access the great books they want and deserve; it is also when the winner of the 2026 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, known as the "Nobel Prize for Children's Literature," will be announced. We are so honored to have been nominated for the 17th time for the ALMA as a reading promoter!

"Today is my first time visiting the library. I was introduced to the LubutoLiteracy lessons in the morning and they are so exciting. I had to go home and grab my cousin so she can also come and learn how to read.”