Letters from Students at Schools Receiving Book Boxes with the Official Report of the Handover Ceremony after the letters.

From Phonsan Secondary School

My name is Lengchalith, a 6^th year student. On behalf of all the students and teachers at this school, I would like to thank teachers and students in the United States for donating a book box and books to our school. I think these school supplies are new valuable resources for us, and we will utilize them as much as we can.. Finally, may all blessings be yours, teachers and students. Be healthy and be successful in all your professions. I hope you that you will continue to help us again.

From Houa Khang Elementary School

My name is Khai Hang, grade 5 at HouaKhang school. On behalf of all 225 students at this school I would like to express my great appreciation for receiving a mobile bookcase as a gift from students and teachers in the United States.

I think this bookcase is very useful for us and we will store as many books as we can so we can read more.

Thank you very much for the gift. I am looking forward to receiving more help from you. May blessings be yours and I wish everyone good health.

From Phanhsa Secondary School, Province of Houaphan

My name is Lamphanh, 12 years old and 2^nd year student. On behalf of all students at this school I would like to express many thanks to all teachers in the United States for donating a bookcase.

Every book is very useful for us. We are going to get a lot of information from these books.

May you all be blessed. I hope you will help us again.

From Muang Liet Elementary School

My name is MaiSee, 3^rd grade, Muang Liet Elementary School. I am very happy that our school received a mobile bookcase from the National Library, our first gift ever. I would like to thank officials from the National Library that they sacrificed their time to visit us.

The students and population of Muang Liet are very happy to have this bookcase so that we can store books and we look forward to reading and learning from them. We hope to receive more gifts from the officials again.

Report of the Seminar and Handover of Bookcases to Houaphanh Province

Reference:

• Minister’s approval #827, dated 10/27/02, to send three National Library staff to Houaphanh Province to conduct a seminar and to handover six bookcases.

• Gifts from American educators visiting Laos led by Mr. Peter Whittlesey

On 11/04/02 at the Reception hall of the Information Department, there was a ceremony. The ceremony marked the reception of six bookcases from the Ministry of Information and Culture by Mr. Vilayphone, a representative of the department. The bookcases were donated by American teachers who visited Laos under the leadership of Mr. Whittlesey. After the ceremony, participants attended a workshop where they learned how to take care of these bookcases, and how to document checking books in and out.

Over the next several days a group of the department staff traveled to schools to distribute these bookcases while conducting a follow-up on the status of four bookcases donated in the previous years. Some bookcases were empty as a result of heavy checkouts. Many books are damaged.

Target Groups and Location of the School Visits

11/05/02 handover a bookcase to the Phansam Elementary School by Mr. Vilayphone and Mr. Udomsavanh, representatives of the department and the National Library. These representatives held a workshop to train staff at this school how to use the bookcase and how to promote reading to students.

11/06/02 Visit Phanla Secondary School (Repeat the same plan as 11/05/02)

11/07/02 Visit Ban LietXang Elementary School (Repeat the same plan as 11/05/02)

11/08/02 Visit Ban Houakhang Elementary School (Repeat the same plan as 11/05/02)

The last two bookcases will be distributed to Ban Sobhao and Ban Sobbao schools. These two villages are our target villages that will be established as villages of literature in the near future.

Reporter/writer Mr. Udomsavanh