Biblionef: developing a love of reading

Biblionef is an international non-governmental organisation that was established in France in 1989, at the initiative of Maximilien Vegelin van Claerbergen, former Dutch Ambassador.

The organisation is recognised by UNESCO, UNICEF, and the Council of Europe, and has offices in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, the USA and Surinam. In August 1998, Biblionef also launched a branch in South Africa, in the building of the Huis der Nederlanden, Cape Town. Maximilien Vegelin van Claerbergen expressed the underlying idea of Biblionef as follows:

“The idea behind BIBLIONEF came to me as a result of meeting children who live in squalid cities or who are isolated in jungle encampments. These children want to live, and they want to learn. They lack virtually everything ... books above all. A dream was born from these encounters — that of skippering a ship on the high seas, travelling around the world bringing a treasure trove of books to children and young people who need them. Such a sea-going vessel has remained a dream, but the book shipments are a reality.”

The dream of shipping books to children in need, as it was dreamt by Maximilien Vegelin van Claerbergen, is also present in the actual name of the organisation, with biblio referring to books, and with nef being another word for ship. In this way, Biblionef has shipped new books to carefully selected correspondents in 46 countries throughout the world, such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Haiti, Rwanda, Senegal, Burkina Fasso, Russia, Mongolia , Hungary ...

Biblionef is sincerely concerned about the hundred millions of children and adolescents throughout the world that are being left at the sidelines of development because they do not have access to knowledge through books. The triggering factor behind Biblionef’s creation was the realisation that without books, the doors of knowledge, progress and freedom remain shut.

Biblionef has therefore set itself the goal of providing deprived children with new books from childhood through adolescence, thus stimulating their curiosity and desire to learn. Through pictures and words, these books will help youngsters to understand the world around them, and will enable them to lay the solid foundations of knowledge and awareness, which is every person’s birthright. Books convey ideas, in return fostering hope.

In order to successfully complete its mission, Biblionef first determines the specific requirements of geographic areas selected for distribution, and establishes close links with local partners. In a second stage, it gathers new books thanks to collaboration with publishers, distributors, and the general public (through book drives).

It also ensures that some titles are re-edited, or commissions books to be written or adapted for its projects. Then, it ensures that books are shipped and that consignments are distributed through libraries, associations, schools and cultural centres, under the supervision of efficient local representatives.

Furthermore, Biblionef offers its experience and competence to various associations, philanthropic initiatives, and institutions concerned with education, culture, and development with a view to long-term collaborations.

Biblionef South Africa
In September 1998, Biblionef South Africa was established, as a result of the conviction that literacy and education will be of prime importance to guarantee the success of the new South Africa.

Moreover, Biblionef believes that this country has the potential to play a leading role in the whole of the southern part of the continent. Knowing that South Africa faces tremendous problems concerning education and literacy, partly due to a lack of reading material, a children’s book depot was created in the Huis der Nederlanden in Pinelands, Cape Town.

The most important aim of Biblionef South Africa is to respond in a quick and efficient manner to the great and increasing demand for appropriate reading material for children, aged 3 to 18. Requests come from schools, libraries, hospitals, refuges, children’s homes, and from other organisations with a social-educational goal. Thereby, an important feature of the mission of Biblionef consists of fulfilling a need in providing books in the mother tongue of the children.

Biblionef firmly believes that children should have the right to develop themselves in their home language. At present, the Biblionef stock includes new or unused books in the African languages, such as Afrikaans, isiZulu, isiSotho, isiXhosa, isiTwana, and Sepedi.

Biblionef seeks to stock books in the remaining African languages spoken in South Africa, so as to be able to reach all of South Africa’s children that are in need of reading material in their mother tongue. The stock in Pinelands also includes books in English, although Biblionef does not consider this to be part of her priorities, as there are other organisations active in South Africa which provide books in English.

How to apply for Biblionef books
Organisations wanting to apply for a book donation by Biblionef, have to fulfil a number of requirements. In the first place the organisation should have a need of books written in the mother tongue of the children. In the second place, Biblionef expects a request letter in which the following information must be provided:

• the number and age of the children involved
• the mother tongue of the children (for example 80 % isiXhosa, 20 % Afrikaans)
• the background of the school or organisation (when was it founded, how many teachers are there, in what kind of community is it based, ...)
• a description of the system presently being used to make books available
• an outline of how the organisation is planning to use the books donated by Biblionef, e.g. library system, class use, etc
• the contact person who will be in charge of the books
• a clarification of what the organisation is presently doing to encourage a reading culture

Biblionef has evaluated the request form, and found that the organisation meets the necessary criteria, a set of books will be selected, according to the specific needs of the organisation. The boxes of books will then either be posted or brought to the organisation, depending on the location of the organisation.

If the person who is going to be in charge of the books is able to come to the depot in Pinelands, he can choose the books himself and take them back to the organisation. This is of course the ideal situation, as it ensures that children will be exposed to the books they need most.

All organisations that benefit from Biblionef must agree to write a report on the way in which the books have been used. No organisation shall be considered for a second donation, unless it has given the necessary feedback about the progress being made as well as the problems it may still be facing.

The report will enable Biblionef to adjust its second donation to the current needs of the children. Finally, all organisations that have benefited from Biblionef are asked to do something in return, as a sign of appreciation for the donation.

Biblionef does not expect to be rewarded in whatever form for the books it donates. However, the children to whom the books were given could for example undertake to clean a dirty area in their neighbourhood, or they could visit old people in their community.

Biblionef believes that this will make the children aware of the value of books, while it can also help them in gaining respect, both for themselves and for their communities.

Biblionef South Africa in the future
In the first five months of its existence, Biblionef South Africa has donated books to some fourty organisations. As its office and depot are situated in Cape Town, Biblionef started to work from there.

This is why most of the schools and organisations that have received books so far, were located in the Cape Flats and in the Boland area. However, the aim of Biblionef South Africa is to cover the whole of the country.

In order to reach this goal, Biblionef is seeking to establish a network of contacts in all of the nine provinces to act as agents. These agents will then inform the local communities in need about the existence and the objectives of Biblionef. Moreover, these agents will be in charge of the initial investigation as to the needs of the local organisations.

Biblionef is also prepared to work in partnership with any organisation with the same aims as Biblionef. Sponsorship, corporate donations, cover the finance of Biblionef.

Biblionef wishes to mention with much gratitude the donations received from Cargill SA, from the Dutch Government, from the R.C. development organisation Bilance in the Netherlands, and from other donors. The organisation also depends greatly on publishers making books available at a reduced price.

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