Students of the University of Washington last Wednesday stormed the e-Ananse book reading session in the University of Ghana - Legon campus.

The team, led by Dr. Anu Taranath, who is author of “Beyond Guilt Trips; Mindful Travel In An Unequal World’’, comprised a large delegation of foreign and local patrons.

The visit to the library was rendered more significant as it coincided with the Washington University Students’ stay in Ghana to champion human rights, social injustice among other significant issues of human life.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The New Publisher, Dr. Anu Taranath said: ''As a professor who teaches about issues of race, identity, and social justice, I travel with students to introduce them to people who are working to make life better for themselves and their communities amid great historical and current challenges.''

According to her, travelling around the globe with main focus on championing inequality among blacks and whites has become part of her life.

Reacting to her experience at the reading session, Dr. Anu eulogized the heads of e- Ananse library for the initiative in pushing for the culture of reading with specific interest on Ghanaian youths.

“It’s the flexibility and the translational skills that students get in the liberal arts—the heavy emphasis on critical thinking, writing, and speaking. It prepares students not only for careers today, but for careers that don’t even exist today…Nowadays, it’s predicted that students will change careers five or six times in their lifetimes. If you have a liberal arts education, you can easily move from one discipline to another because you learn how to read and learn.

''I look forward to registering, though I don't stay in Ghana. I will love to be part and the atmosphere is that cool. I enjoyed sharing the experience in my life as a traveller to different kinds of people. I hope to sensitize readers to be more mindful when travelling to places that are different from where they know.'' she indicated.

Anu Taranath is a faculty member in University of Washington English and Comparative History of Ideas departments. Her new book speaks to those discomforts of travel.
According to her, before one goes overseas, there's work to be done on how to understand oneself, while moving through the world.

About e-Ananse Libraries

The e-Ananse Libraries are to help revitalize Ghana’s reading culture and provide people with the tools to compete in the 21st Century by giving them access to high-quality contemporary literature, state-of-the-art computing facilities, and world-class literary events.

The two libraries, situated at the University of Ghana, Legon campus and Osu, have an e-Ananse technology centre, christened the Innovation Hub, which is equipped with internet-enabled PCs to give library-members access to the full range of resources available on the World Wide Web.

According to Authorities of the library, registration as a member costs GH¢20 per year for adults, and GH¢10 per year for children. The libraries are opened from Tuesdays to Fridays, 12PM – 8PM as well as on Saturdays, 10am – 6PM.