ASSABIL News

Seeking Support to Establish a Mobile Library

2006-08-23T17:31:00Z

What is a mobile library?

In many parts of the world, “mobile libraries” are used to reach those who are unable to take advantage of the nearest public library. A mobile library is a bus or van that offers many of the services available at public libraries: a core collection of reference materials; a wide selection of books that can be borrowed; a trained librarian; and cultural activities. Although mobile libraries are always a wonderful way to reach people who live in remote areas, they play an especially important role during the immediate aftermath of a war or natural disaster. This is the situation in Lebanon today.

The need for a mobile library in Lebanon

The initial estimates for the civilian damage that was caused by the war are staggering: some estimates go as high as $7 billion. The most widely quoted number is $3.5 billion. The damage includes bridges and roads; houses, schools, and businesses; the industrial sector; petrol stations; military installations; and much more. There are entire areas in southern Beirut—places where more than half a million people lived, worked, and went to school—that have been completely destroyed. It is easy to see how a mobile library—a library that can travel to where people live and that can serve many widely scattered communities—would be enormously helpful and provide a range of services that is not available anywhere else at the moment.

How would it work?

ASSABIL, Friends of Public Libraries, is seeking funds to purchase, equip, and staff a mobile library—a mini-bus—that would be driven throughout south Beirut and southern Lebanon to those areas that have been most severely affected by the war. We would work with people in the communities that have been most severely affected (in places like Yarine, Tebnine, Srifa, Kfar Lela, etc.) to identify centrally located and easily accessible locations in these communities where the bus would stop twice a month for several hours at a time. The bus would travel a regular and predictable route that would include stops at 11 villages in southern Lebanon. Whenever possible, we would coordinate with local schools and try to arrange to have one of the stops be at one of the schools. We would coordinate with teachers to organize activities that would introduce children to the “library” and give children the opportunity to select a book to borrow and/or to do research for a school project. The mobile library would also be available to adults who might be looking for something to read or in search of some information.

Rebuilding Lebanon: Strengthening Public Libraries and Public Schools

2006-08-23T17:28:00Z

Rebuilding Lebanon

To successfully rebuild Lebanon, we must do more than repair roads and bridges, rebuild schools and homes, and clean up our polluted beaches. We must also address the psychological and emotional damage that our children in particular have experienced as a result of this war. Some of them have witnessed the death of a family member; many more have seen terrible devastation and experienced great fear and uncertainty. Days after the war broke out, ASSABIL, Friends of Public Libraries, began to organize activities to help these children cope with the effects of the war. We want to expand and build on these activities.

Public Libraries and Public Schools: Working Together

We are seeking funds to institutionalize these activities, to support public schools, and to strengthen public libraries in Lebanon. We believe it is critical to the long-term future of Lebanon that we strengthen public schools and public libraries and encourage them to work together and to support each other. In addition to providing “free and unlimited access to knowledge,” public libraries are places where people from different socioeconomic, religious, and sectarian groups can come together. By linking these spaces with schools, we seek to expand the space in which young citizens can learn to participate in the public sphere—away from confessional and other communal allegiances—for the common good of the community. We want to organize activities at all of the libraries in the ASSABIL network as follows:

Librarians will read stories to young children (3-8 years old) once a week to encourage them to read and introduce them to their local public library.

Groups of students (9-13 years old) and their teachers will visit the library and learn about the important role that libraries play in the community as “public spaces” and about the wide range of services that libraries offer.

Librarians will work with older students (14-16 years old) on research projects and teach them some basic research skills.

Although we realize that the needs may be particularly great in southern Lebanon and in the southern suburbs of Beirut, we believe strongly that it is important that we work to strengthen public libraries and public schools throughout Lebanon. This project will involve 22 public libraries (including two in Beirut and 20 outside Beirut) and 28 public schools. We anticipate that 300 children from each public school will participate in the project activities: a total of approximately 8,000 public school students (300 students x 28 schools) throughout Lebanon.

