South Shore Public Libraries Partner with NSCC in Tanzania

I know it's silly but I still get excited when I receive a text on my phone. So just imagine the scene when I got a text from South Shore Public Libraries CEO, Troy Myers, telling me to get my immunization shots updated. That's how I found out that SSPL was participating in the last phase of NSCC Internationals' EFE in Mikumi, Tanzania and I was going to Africa.

The purpose of SSPL's involvement in the project was to help with a library needs assessment, test the accessibility of electronic resources, provide training on Internet source evaluation, and to share social media information. We did this as a part of the team from NSCC that included NSCC International Director Katie Orr, NSCC Library Services Director Andrea Stewart and NSCC Media Specialist Kellie McMullin, SSPL Chief Librarian and CEO Troy Myers and me, Christina Pottie Outreach Coordinator at SSPL.

After a series of long flights we arrived in Nairobi enroute to Dar es Salaam, even though it was almost dark, only a runway tarmac, and still another hour's flight from our destination, you couldn't wipe the grin off my face; I was in Africa. Something that I had never imagined would happen.

This trip was amazing! Tanzanian people are very welcoming and the staff and students at VETA Mikumi were amazingly warm and welcoming hosts. It began from the first moment when we were greeted with a bone-crushing hug from the student on duty at the reception desk and continued with greetings of "Karibu" repeated over and over again wherever we went.

The highlight of the trip for me was to see how passionate people were about what they are doing at VETA Mikumi. Whether it was the conversations with faculty or chats with students everyone believes in what they are doing and learning at the campus, that this education will make a difference in their lives and ultimately their country. Hearing the students, at the 7 am assembly, singing the National Anthem as the flag was raised gave me goose bumps.

This project allowed us to live out the mission statement of South Shore Public Libraries in a tangible way, while we in Mikumi Troy, myself, and the whole NSCC team truly "Celebrated Reading, Discovering, Learning and Sharing". I want to sincerely thank NSCC International for inviting us to be part of the team and the South Shore Public Libraries Board of Directors for endorsing this partnership and project. My travel companions were incredible and the experience from start to finish has made me a much richer person. When and where can we do this again?

Christina Pottie
Outreach Coordinator
South Shore Public Libraries