Learning to love libraries

Sylvia Arthur tells of her work to get Ghanaians reading

The World Today Published 5 December 2019 Updated 2 November 2020 3 minute READ

Sylvia Arthur

The day before I was due to open my private library to the public in Accra, the artist I had hired to put the finishing touches to the sign suddenly stopped work and looked at me. ‘I don’t think you should write “Library” in the window,’ he said, concerned. ‘It’s better for me to draw a picture of some books rather than spell out the word.’

As a lifelong logophile, I instinctively baulked at his suggestion, insisting he write the word that meant so much to me rather than compose an image that didn’t. He persisted. ‘It will be much better for business.’

Access the archive

The current issue is open access with previous editions reserved for our members and magazine subscribers.