Multilingual Children’s Book Publishing: a Developing Industry in Ethiopia A presentation to the International Sustainable Library Development Interest Group June 28 th, 2010 ALA Washington, D.C.

An Introduction... Upcoming Projects... Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Endeber, Ethiopia 1974–76 Librarian—Regis University, Denver Project Mercy, 2006 Dr. Thomas Hooyman Memorial Library and Media Center Mekelle, Tigray Region

Segenat Children and Youth Library Mekelle, Tigray Region, Ethiopia

An overview: Population: 88 million 0–14 years46.2% 15–64 years51.1% 65 years 2.7% Urban population: 17% Literacy in Ethiopia

Languages: Amarigna 32.7% Oromigna 31.6% Tigrigna 6.1% Somaligna 6% Guragigna 3.5% Up to 70 different languages and dialects. English medium of instruction in schools. Literacy in Ethiopia

Fidel: Semitic language Read left to right 7 vowel sounds 33 consonants 231 syllables Amharic, Tigringa, and some dialects of Guragina

Literacy rates: (age 15 and over can read and write) Total population: 42.7% Male: 50.3% Female: 35.1% School life expectancy Total: 8 years Male: 8 years Female: 7 years Literacy in Ethiopia

Strong base in L1 facilitates higher levels of proficiency in L2 Academic skills learned in L1 directly transfer to L2 Literacy skills directly transfer: letters form sounds, words form sentences, punctuation has meaning. Importance of L1 (first language) literacy for bilingual and multilingual students

Yohannes Gebregeorgis Libraries and literacy goes hand in hand. Highlights: 40 school library partnerships 2 free standing children’s libraries 6 Donkey mobile libraries Several portable libraries

Publishing Projects Published many bilingual and trilingual books High quality books with Ethiopian illustrations Titles include: Silly Mammo The Fig Tree The Beekeeper of Lalibela The Elephant and The Cock Fafi’s Sheep The Lion’s Tail Bekelena Adisochu Bucheloch Culturally representative stories

Every child receives a book published by EBCEF

during bread and book day.

The Golden Kuraz Award

Ato Sebhat Gebre Egziabher Alemu Eshetu Noted authors present during book club events.

Authors from the Ethiopian Diaspora Dinaw Mengestu, Maaza Mengeste Named New Yorker’s 20 under 40 in 2010

Multilingual book

Christensen Fund

Sololia Publishing, LTD Challenges and opportunities: Cost and quality of printing Distribution Market Economy Trained workforce Raising capital Government regulations Telecommunications Translations Foreign currency Wealth of potential stories Unexplored talent

Just published : Tirhas Celebrates Ashenda: An Ethiopian Girl’s Holiday.

In publication: Abune Petros Under the Tamarind Tree The Monkey with No Tail Silly Mammo (sound recording)

For more information contact: Janet Lee