UgCLA recently won a grant from Book Aid International that will see 10 community libraries receive book donations and a grant for refurbishing the libraries. Refurbishing activities may include renovations, purchasing local books and other activities that will increase user attendance and make the library collection more accessible to the community.

The announcement was made during a workshop organised at Kabubbu Community Library where community library members convened for three days to discuss the project and come up with innovative project ideas of how to utilize the books and grant to be received. The successful proposals will be announced at the January 2012 conference at which point the winners will receive their book packages and grant of 1,000 GBP each.

On the side of the Volunteers and Interns scheme, our very first volunteer, Espen Stranger-Johannessen who was with us for three months in 2008 is back in Uganda. He is excited with continuing the Luganda-English dictionary project he started as well as compiling stories in Luganda.

Jocelyn Preece is also back to continue supporting Bunalwenhi Community Library, which hosted her during her five month internship programme from Douglas College in 2010.