From One Bookcase to a Century of Libraries: The Maryam Library Foundation Journey to 100 Libraries
From One Bookcase to a Century of Libraries: The Maryam Library Foundation Journey to 100 Libraries
- By Aakarsh Shetty
April 19, 2026
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In just a few years, the Maryam Library Foundation has transformed from a single idea into a monumental drive for literacy. It took love of books, countless hours of heavy lifting, the unwavering support of a global community, and, most importantly, a single, unshakeable vision: literacy is not a luxury; it is a fundamental human right.
Today, the Maryam Library Foundation is overflowing with joy to announce a monumental milestone. With the recent completion of our 40-library mega-project in Tanzania, we have officially established over 100 libraries in underserved communities across the globe!
Getting from 0 to 100 wasn’t just a matter of logistics. It was a journey of passion, sweat, tears, and an incredible amount of collaboration. Here is a look back at how a single idea blossomed into a century of libraries, touching thousands of lives along the way.
The Seed of a Vision (2021–2023): Starting Small, Dreaming Big
The journey began around 2021. Maryam Zehra, who was a rising sophomore at that time, witnessed the lack of educational resources in India and Africa while being active in education projects with a non-profit organization in both countries. Driven by a deep passion to bridge this gap, the Maryam Library Foundation was born.
We started small but with fierce focus. We worked community by community, establishing our very first libraries in places like the Kikulu Community in Uganda, the Kaasam Community in Ghana, and schools in Lucknow, Varanasi, Pune, and Karnataka, India. Every single bookcase was a victory. Every book on the shelf was a new door opened for a child who previously lacked basic reading materials.
The Leap in Scale (2024)
At the start of 2024, the foundation moved from doing single library projects to a 40-library megaproject. Our first major test was in Kenya, Africa.
Over 20 volunteers spent countless weeks sorting and packing 40,000 books into a single shipping container. Around the end of 2024, all 40 libraries were successfully established, bringing thousands of dreams to life for students who previously lacked basic textbooks. On top of this, we also helped make 6 libraries in Karnataka, India.
Deepening the Roots (2025): Expanding and Refining
With the blueprint of the Kenya project proven successful, 2025 became a year of targeted expansion. We turned our focus to Tamil Nadu, India, to bridge educational gaps through a powerful collaboration with OSAAT (One School At A Time).
We didn't just want to drop off books; we wanted to create welcoming, inclusive spaces for study and creativity. Together, we established 5 beautiful new libraries in government higher secondary schools across Arasur, Kalapatti, Kembanaickenpalayam, Thirukazhukundram, and Kayarambedu.
Hitting the Century Mark (2026): The Tanzania Project
Our Journey to 100 ended in Early 2026 with the completion of the Tanzania 40 Library Project.
Following a similar blueprint in the Kenya Library Project, we delivered another 40 libraries to underserved communities in Tanzania. Combined with our previous projects in India, Uganda, and Ghana, the completion of the Tanzania Library, we, the Maryam Library Foundation, have officially passed the 100-library milestone.
The Power of Collaboration: We Didn’t Do This Alone
Building 100 libraries is a marathon, not a sprint, and we could never have crossed this finish line alone. This milestone belongs to everyone who believed in our mission.
It belongs to the incredible student volunteers who gave up their weekends to sort books. It belongs to the California school districts—including Campbell, San Jose, Fremont, Dublin, Pleasanton, and San Ramon Valley—who hosted massive book drives.
It belongs to our phenomenal partners who provided the infrastructure, funding, and local expertise to make these libraries permanent fixtures: Help Aid Africa, Literacy International, Raabta, and OSAAT.
Looking Forward: The Next 100
As we celebrate this milestone, our work has only just begun. We are already looking toward the horizon, with exciting new projects underway, including a 4-library initiative in the remote Ladakh region of India and a brand-new 40-library project launching in Ghana.
From zero to one hundred, our journey has proven one thing: when a community comes together with passion and purpose, there is no limit to the impact we can make. Thank you for building futures with us, one book at a time. Here is to the next 100 libraries!
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