New Library Updates – Completed as of May 12, 2011

Accra College of Education Community Library, Accra

Architectural drawings by Roger Amenyogbe showing the front and side views

This library is on the compound of the Accra College of Education, a training college for teachers. Unlike other OCLF/OLF library projects under the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, this library will be partnered with the Ghana Education Service [GES]. The Director of GES Metro indicated that their office will pay for all staff salaries and utility bills, essential elements for any successful library project. The OCLF/OLF will provide management in keeping with its four other sponsored libraries in Accra.

Library Committee: “In the Madina Community, there is no library. The few school libraries available are not opened to members of the public. Added to the unavailability of a library facility in the community, the atmosphere and the conditions existing in the majority of the homes of the pupils and students are not conducive to learning. Thus a community library that would be opened during weekdays, Saturdays and and school holiday periods would greatly be patronized by the great number of pupils and students in the Madina Community and its environs.”

Roger Amenyogbe, Architect: “The new children’s library is a unique facility that embodies elements of the old to address the new. The two interlocking geometric forms with an open embracing entrance is reminiscent of forms emphasizing stability, calmness,innovation and continuity. The front entrance columns binds the two levels of the library together as a sign of stature, respect and protection.” R.A.

Kojo Maclean (at right), Contractor/Quantity Surveyor & Victor Mensah, Supervising Architect: “The new library project in Accra-Ghana is a very laudable project once again financed by the Osu Library Fund through Kathy Knowles. This library will be very beneficial to the children as it will provide a serene place for their private studies and help them in their education in general. We are very proud to be part of the project.” K.M. and V. M.

	January 21, 2010 Trees and their stumps are removed to clear the land. More trees will be planted to create a lush and colourful environment following the library’s completion .
	February 4, 2010 Foundation work begins!
	February 22, 2010 Block walls and vertical iron rods are placed on the foundation.
	March 4, 2010 Students celebrate the sod cutting ceremony for their new library.
	March 4, 2010 Emma Amoo-Gottfried, Osu Library Fund Director, addresses the audience at the ceremony.
	March 7, 2010 Laterite (red clay-like material) is put down in preparation for the steel mesh and concrete.
	March 25, 2010 Kojo Maclean, Contractor, and Kathy discuss the logistics for the front entrance.
	April 22, 2010 Preparing the pillars near the front entrance.
	May 20, 2010 View from the southwest corner.
	May 20, 2010 View from the front entrance at the southeast corner.
	June 13, 2010 Supports are going up in preparation for the upper level. According to Kojo Maclean, heavy rains are disrupting the progress a little.
	July 8, 2010 Iron rods crisscross the first floor to give support. The gray plastic tubes will be used for the electrical wiring.
	July 8, 2010 View from the front entrance. The ramp to the right shows the main stairwell to the next level.
	July 8, 2010 The ramp for the back stairwell.
	July 12, 2010 Pouring concrete begins! (on main stairwell)
	July 12, 2010 Pouring concrete begins! (on upper level)
	July 26, 2010 Block work reaches to the upper level.
	August 16, 2010 Scaffolding in place for the upper level construction.
	August 29, 2010 Plastering the ceiling on the main floor.
	September 24, 2010 The triangle opens into the story telling circle behind it. More geometric shapes will be added along the curved wall. The shapes allow a dialogue between the circle and the main children’s reading hall, but at the same time the wall creates a division to keep the story telling area cosy and defined!
	October 16, 2010 All 15 roof trusses go up in 8 hours!
	December 16, 2010 The metal roof is on! This view is from the main road.
	December 16, 2010 Blue pillars adorn the front of the library. In total there are 16 pillars and each one is covered with blue mosaic tiles. Raymond, the head tiler, has tiled six libraries for OCLF!
	January 11, 2011 The view from the main road. The reddish-brown exterior is a laterite finish made from local earth. This means that it will never need to be painted, a huge plus!
	February 15, 2011 The laterite exterior covering is complete along with the tiling of the main columns. The lobby and ceiling are painted a light cream colour to blend with the earth tones of the laterite. The next step is to put down terrazzo floors for the entrance and stairwell areas and then to complete the wheelchair ramp.
	March 10, 2011 The upstairs reading hall will have the required textbooks for students from middle and senior high schools. The books will be kept behind this reference counter. Tile work is now in process to beautify the area.
	March 10, 2011 A ramp to allow wheelchair access to the main level is now in place. The railing for the ramp will soon be painted blue to match the other railings. Flowers and shrubs will be added around the entrance to create an additional welcome for our young patrons.
	May 12, 2011 At long last the library is finished! We are most grateful to the following: contractor Kojo Maclean who oversaw each detail with utmost precision; site foreman Bright Asare who greeted each worker with a warm welcome and followed through with careful supervision, and to the team of skilled tradesmen and their associated labourers. To all, including architects Roger Amenyogbe and Victor Mensah, OCLF says a big thank you! (See pictures taken at the occasion of the commissioning on our News page.)
Photos courtesy of Kojo Maclean