Desher Kaj
A book corner, Sherpur
One shelf in a school, club or room by a mosque, donated books, and a lending register.
Area
Sherpur
People
3 people
Time
About 8 hours
Difficulty
Easy
About this task
In Sherpur’s remote villages below the Garo hills, few story books reach children. A bookshelf in a school, club or room by a mosque (stories, science, biographies, picture books for children, all donated) and a lending register. One local person opens it two days a week.
Why it matters
In many villages and small towns there is no book within reach beyond the textbook. A child who reads stories grows both reading habit and imagination, while in town homes read books gather dust.
What changes after
At least a hundred books on the shelf; at least twenty loans in the first month; the key and register with one responsible person.
Who can join
Anyone; you can join from abroad by donating books.
Step by step
- 1Done
A place and a keeper60 min
Someone who will open the room two days a week.
- 2Done
Collect books300 min
Stories, science, biographies, picture books for children. Not textbooks.
- 3Done
The lending register60 min
Name, book, date. Back in two weeks.
Checklist to get ready
- A bookshelf · ১টি
- Donated books · অন্তত ১০০টি
When it counts as done
- At least a hundred books on the shelf
- At least twenty loans in the first month
Proof required: Photo, Document
What it costs
| Bookshelf (wood or steel, 4–5 shelves) | 1 | ৳3,500–7,000 |
| Lending register (thick) | 2 | ৳80–150 |
| Rubber stamp (the corner's name) | 1 | ৳200–400 |
| Book covering paper or plastic covers | 100 | ৳3–5 |
| Small sign: “Book corner — open [days]” | 1 | ৳200–400 |
| Padlock | 1 | ৳150–300 |
| Total (about) | ৳4,500–8,900 | |
Getting ready, step by step
3 weeks before
Fix the place and get the institution's written consent.
Choose a keeper who will open the room two days a week; the key stays with them.
2 weeks before
Announce a call for books: stories, science, biographies, picture books; not textbooks.
Order the shelf or repair an old one.
3 days before
Sort books: leave out torn ones, ones unsuitable for children, or hateful ones.
Stamp, number and cover each book; list them in the register.
On the day
Set the shelf and arrange books: children's books on the low shelves, within reach.
Invite children and parents, tell them the opening days; write the first loans.
The month after
Count loans in the register (aim: at least 20).
See which books go most and ask for more of those.
Who does what
- Lead (1): Place and consent, choosing the keeper, the opening day. — ____________
- Book collection and sorting (1): Ask for books, sort, stamp, cover and number. — ____________
- Register and keeper (1): Open the room two days a week, record loans and returns. — ____________
The day, hour by hour
- 09:00Set the shelf and fix it firmly to the wall so it cannot fall.
- 09:45Arrange books by kind, children's books low.
- 10:30Put up the sign, register and pen on the table.
- 11:00Short opening with children and parents: three rules — sign it out, take care, return in two weeks.
- 11:20Read one story aloud.
- 11:45First loans, written in the register.
- 12:30Hand the key and register to the keeper; done.
What can go wrong, and what to do
- The keeper stops opening the room → Have two keepers from the start; check in once a month.
- Books lost or damaged → Some will go; accept it. Keep the register, remind on return days; no fines.
- Termites or damp spoil the books → Keep the shelf a little off the wall and raised from the floor; in the monsoon, check the books monthly.
- Unsuitable books reach the shelf → Two people check every donated book; when in doubt, leave it out.
Useful numbers
- 333Government information, services and complaints
Questions people ask
- What if books go missing?
- Some will; accept it. With a register, most come back.
- Can I join if I cannot stay the whole time?
- Yes. Say in your request which step or which hours you can do. The lead will give that step to you.