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Education is the key to breaking the vicious cycle of poverty and achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals. The ST-EP Foundation has brought the Thank You Small Library initiative to people living in the developing world.

A Thank You Small Library is a place where children and adults can study and read. Meanwhile, bread and refreshments are given to the children to encourage them to visit the library and use its resources. Whether its used for homework or causal reading, the Thank You Small Library is a safe and fun environment for all ages to gather and enjoy.
The 2007 Korea Library Festival was held at Seoul, Olympic Park, September 12th to the 13th. The festival promoted reading and the use of libraries in Korea and around the world. Special remarks were delivered by the First Lady of Korea and Korea’s Minister of Culture and Tourism. The ST-EP Foundation helped to organize the festival and its Thank You Small Library booth was paid a special visit by UNWTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli and his wife.

Arirang Cafe Special: "Thank You Small Library" : Arirang TV - Aired of October 27th, 2007 (English)

Arirang Cafe Special: "Thank You Small Library" : Arirang TV - Aired of October 27th, 2007 (Korean)

"Thank You Small Library" : MBC (Munwha Broadcasting Corporation)- Aired on October 12th, 2007 (Korean)

To open a Thank You Small Library one does not have to start from scratch. It can be created by using an existing structure and other materials available in a community.

ST-EP Foundation staff had many preparatory meetings with the Ga East District members to set up the two Thank You Small Libraries. All the furniture including bookshelves, tables, managers’ desks and kitchenette were produced in Ghana.

The first two Thank You Small Library pilot projects are located in two communities in Accra, Ghana (Danfa and Abokobi). They were launched on October 6th, 2007. ST-EP Foundation is working with the Ghanaian Ministry of Tourism & Diasporan Relations to ensure the success of these small libraries. The first 1000 educational books in each library have been supplied by the ST-EP Foundation.

*List of Library Contents
1,000 books
Solar Power Energy System
Bookshelves
Round tables and chairs
Desk and a chair for the library manager
Kitchenette

*Staff
A manger of each library will take care of the library’s administration and cleaning the facilities of the library.

A part-time teacher of each library will teach local children and women with donated books in the libraries.

Chairperson of the ST-EP Foundation Board of Directors, Dho Young-shim, met with Ghanaian President John Agyekum Kufuor at his official residence. He thanked the ST-EP Foundation for the establishment of the libraries in Ghana and offered the support of his government.

“I am happy you are introducing this library scheme for the people, but especially for the children. Now that the nation (Ghana) is able to support the children with free education, we want to instill in them a culture of reading. They will use the library to spread their mental horizons, so they will appreciate their surroundings and the world in which they live.” John Agyekum Kufuor, President of the Republic of Ghana

As 92% of people living in rural Africa do not have access to electricity, a solar energy power supply charged during the day will to allow people to read at night.