Appel aux dons

2006-08-17T17:12:56Z

Aux amis du Liban
Aux amis des livres et de la lecture
A tous nos amis de par le monde

Aidez nous

Parce que la reconstruction se fait aussi dans les têtes,
Parce qu'éducation et imagination sont des obstacles à la haine et la violence,
Parce que la connaissance favorise la diversité culturelle et le vivre ensemble,
Parce que la mémoire est une condition du maintien de la paix,
Pour que nos enfants grandissent avec d'autres alternatives que la guerre et la souffrance,
Pour qu'ils prennent conscience du monde qui les entoure et développent leur esprit critique,
Pour que le Liban ait à nouveau le droit d'apprendre, de se questionner, de découvrir de nouveaux mondes et d'en créer à son tour, de lire en somme.

Faites un don pour la reconstruction des bibliothèques du Liban.

Adressez vos dons à :

ASSABIL, les Amis des Bibliotheques Publiques
Compte bancaire. Banque Audi
Beirut - Lebanon Bab Idriss
Compte N° : 672886
swift code : AUDBLBBX

www.assabil.com
mailto:assabil@lb.refer.org

Call for donations

2006-08-17T17:09:33Z

To the friends of Lebanon
To those of you who love books and reading
To all of you - around the world

Please help us

Because the rebuilding of Lebanon must include not just buildings and infrastructure, but the mind and the soul...

Because the greatest challenges to any successful rebuilding effort are religious hatred and violence...

Because knowledge encourages an appreciation of diversity and strengthens efforts to live together...

Because it is essential to know the past to be able to live together peacefully...

So that our children can grow up and know something other than war and suffering...

So that they have the opportunity to learn about the rest of the world and develop the ability to think critically...

So that we in Lebanon can discover new ways to live together, to read together...

"Please make a donation for the reconstruction of lebanon's libraries"

ASSABIL, the Friends of Public Libraries
Banque Audi, Bab Idriss, Beirut, Lebanon
Bank account number 672886
SWIFT code AUDBLBBX

If you have any questions, please email us at
mailto:assabil@lb.refer.org

You can also visit our web site at
www.assabil.com

« Appel de Paris » de Jean Claude Lefort (Député)

2006-08-16T10:33:06Z

Les crimes de guerre commis au Liban doivent être jugés par la Cour pénale internationale !

Citoyennes et Citoyens du monde, attachés aux valeurs universelles qui fondent la civilisation et au respect absolu de la Charte de Nations unies ainsi qu'à d'autres Conventions internationales qui énoncent les principes majeurs qui doivent impérativement être respectés par tous les Etats de la planète sous peine d'un recul tragique des droits humains, nous exprimons notre vive condamnation contre les crimes perpétués par l'armée israélienne à Cana, qui ont entraîné la mort volontaire de dizaines de civils libanais, en particulier d'enfants et de bébés.

Ces crimes, qualifiables de « crimes de guerre », ne peuvent et ne doivent pas rester impunis pas plus que d'autres qui se révéleraient. Il en va du respect de la justice humaine sur cette planète et de l'avenir des relations internationales.

Citoyennes et Citoyens du monde, nous considérons comme un devoir et un droit imprescriptibles de traduire les responsables de ces crimes, en particulier le Premier ministre israélien, M. Ehud Olmert, devant la Cour pénale internationale absolument qualifiée pour en juger.

La Cour pénale internationale peut être saisie de diverses manières et non pas seulement sur décision du Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU. En particulier, le Procureur de la Cour pénale internationale peut en décider sur la base et au vu des plaintes déposées qui lui sont transmises.

Estimant que les autres voies de saisine de la Cour pénale internationale se révèlent actuellement bouchées du fait d'un blocage prévisible de la part de certaines grandes puissances et de l'impossibilité pour le Liban de la faire actuellement, alors qu'il n'est pas partie du traité instituant cette Cour, nous décidons de prendre fermement le relais des défaillances des institutions actuelles et de rassembler, au niveau mondial, toutes celles et tous ceux qui ont à cœur et veulent défendre la justice et le droit mais aussi porter un coup d'arrêt aux politiques de force aveugle et brutale en les sanctionnant.

