Pohnpei Public Library Receives Generous Donation from UNICEF

The Pohnpei Public Library gratefully acknowledges the generous donation of a laptop and backpack from the UNICEF Office.

This thoughtful contribution strengthens our technology resources and supports our team in delivering programs and services to the community. We deeply appreciate the kindness and commitment shown by the UNICEF team.

On behalf of the Board of the Friends of the Pohnpei Public Library, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to UNICEF for your generous donation.

Recognizing Those Who Served

The Pohnpei Public Library extends its sincere appreciation to the community service students from Xavier High School, CCA, and SDA, as well as the JICA Volunteers, Australian Volunteers International (AVI), two COM-FSM students, and Angelu Legaspi, for generously giving their time and energy to support the library during the 2026 Summer Reading Program.

Through their hard work, dedication, and willingness to serve, these volunteers made a meaningful contribution to our library and the wider community. Their support demonstrates the importance of community involvement and the positive impact that young people and volunteers can make when they come together for a common purpose.

We recognize that some of the students and volunteers are not pictured, but their efforts are equally valued and appreciated. The library is deeply grateful to everyone who contributed their time and energy to helping improve our facilities and environment.

Your contributions are truly appreciated and serve as a wonderful example of service, responsibility, and community spirit. Thank you to all the students and volunteers for being part of this effort. The Pohnpei Public Library is proud to recognize and celebrate your hard work and dedication.

Upcoming Inclusive Program

On the weekend Pohnpei Public Library welcomed families to discuss the upcoming inclusive program. The interactive session was led by Children's Inclusive Librarian mentor David Maney.

David shared his 15 years experience of working in disability and the arts sector in Australia, including his involvement with Rawcus theatre and the Fanaticus project (watch video here)

The group discussed various supports that we can offer children with disabilities to make them feel that the library is a welcoming place. These include visual maps to set expectations and offer structure, and finding different ways of presenting new information, such as through games, song, sign language, drawing and puzzles. 

(photo description: Two hands piece together a puzzle comparing equality and equity: on the left everyone stands on a box, but not everyone can see over the fence to watch the baseball game; on the right, the boxes are redistributed so that the people of various heights can see over the fence. They celebrate)

David led a discussion about the picture above, and why understanding language around disability is important to achieve our goals. As the group pieced together the puzzle, one parent commented that so often we spend so much time trying to match up the edges that we don't stop to look at the bigger picture. By offering extra support to those who need it we can create an equitable experience for people coming to the library. 

Families suggested they would like more people to attend this particular session. David said he would organize another session. Stay tuned.  Already scheduled sessions for families at the library include Autism Awareness (Saturday, September 5th @ 11am) and an Inclusive Story Hour to start in mid-September.

We thank volunteer David Maney and the families for contributing to quality conversations and furthering our inclusive practice here at Pohnpei Public Library. 

August 20, 2026 Story Hour

The Pohnpei Public Library was filled with laughter, learning, and excitement during today’s Story Hour, as children came together for a fun and engaging session led by Mr. David Maney from Australia.

Mr. Maney brought energy and creativity to the session, encouraging the children to participate actively through story reading, singing, interactive games,. The children had the opportunity to explore different books and become better readers through using rhyme and repetition.

The Story Hour also featured colorful visual learning materials and interactive activities that helped make reading more enjoyable and accessible for all children. The children participated enthusiastically, shared plenty of smiles and laughter, and clearly enjoyed spending time together at the library.

We extend our sincere appreciation to Mr. David Maney for generously sharing his time, creativity, and passion for children’s learning. His dedication continues to help make Story Hour a welcoming and inclusive experience for our young library users.

A special thank you also goes to all the children and their families who joined us and made today’s Story Hour such a wonderful success. Your participation and enthusiasm are what make these library programs so meaningful.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back for more stories, songs, games, learning, and fun at the Pohnpei Public Library!

Come join us at Story Hour—where every story opens the door to a new adventure!