Reading is thinking...

Reading helps thinking, especially when it is self-directed. Readers extract meaning from the text, prompting reflection and questioning, and motivating further reading. When we read, we get relief from the grind and tension of everyday life. We benefit, psychologically and emotionally.

Reading Fluency

Poor reading levels hamper many children from being able to decode the text on a page and from following - and therefore engaging - in class. MCL identifies children whose reading is significantly behind their school grade level and supports them with practice, guidance and feedback.

Digital Reading

In spite of substantial government investment in computers and digital skills, most MCL members have very little chance to use computers in school or home. Even smart phones are out of reach since households tend to own a single phone which is kept by a parent or adult sibling. MCL offers free-of-cost classes in basic computer applications, and free access to online desktops in 30 minute slots, to regular members aged 11 and above. Children learn to browse and search in a directed way for materials which match their needs and interests.

Building Engagement with Books

The self-study and browsing invited by the library is a new experience for children habituated to tuition centres and the one-shelf glass cabinet libraries of their schools. At MCL, members are guided towards shelves and books which suit their age and interests, and invited to attend read-alouds where stories are brought to life by trained readers. MCL seeks to install an ecosystem wherein older members, motivated to improve their communication skills, read routinely to younger members. Read-alouds provide the chance to provoke thinking when children discuss what will happen next, which characters they like and dislike, and how a story applies to their own lives.

One of many ways to read together

Read-alouds involve questions and discussion, along with great story-telling

Behind every activity...

MCL combines a lending library with a space for group activities – mostly on weekends – where members are exposed to different arts, techniques and topics which allow them to identify and develop their interests. In 2023, we hosted storytellers, art educators, journalists, lawyers, rap artists, paper crafters, musicians, puppeteers and waste managers. These activities are often structured around books and stories: one book is a prop for a workshop on visual literacy; another book provides the narrative for a musical interpretation. Or a craft activity ends by building a collaborative story.