Library

In order to increase the knowledge of students, KAD has created a very small library which stores around 1,000 books, both Khmer-English written books. Khmer-written books from grade 1-12 include Khmer literature, mathematics, physics, history, biology, geography, Khmer legend. English-written books include dictionaries, stories and science. The library opens all day to both children and adults free of charge.

This library was constructed in 2003 under financial support of Latter-Day Saints Charities and in 2006, the Asia Foundation donated around 1000 English-written books to the library project of Khmer Association for Development. In rural, remote areas, there aren’t any libraries. This is the first library constructed for rural, remote children to read the books needed to improve their knowledge. Usually, rural, remote children spend most of their time to play games, watch TV, and help work for their families. The library gets them into habit of reading books.

The Community Library Book Reading Activities

Library is a part of the area of education and a place where the people can find the books for reading to improve their knowledge. In Cambodia, the library is mostly located in the state-owned schools from primary school to university and there is a largest national library in Phnom Penh. Partly, in rural areas of Cambodia, the library is situated only in the public school and doesn’t store sufficient books to meet the students’ needs. Due to long distance, the community children can’t go and read. On the other hand, library book reading activities in the state-owned school are not encouraged. Reading is dependent upon the interest and volunteering of the students. Besides that, there aren’t any libraries in the communities that can’t provide the children with a chance to read. The community library offers a lot of advantages to children and people including (1) the children read the books to improve their knowledge, to create new ideas, to do the research of their subjects and to allow them to study themselves, (2) reduce debaucheries committed by local children, (3) people can research the areas of agriculture, culture, home economics, health etc.