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UNT professor to build a library collection for Thailand farming town
DENTON (UNT), Texas -- University of North Texas Professor Carol Simpson plans to take a group of students and fellow professors to Chiang Rai, Thailand to build a library collection for that farming community. However, there's only one thing missing -- books.
Simpson is putting out a call for any books from John Grisham to Dr. Seuss to help build a collection of English language books for the town.
This project comes after the success Simpson and a group of library science graduate students had last year traveling to the economically strapped community of Negril, Jamaica to establish a working library for the residents.
Originally, Simpson was asked to build a children's library for the Chiang Rai Montessori School to be used to teach English. The Montessori school caters to grades pre-kindergarten through six. A gift from an American businessman in Thailand has expanded planning for the library to result in a facility to serve the entire town.
Chiang Rai is located in the northern part of Thailand in what was known as the Golden Triangle during the Vietnam War era. It is a small town, with an economy based on farming and small-scale manufacturing. It is also the home of a diverse assortment of local hill tribes.
By learning English, many of the children and townspeople in the area have a greater chance of moving into trades more lucrative than farming or working in a factory, Simpson says.
Simpson is looking for books in English ranging from literature to textbooks. Her preference is for recent science, history and non-fiction books.
In Negril, Jamaica, Simpson organized and created the foundation for the library using books donated by tourists through a local resort. The success of that project prompted librarians from Chiang Rai to contact Simpson via e-mail.
Simpson, a group of library and information science faculty and students will visit Chiang Rai during the upcoming summer. She will be accepting books until then. Books can be sent at a low rate via USPS media mail to the Chiang Rai Montessori School, 377/1 Moo 4, Tambol Romkok, Chiangrai Thailand 57000.Donors can contact Simpson either via e-mail at carol_simpson@unt.edu or call (940) 565-3776.
UNT News Service Phone Number: (940) 565-2108
Contact: Rufus Coleman (940) 565-3510
Email: news_service@unt.edu
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