Cet « Appel de Paris » est lancé à travers le monde. Il se veut rassembleur de toutes les individualités et sensibilités respectueuses des droits humains et décidées à apporter leur contribution à leur pleine réalisation sur terre.

Pour que l'avenir ne répète à l'infini pas ce triste et insupportable passé, qui s'est déroulé à Cana mais aussi à Gaza, la Cour pénale internationale doit être saisie et doit juger.

Nos signatures valent plaintes. Elles seront déposées et transmises au Procureur de la Cour dès que leur nombre sera significatif pour que notre démarche citoyenne soit efficace.

Il y a urgence. Sans attendre nous décidons de former une chaîne humaine sur les cinq continents pour exiger justice et réparation. Justice et droit pour le Proche-Orient !

PS : Cet Appel sera traduit en 10 langues. Il est suggéré de le reproduire et de le faire circuler le plus largement possible sous forme papier ou électronique. Les signatures, avec les noms, prénoms, coordonnées, titres de chaque signataire et le pays d'origine de chacune et chacun sont nécessaires.

Elles doivent être rassemblées à l'adresse électronique suivante : solidariteliban@orange.fr

Un site Internet global sera ouvert et porté à la connaissance de tous. Des sites nationaux peuvent aussi voir le jour. Chacun s'organisera comme il souhaitera. Un maximum d'initiatives individuelles ou collectives s'impose pour aboutir.

Lebanon: An Open Country for Civil Resistance

2006-08-12T13:45:00Z

Regarding the August 12th Planned Convoy to the South

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contacts:

Rasha Salti: 03 970855
Wadih Al Asmar: 70 950780
Huwaida Arraf: 70 974452 (international contact)

Beirut, August 13 – Marking the passing of a month on Israel's war unleashed on Lebanon, we, members of civil society that had mobilized from the first days to aid and support the victims of this aggression, launched this Campaign of Civil Resistance. In addition to marking the one-month anniversary of this latest Israeli war against Lebanon, and the anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, (passed August 12, 1949), on August 12, communities around the world protested against the Israeli aggression on Lebanon.

Here, in Lebanon, the first convoy of civilians was to depart on August 12 to the south, whose final destination, pending questions of security on the ground, was to reach Nabatiyeh. The mission of the convoy, as the mission of the campaign, is to mark a stand in solidarity and unity of all the people of Lebanon, to break the siege on the south, and to defy Israel's policy of forced expulsions, terror and organized massacres of civilians.

We convened on Martyrs' Square at 7:00 am on August 12th morning. More than 200 people were gathered, supported by more than 50 participants from 19 countries. Fifty cars, carrying more than 250 rations of food and medicines, with more than 15 representatives from the local and international media, proceeded on the path to the south.

CIVILIAN RESISTANCE IN LEBANON

Israel out! An open letter from Australian students

2006-08-10T13:30:00Z

We join with people from across the world in condemning Israel's brutal attacks on Lebanon and Gaza as outright acts of state terrorism. Israel has carried out a reign of terror against the people of Lebanon and Palestine that has targeted civilians and infrastructure.

Hundreds of people have been murdered, overwhelmingly civilians, and the death toll is rising constantly. Over one-third of the dead are children. There are reports of Israel using chemical weapons and depleted uranium bombs. The Red Cross has claimed Israel is deliberately targeting ambulances attempting to assist the wounded.

The brutality of Israel's war was brought home by the Qana massacre. Over 60 civilians, the majority of them children and many having fled Israeli bombing in southern Lebanon, were murdered by an Israeli bomb. The outrage against this war crime was so great that Israel was forced to order an investigation. However, Israel has continued to ignore growing calls for a cease-fire, continuing to carry out bombing raids against civilian targets.

