Children's Library Project and a Library Visit!

Part of the Young Learners Area at the British Council

The other day Maimoonah got an opportunity to visit a Library for the first time Alhamdulillaah. She has only read in books about Library so I took her to the Colombo British Council Library for the young Learners just to show her the atmosphere of a Library. She observed children and adults reading and the quiet atmosphere, the books categorised and labelled  She read some books there for  sometime as she was not allowed to borrow books since she was not a member.

I was not impressed with the collection of books (which also made me realize the need of the below project that I will mention) though as usual lot of unislaamic stuff, and no quality living books from what I saw, Allaahu A'lam. But I was happy that Maimoonah could at least visit a library Alhamdulillaah!

Now coming to the most important thing that I want to share with all of you readers and want you to help us in this noble Project. 

There are only few Libraries in Qatar and as far as we know most of them do not allow to borrow books and do not have a rich collection of books any way, so we homeschoolers are really lacking this great resource. So some of us sisters in Doha have got together to build a small library for our children in Doha Inshaa Allaah. This is not going to be an ordinary Library where everything and anything is going to be available, rather by the permission of Allaah this is going to be a Library that will have books and activities that would adhere to the Islaamic guidelines as much as 

possible. So the books will be Inshaa Allaah

• For kids 0- 7 years initially.
• Realistic fiction that do not go against the teachings of Islaam
• Non fiction that do not go against the teachings of Islaam
• Authentic Islamic books covering different topics

For now there will be books in English and Arabic and may be later we can expand with books in other languages.

So far we have about 445 English Books and 145 Arabic Books Alhamdulillaah. Some books were donated by sisters and the rest were purchased with the money we collected in Doha Alhamdulillaah thanks to some wonderful sisters and their efforts. 

Alhamdulillaah we have also found a place for the Library for now where a sister and her family opened part of their house for this worthy cause. May Allaah reward them immensely. 

We hope to Launch or open up the Library Inshaa Allaah early next year and currently we are busy with the following

• establishing a stamp for the books 
• covering all books with a plastic cover to protect the books
• categorizing the books and making codes for each book
• establishing a membership application form
• establishing membership cards 
• establishing a software with all the books titles, status, codes and members data

So what we need and how you could help us out here is what comes next! We need plenty of money to buy books. As you know Doha is very expensive and to get down books from other countries cost us more than the cost of the books. Subhanallaah. We are trying to find cheapest shipping but still the cost is very high.

So please do contribute to this project according to your ability, every penny counts bi idhnillaah. Those of you who are in Qatar and would like to contribute please contact Dina at dinakhattab77@gmail.com and those who are outside Qatar please do contact me at ummmaimoonah@gmail.com and I can send you the link for online payments Inshaa Allaah.

This is a non profit project and all earnings through memberships and other means will be used for the Library itself Inshaa Allaah. 

We are also in need of the following for the Library: 

• Children Islamic posters
• Soft toys, fruits, vegetables...etc
• Bean bags

So if any of you are interested in sponsoring them please do let us know Inshaa Allaah!

I sincerely hope and pray each one of you who are reading this post would contribute something towards this and help in this noble community project and earn the pleasure of Allaah in this world and the hereafter. Aameen.