I know a little something about coming in last. For years, I
was (let’s be generous) among the worst members of my high school swim team. I
went to practice every day, tried my hardest, and at the end of the day lost
race after race. I got to the point where I never even tried to win a race.
Second to last was a cause for celebration. Guinea knows a lot about coming in
last. It’s among the poorest countries in the world, has high levels of
corruption, illiteracy, malaria, and infant mortality. I don’t even want to get
started on their education system. They’re not trying to win anymore. They are
just trying to not come in last.
Except this month, we’re coming in at the head of the pack.
BiblioTech is becoming a reality. The Kindles are here. The books have been
bought and day-by-day they are being downloaded, no matter how slowly, to our
five Kindles. The room has been electrified; our logo and the quotes, “Today a
reader, Tomorrow a leader”, “There is no friend as loyal as a book”, and “Books
are like balls of light in your hand” (in French of course) have been proudly
painted across the wall. Posters have been hung, and members solicited. On
Saturday, we have our soft opening and the first members of Africa’s first
e-reader library will be registered. While our research is not comprehensive,
it seems that BiblioTech is actually the second dedicated e-reader library in
the world. The first is weirdly also named “BiblioTech” and is in Texas. All
week long, members of the community have come to watch the preparations. They
have huge smiles on their faces and fight over who gets to be the first person
to sign up. They are proud of AGUIDEP, proud of Kindia and, for once, proud of
Guinea. All the hours dealing with BICIGUI and Amazon customer service, the
“return to senders” and the “Purchase rejected” notes were worth it. I am so
happy to be a part of this project and a counting down until Saturday when the
people of Kindia can come a read to learn, to explore, and simply to have fun.
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