Meanwhile, Israeli attacks on the occupied Palestinian territory of Gaza have continued, with 150 Palestinians murdered over the last month. Israel has transformed Gaza into a massive prison.

We join with people from across the world in calling on Israel to immediately halt its military attacks on Lebanon and Gaza, and to withdraw its troops. We insist that the United States government cease its support for the Israeli war machine, without which it could not carry out its murderous war against the Lebanese and Palestinian people.

We call on the Australian government to stop backing Israel's aggression and to join in the calls for Israel to stop its military attacks.

We urge students across Australia to participate in emergency protests being organised calling for Israel to stop its war.

Signed by: Resistance, socialist youth organisation; Federation of Australian Muslim Students and Youth; Muslim Student Association (national), Muslim Student Association, Sydney University; Rachel Evans, National Union of Students queer officer; Jess Moore, president, Wollongong Undergraduate Students Association; Nicholas Kafer, honorary secretary, Wollongong Undergraduate Students Association; Simon Cunich, Global Solidarity Officer, University of Sydney; Alby Dallas, International Solidarity officer, University of Tasmania.

Green Left Weekly, August 16, 2006

What Assabil is doing in Beirut

2006-08-10T04:00:00Z

For the refugees

Mini libraries

In light of the chaos in which the refugee children are living, Assabil decided not to distribute books and toys to children, but to instead make them available to the children in an area where the children can come. We are in effect trying to set up « mini libraries » at each of the refugee centers.

Reading to children and much more

Association members and librarians are organizing a number of book-related activities for children. In the morning, the focus is on story-telling ; in the afternoon, kids get a chance to draw and paint, sing nursery rhymes, etc. We make supplies available to kids and let them do what they want—to give them the opportunity to express some of what they are feeling and thinking.

Theater

Najla Khoury and Joumana Behlok have been working on a theatrical production with some of the refugee children that will be performed for parents on Sunday, August 6th and then taken « on the road . » We are planning to organize performances in as many of the refugee centers as possible.

The First Steps toward Literacy

We're working not only with children, but with adults too and are offering basic literacy classes to women who are interested.

For the volunteers

Training

In response to requests from volunteers who wanted advice and suggestions on what types of activities they should organize at the centers, Assabil organized several training sessions. The first session took place on the last Sunday of July in the Bachoura Library for 32 participants. Najla Khoury, a founding member of Assabil, showed volunteers how to make games using recycled materials.

Three other training sessions took place on August 3rd, 4th, and 5th.

On Sunday, August 6th, there were two additional sessions : Joe Haddad, a member of Assabil's Administrative Committee, tackled several important issues including how to share public spaces, how to develop trust among the members of a group, and worked with the participants to think about how to encourage people to live and work together under difficult circumstances. A second session by Joumana Behlok offered suggestions on how to organize activities around books for young children. Assabil is also planning to identify and train volunteers from among the refugee population so they can become activity leaders themselves.

Distribution of pedagogic materials

With the support of OSI and the Heinrich Böll Foundation, we are providing games, toys, books, paper, pens, materials for arts and crafts—whatever we can to support the activities that are taking place at the centers.

Services available at the libraries

Assabil members are providing advice, support, encouragement, and are volunteering their time in support of all of these activities. We are using the facilities at the Bachoura Library—the books, photocopier, telephone—to support our activities. One of our staff members who works at the Geitawi Library is working every morning at the Refugee Center in Karm el-Zeytoun in addition to working at the library two hours a day.

Travail d'Assabil à Beyrouth

2006-08-10T03:30:00Z

Auprès des réfugiés

Minis bibliothèques

Vu le désordre dans lequel les dons aux enfants déplacés ont commencé, Assabil a décidé de ne plus distribuer de livres et de jouets, mais de les déposer dans un espace commun afin qu'ils puissent servir à tous. C'est ainsi que chaque centre possède désormais sa mini bibliothèque-ludothèque publique.

