Merck Container Distributed
The Merck Company donated funds for a forty foot container of books. Books For Africa chose PEN Trust to be the recipient of that container as it was a photo taken by BFA staff, Deb McDonald and Brad Mattson, taken at St. John’s University of Merck Manuals that initiated the donation. This container was primarily post-secondary and was designated to the two new universities in Dodoma – the University of Dodoma and St. John’s University of Tanzania.
Sorting a post secondary container is done differently than those with mainly primary and secondary books. With post secondary books, there is less chance of having multiple copies. When there are multiples they are often brand new from a Publisher like these Organizational Behavior books.
Instead of sorting books by title, they are sorted by broad subject categories. Chemistry, Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, etc.
Then within each category, multiple copies are sorted so that each school can receive as many copies as possible.
Example of multiples within the Biology category.
The two universities were both pleased with their consignments. Each school received around 250 boxes. Both institutions are having a large influx of students this year, so the timing was perfect.ALLOCATION OF BOOKS FROM THE MERCK CONTAINER:
NAME OF SCHOOL AND THE # OF BOOKS
College of Mining 6
College for Rural Development 250
St. John’s University 7,435
University of Dodoma 6,643
VETA Technical School 119
Future Secondary 132
Huruma Girl’s Secondary 145
Ikhanoda Secondary 80
Kowak Girl’s Secondary 151
Mavala Secondary 146
Miyuji Secondary 151
Msalato Girl’s Secondary 16
Mvumi Secondary 157
CPPS Primary 92
Esarani Primary 63
Young Jai Primary 58
DCMC 26
Dodoma General Hospital 114
Dodoma Regional Library 234
Individuals 46
MAF 11
Msalato Theological College 108
Not Placed 31
PEN Trust 429
School for the Visually Impaired 20
SIL 3
Singida Regional Commissioner 8
16,674 books