In order to get this project underway, we needed library books. The strategy was to gather secondhand library books that was suitable for primary school students. One of the TAFE libraries was weeding out its collection – we were able to source some of the books from here. Friends and relatives donated some from their own collections. We also bought some to make the numbers up to 400.

The next phase involved preparing the books for the library shelves. This involved putting labels and stickers to identify their appropriateness for lower, middle and upper primary school students. We also setup a spreadsheet so that the library had a digital record of its collection.

Packing the books into cartons, transporting it to the freight forwarders, completing the documentation for customers were the next big challenges. It is amazing how heavy these books can be. It was all a great learning process.