Lectures aux enfants

Membres de l'association et bibliothécaires travaillent au quotidien dans les lieux d'accueil. Des lectures ou incitations à la lecture de contes se font en matinée, remplacées dans l'après-midi par des activités plus diverses : ateliers d'illustration, comptines, etc. Grandes affiches et beaux cahiers de peinture sont mis à la disposition des adolescentes, afin qu'elles s'adonnent au coloriage ou laissent libre cours à leur créativité.

Pièce de théâtre

Najla Khoury et Joumana Behlok ont monté une pièce de théâtre avec un groupe d'enfants déplacés. Cet excellent exercice d'expression et de mémorisation sera présenté aux parents le dimanche 6 août, avant de circuler dans les autres centres de la ville.

Alphabétisation

Les plus jeunes ne sont pas seuls à bénéficier de nos efforts : les femmes qui le souhaitent commencent à recevoir, grâce à la méthode globale pour adultes, des cours d'alphabétisation.

Auprès des animateurs

Formation

Suite aux demandes des volontaires, qui ne savaient quelles activités développer dans les centres d'accueil, Assabil a mis en place des sessions de formation. La première s'est tenue le dernier dimanche de juillet, pour 32 auditeurs, dans la bibliothèque de Bachoura et Najla Khoury, membre fondateur d'Assabil a développé la fabrication de jouets à partir de matériaux de récupération.

Trois autres séances d'apprentissage de jeux de groupes ont eu lieu Jeudi, 3, vendredi 4 et Samedi 5 juillet de 18h a 20h 30.

Dimanche 6 juillet deux formations ont eu lieu. L'une par Joe Haddad, membre du Comite Administratif de l'association qui a abordé, entre autres : le partage de l'espace public, la confiance entre les membres d'un groupe et l'élaboration d'une charte qui favorise le vivre-ensemble dans des conditions aussi difficiles. Une seconde formation tenue par Joumana Behlok comprenait des animations autour des contes et des albums pour les plus petits. Assabil propose également la formation d'animateurs recrutés parmi les déplacés, qui pourront ainsi prendre la relève pour multiplier les activités.

Distribution d'outils pédagogiques

Outre une sélection de jeux de mots, ritournelles et comptines, l'association fournit aux animateurs responsables le matériel nécessaire à la création d'ateliers de jeux, dessins, bricolage, etc. Un grand merci à l'OSI et la HBF, qui financent ces acquisitions.

Services offerts dans les bibliothèques

Le personnel d'Assabil met sa compétence aux services des volontaires, en répondant à leurs interrogations ou en intervenant directement sur le terrain. La bibliothèque de Bachoura sert tant pour l'accueil que la mise à disposition de son équipement : livres, photocopieuse, téléphone, etc. Quant à celle de Geitawi, elle n'est accessible au public que deux heures par jour, puisque la responsable travaille chaque matin dans le centre de réfugiés de Karm el-Zeytoun.

News from the Network

2006-08-10T03:10:00Z

Aitit, Babliye, Saida, the libraries in the south—are all closed. When they can reopen—when the fighting is stopped and it is safe to do so—we will be here to provide them with whatever they need, to do what we can.

In the rest of the country, however, the libraries are not only open, they are busy! The libraries in the mountains, which are usually pretty active during the summer months, are today taking care of the needs of a very different group of people than their regular summer visitors.

The Mtein Library, which is swarming with people, is the perfect example as is the library in Baakline that is welcoming 100-150 kids a day. The children among the refugee population require special attention and have different needs. In some cases, there are young people volunteering at these libraries and helping with the activities that are being organized for the refugee children : children helping children.

In Zahlé, Chanay, Khreybet Chouf, Baskinta and Aley, libraries are working with municipalities to distribute foods. They have not, however, lost track of their primary responsibility—their mission—which is to give everyone an opportunity to discover the world of books: to read, to dream, to explore. We hope, like Borges,* that a book will offer some happiness, despite the circumstances.

*quoted by Alberto Manguel, Chez Borges, Actes Sud, 2003.