OCLF: History

Our history

The first Osu Children’s Library was founded in 1990 under a tree in Accra, the capital of Ghana. Canadian Kathy Knowles had been posted with her husband John, who worked as an accountant for Sikaman, a gold mining company. She enjoyed reading to her four children and noticed that Ghanaians did not have the same opportunities. So, each Thursday afternoon, she carried a basket of books into her garden and offered story times to six neighbourhood children.

As word spread, more and more children gravitated to the Knowles’ garden. To accommodate the influx, Kathy transformed her garage into a mini library. She filled it with shelves and stools and asked family and friends from Canada to send over books. She hired Harry Lartey, a university student, to read to the children and trained her housekeeper, Joanna Felih, to be the first librarian. She called her refitted garage the Osu Library after the street where they lived. Before long, 150 children were lining up each week to explore the magical world of books.

As the Knowles family prepared to return to Canada, Kathy looked for a way to create a more permanent structure. After a lengthy search, she bought a 40-foot shipping container, moved it to a donated patch of land and converted it into a small library. She tacked up colourful wall hangings inside and planted flowering shrubs outside and, on November 13, 1992, opened the first permanent library. Its volunteer board of directors has since renamed it the Kathy Knowles Community Library.

On her return to Canada in 1993, Kathy continued to pursue her mission. Working with a team of dedicated volunteers from the top floor of her Winnipeg home and with strong community support in Ghana, the OCLF built five large community libraries, all bordering impoverished corners of Accra. They also helped to establish more than 170 smaller libraries throughout Ghana. Some of these are attached to schools, while others are as simple as a group of village children sitting under a tree. The OCLF supports similar projects in the Philippines, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

As the libraries developed, so did the demand for other activities. Free literacy classes for all ages have become increasingly popular. Feeding, hygiene and scholarship programs were launched to meet specific needs. Arts and crafts, football clubs, singing and drumming groups provide new and exciting opportunities.

Sharing the Joy of Reading with the African Child
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This is how the library started. Joanna Felih, the first librarian Kathy Knowles Community Library members enjoying a game of ball toss behind the library, once a 40-foot shipping container.	Who we are \| History \| Libraries \| Librarians \| Members \| Volunteers \| Recognition Our history The first Osu Children’s Library was founded in 1990 under a tree in Accra, the capital of Ghana. Canadian Kathy Knowles had been posted with her husband John, who worked as an accountant for Sikaman, a gold mining company. She enjoyed reading to her four children and noticed that Ghanaians did not have the same opportunities. So, each Thursday afternoon, she carried a basket of books into her garden and offered story times to six neighbourhood children. As word spread, more and more children gravitated to the Knowles’ garden. To accommodate the influx, Kathy transformed her garage into a mini library. She filled it with shelves and stools and asked family and friends from Canada to send over books. She hired Harry Lartey, a university student, to read to the children and trained her housekeeper, Joanna Felih, to be the first librarian. She called her refitted garage the Osu Library after the street where they lived. Before long, 150 children were lining up each week to explore the magical world of books. As the Knowles family prepared to return to Canada, Kathy looked for a way to create a more permanent structure. After a lengthy search, she bought a 40-foot shipping container, moved it to a donated patch of land and converted it into a small library. She tacked up colourful wall hangings inside and planted flowering shrubs outside and, on November 13, 1992, opened the first permanent library. Its volunteer board of directors has since renamed it the Kathy Knowles Community Library. On her return to Canada in 1993, Kathy continued to pursue her mission. Working with a team of dedicated volunteers from the top floor of her Winnipeg home and with strong community support in Ghana, the OCLF built five large community libraries, all bordering impoverished corners of Accra. They also helped to establish more than 170 smaller libraries throughout Ghana. Some of these are attached to schools, while others are as simple as a group of village children sitting under a tree. The OCLF supports similar projects in the Philippines, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. As the libraries developed, so did the demand for other activities. Free literacy classes for all ages have become increasingly popular. Feeding, hygiene and scholarship programs were launched to meet specific needs. Arts and crafts, football clubs, singing and drumming groups provide new and exciting opportunities. Who we are \| History \| Libraries \| Librarians \| Members \| Volunteers \| Recognition
Who we are \| Director's Letter \| Approach \| News \| Nima Centre \| You can help \| Publications \| Contact