This is a room stocked with publications, books, video documentaries and other materials which individuals can use to learn more about Pakistan, do research for a project or just keep up with current events in the country. Although no one would be allowed to borrow materials, they would have full access to the material during the room's opening hours.

Begin by discussing the concept with family and friends. Get their feedback and ideas. Find out if they would like to participate in making this project a reality for the local community.

Once you've got a core of volunteers, hold a meeting. Brainstorm and get feedback about the idea. Where would be an ideal place for the reading room? What kinds of publications and materials should be included? How often should this reading room be open in a week (i.e. Only on weekends, or after work hours on weekdays)? What will be some of the costs involved in getting this project started?

Follow this up with another meeting. Here though, you will not be just throwing around ideas. Rather, you will finalize all that needs to be done. List these tasks on a board and start delegating responsibilities by creating committees for specific tasks. Here are the five main ones you should initially focus on:

1.The Location Committee

This group of people is responsible for finding a place to house the reading room in. They should look at all venues that are open in the city for the project and find out the costs of renting or using the location. This committee will also be responsible for dealing with landlords or property owners once the location is selected.

Some places they can start looking for places in are local libraries, which often have study rooms which can be booked by members; community centers which offer a larger space and which residents can use for free or for a minimal fee; the local Pakistani consulate or embassy which should not only support this project morally and financially, but also, if feasible, give a free space for the reading room.

Cost is not the only factor the location committee should consider in choosing a place for the reading room. Location is also very, very important. The more accessible the place is to most residents of the city, as well as to public transportation, the more people can benefit from the reading room.

The final decision on a location is made by everybody in all committees, not just the location committee.

2.The Books Committee

This group decides what kinds of books and materials should be included in the reading. Not only should those in this committee come up with a list of required books, but they must also find out how to acquire them. This can be done by seeking donations of material from local Pakistani-Americans, as well as searching online, in bookshops and in other venues for the necessary books.

For books the committee recommends buying, they should submit a list of them along with their best prices so that everyone working on this project can decide if buying these books is worth it or not.

In addition, the books committee should be on the lookout for newspapers, magazines and journals from Pakistan which should be included in the reading room. This is important not only so that good material is included, but also so that these publications receive financial support to keep publishing.

3.The Budget Committee

This committee is responsible for drawing up a budget for the whole project. Members would have to identify all costs (i.e. For rental, how much can be spent on materials, etc.).

This committee would also have to work out creative ways of securing funds for the reading room. This could include writing letters and seeking donations from well-off Pakistanis, organizing fundraising dinners, getting a grant from a government agency, etc.

In addition, the budget committee would be required to publish a yearly financial report of how donations for this project were spent to maintain openness and community trust for the project.

4. The Operations Committee

Individuals on this committee would have to gather volunteers who would open and monitor the reading room on days it is open. Ideally, there should be two volunteers on duty at a time.

The Operations Committee would regularly recruit new volunteers so the burden of the work is shared, and draw up a schedule so that each volunteer knows their shift times. As well, they are the ones to be contacted if schedules have to be changed or if problems occur during reading room hours.

All committees should meet once a week or every two weeks at the latest and update everyone involved in the project about what's going on on their end , as well as to discuss and deal with any issues or problems.

With all of your committees in place, start first by securing funding and a location. This may take a few months but be patient and don't give up. When one door closes another is bound to open.

Once you've got the place, begin stocking it with items. Your book committee must come out in full force and contact local Pakistani-Americans to get donations of books, magazines, etc. They should arrange pickups for materials and set a day and time when people can drop off materials at the reading room or some other place. In addition, they should begin subscribing to the magazines and newspapers approved by everyone involved in the reading room project.

Finally, once the room is fully stocked, begin advertising it. Don't just spread the word in the local Pakistani-American community and its media, but also in schools, on university campuses (look for a department of South Asian affairs and let them know about it), the city newspaper, radio station etc.

Date/Time Last Modified: 6/17/2002 3:47:54 PM

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