Our project for last year was to bring 3,000 books and build a library for the children to be able to read. They had never had a library before, never had books to read. We met that goal with donations from neighbors, schools, family, and their friends. We were able to take over almost 6,000 books with us. Delta Airlines provided the shipping of it all. Incredible!! 96-50 lb. boxes that had filled our basements, garages, and classrooms.
We stopped by our finished library when we first arrived this year. It was wonderful to see it all painted and the books on the shelves. The art on the wall was donated by the local artists from the Ogden Palette Club. I can't wait to send them pictures of their paintings. The library is currently not open. Hopefully, with some training, they will feel comfortable enough to let the children in. Perhaps there is a fear that the books will not be returned should they let the children check them out.
The children's handprints are all the local children's work. I think it adds a great touch to the building. Last year when we went to Ada, we met with the local leaders and chiefs, they dedicated the ground, and then we started work on it. Every day I would see Marvin, our student accountant, coming to see me and I knew it was for more money. He could not understand that we signed the bottom line and there was to be no more money. I gained a few more grey hairs on that trip.
Most of our time, last year, was spent on preparing the books with numbers, cards to be checked out with, a full library system. We spent many days on the floor of the Gorme house, but we had good help with us too.
