CANON ESAU PUBLIC LIBRARY VISIT, APRIL 2023.pdf

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CANON ESAU PUBLIC LIBRARY
COORDINATORS VISIT, APRIL 2023
A Library in every Village of Uganda
www.uclia.org
ugcomlib2007@gmail.com
Twitter @comlibug

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The coordinator Emmanuel Anguyo visited Canon Esau Public library on 19-04-
2023. This library was founded by Hillary Turyakira on 16th
January 2023 in
commemoration of the late Canon Esau Turyakira who was a long serving priest
of Buhanguzi Church of Uganda. Found in Rukiga district, Rwamatungura trading
centre, Muhanga town council in western Uganda about one and a half kilometers
from the Rwandan border. The language spoken here is “Ruhoororo” which is a
mixture of “Runyankole” and “Rukiga” lanaguages. Currently, they have 2 shelves
holding about 200 books (Self-help and reference dictionaries) and a computer
room containing 4 working machines without internet connectivity. The library
provides reading space able to accommodate 50 users and photocopying services
to people in the community. It is run by 3 permanent staff for library, ICT and
tailoring sections.
The Tailoring
section at
Canon Esau
Public
Library

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Precious Katushabe a professionally trained teacher runs and supports the work
of the library at most times.
“Working in this library has enabled me gain experience in finding,
selecting, circulating, interpreting and organizing information materials for
the benefit of the local community/public” Precious Katushabe, Librarian at
Canon Esau library.
The Library has the following services/programs;
 Reading space
 Tailoring training
 Basket Weaving
 Basic Computer literacy training
 Savings Saccos
 Secretarial services

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The coordinator having a chat with the people who had come to access
secretarial services.
Initially, they would have to move up to Muhanga town council to photocopy, about 15.7
kilometers.
In collaboration with Rukiga Youth in Development (RYID) the youth are trained in
computer literacy, tailoring among other things of which they lack the books for reference
while training these youth groups.

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On average they receive 20 users per day and they plan to extend library services to the
neighboring schools which have no library. The coordinator appreciated the idea of
starting up the library and advised on the best practices for managing it like having
accession, borrowers and attendance registers, library stamp, activity schedule board,
collaborating with schools, local leaders, and parents among others in order to support
and make the library much functional.
Report by: Emmanuel Anguyo, Coordinator, COLAU
Photos by: Hillary Turyakira, Canon Esau Public Library