SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — Students at eleven primary and secondary schools in this south-central parish have benefited from a literacy initiative organised by Di Cawna Library and a political representative here.

Founder of Di Cawna Library, Rachael McDonald, explained the initiative which includes bringing books directly into the hands of students and creating accessible, community-based bookcases “where they are needed most”.

“Each Likkle Library is a repurposed refrigerator transformed into a bookcase, housing approximately 100 books, offering students and school communities the opportunity to read, return and repeat, connecting with stories beyond the classroom,” she said.

Educator and councillor Christopher Williams (Jamaica Labour Party, Santa Cruz division) in endorsing the initiative, told the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday that he is optimistic of it being expanded across St Elizabeth.

“The programme commenced in February. This came about after a teacher from St Elizabeth who works in Kingston made the connection between Rachael and me. As an educator for 22 years, you can imagine how excited I was after I spoke to her and got the details of how she is converting the used fridges and re-purposing them into a library,” he said.

“I decided then that I would love for all the schools in my division to have a ‘Likkle Library’ and we started planning for the primary schools. After we did the primary schools Rachael agreed to also include high schools which are not in my division. I know Rachael wants to do all the schools in the parish and I will work with her to achieve that,” added Williams.

The eleven schools which have benefited under the initiative are Santa Cruz Primary and Infant, Leeds Primary and Infant, Marie Cole Primary, Schoolfield Primary and Infant, Park Mountain Primary and Infant, Burnt Savannah Primary, Sydney Pagon STEM Academy, Roger Clarke High, Aberdeen High, Lacovia High and St Elizabeth Technical High.

Williams emphasised the need for children to embrace reading in its traditional form.

“It is a great feeling to see how excited the teachers and children are in the 11 schools we have given a Likkle Library so far. It is good to have our children reading actual books and not just on the phones and tablets all the time,” he said.

McDonald said by placing libraries within the schools, the partnership creates immediate access to reading materials for students, encouragement of daily reading habits, and a culture of literacy within school communities.

“In a fast-paced world that is full of screens, books help us to slow down and to build stronger minds… The initiative boasts eight community libraries and 37 Likkle Libraries. This year’s goal is to get to 100 Likkle Libraries. Di Cawna Library continues to build a nationwide network of accessible libraries, transforming everyday spaces into hubs for literacy and the transfer of knowledge. The movement connects education, environment, and community by placing books in spaces where people are,” she said.

Santa Cruz Councillor Christopher Williams looks at the cover of a book from Di Cawna Library at Aberdeen High in St Elizabeth recently.

Students and teachers at Park Mountain Primary in St Elizabeth pose for a photo with books from Di Cawna Library recently. They are joined by founder of Di Cawna Library Rachael McDonald (left) and Santa Cruz Councillor Christopher Williams (centre background).