Background

In Liberia, libraries have not been a central part of the developmental agenda. Prior to the war, the country maintained one public library (located in the country's capital) and most of the public schools were built without libraries. With the high illiteracy rates and a severely under-resourced education system, there has been a limited but growing focus on establishing libraries and reading rooms to help build a culture or reading; but for the most part, this is an area that has been forgotten when it comes to development. As our first major project, Enrich The Mind plans to build the first state of the art public library in Liberia - Monrovia Public Library and Learning Center (MPLLC) - to help increase the literacy rate in Liberia, promote a culture of reading, and support the educational goals of the Ministry of Education. The library will be free to the public and, once completed, will offer an array of literacy resources, materials, programs and learning opportunities for all age groups.

Vision

Our vision is that MPLLC will be a hub for life-long learning, empowerment, intellectual and community engagement. In addition, MPLLC will create equitable access to information, promote innovation, build citizenship and will play a vital role in transforming the country's educational landscape.

Facility

MPLLC will be a three-story, 30,000 sq. ft. facility that will house:

• A wide collection of books and reading materials that are relevant to the needs of the community
  
• A children's area and interactive early childhood literacy center
  
• A research area with access to physical and digital reference materials
  
• Online access to peer-reviewed journals, and databases
  
• Individual and group study rooms
  
• A section for Liberian history and artifacts 
• A computer lab and computer stations
  
• A conference room and lecture hall
  
• Collaborative learning spaces
  
• Free internet access
  
• A café

Library Programs

• Tutoring and test prep
  
• Mentoring program
  
• Storytime
  
• Science Technology Engineering Art and Math (STEAM/STEM) Programs
  
• Young Adult/Adult Literacy classes
  
• Computer Literacy classes
  
• Women and girls empowerment program
  
• Public health campaigns
  

Sustainable Development

MPLLC will be a key institution in the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (e.g., goals 4.6 - "By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy" and 16.10 - "Ensure public access to information…"), and will play a critical role in bridging the digital divide.