Biblioteca

Here is a picture of the completed mural. I am hoping that this project jumpstarts more attention to the Library. I hope to work with the SPA projects through PC, Vision Mundial, Noelia (a Spanish volunteer that was living in Jocotan), and the Muni to repair and better the library. They need books (in spanish or chorti), computers hopefully with the internet, a place to actually read, and programs to promote all of this. Much less repair the adobe walls with the paint thats pealing off, and clean the few books they do have which are rotting away because noone uses them and it's 100 degress and so dry that its similar to a dust bowl. They don't even have a catalog system (you know, from way back where you number every book and it has a card and you can go find it) because there simply not enough books to make it worth it. It really makes me appreciate the Colonial Beach Public Library, great job guys, your amazing, seriously!

Its partly a cultural issue as well because noone reads for pleasure here. When they do go to the library they ask for books on geography or history. It´s really only to complete research or study. You will never hear the question, "So, what are you reading right now?" Anytime anyone has come by my house and I'm reading they always comment as if its academic like, "You study a lot." I probably need to study my spanish, but no, I'm reading a fiction beach book in english. Part of it is that books here are very expensive, which is why it is so important to have a good public library to give access to a public that is only ever truely going to develop with education, information, and modivation. (you can add on your own personal "ation" words as well)

Peace, Love,
Robin