Meet Ruben from Yamparáez

Ruben in the Yamparáez library

Ruben Ortiz is a ten year old who lives in Yamparáez, where BiblioWorks opened the town’s first public library in 2007. He is energetic, always laughing and attends the library every afternoon. Ruben is part of the Yamparáez library’s reading club, which is comprised of about 20 children. They meet every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 2:30-4:30 p.m. to do activities focused on improving reading skills. They also play games, take English classes from volunteers, learn computer skills, draw and many other activities that motivate them to improve their education.READ MORE

Women’s literacy in BiblioWorks’ libraries

Doña Prima filling out her writing worksheet

In 2012 we have embarked on an exciting program in two of our libraries, Morado K’asa and Tarabuco. In these two communities, we have been working with women’s groups in the libraries. The women in these towns are predominantly indigenous Quechua-speakers and are often not able to read and write with fluidity.READ MORE

Artists in Tomina

Aldana with her drawing of Rebecca

In our Tomina library a group of twenty children are enjoying becoming budding artists. Thanks to a former volunteer contact in the UK, we are organizing an exchange between children who are part of the new reading group in Tomina and fourteen artists from the UK. We have sent the participating children’s photos to the artists, and likewise, the artists have sent their photos to Bolivia.

The idea is that the artists will draw the children with professional materials and then hold an exhibition in London to try and raise money for the Tomina library! Here in Bolivia, the children are drawing the artists and we will also hold a simultaneous exhibition, with copies of the artists’ portrayals of the children, here in the city of Sucre.READ MORE

Teachers in Sopachuy improve library services

Teachers doing group work to improve literacy

Last week, we held a small workshop with teachers and library committee members in our Sopachuy library. We have always had great support from the teachers in Sopachuy and this is one of the aspects that have always made it one of our best libraries.READ MORE

Thanks Roxana!

Roxana reading with kids at the literacy fair last month

Roxana Guzman has been working with BiblioWorks for a year and a half. From the first moment she became part of our small team as a university intern, she showed a dedication and energy which is hard to find anywhere. There is not much more to say about Roxana except that she loves life and lives it through making people (espeically children) smile. She is a stage actress, a volunteer at an orphanage for girls, a very well prepared professional and an important part of the BiblioWorks team. For those of you who understand Spanish, she has written a beautiful piece which you can read below. It can’t really be translated into English, but expresses her love and commitment to our mission of spreading literacy and reading in Bolivia.

¡ATRÉVETE!

READ MORE

First ever literacy festival in Sucre Bolivia

Painting a mural about why literacy and reading are important

The recent literacy festival (Saturday, April 14th) organized by BiblioWorks was a huge success for BiblioWorks and for the city of Sucre. We set out to organize the first festival of its kind, a day to celebrate culture and a day to celebrate literacy and reading. READ MORE

BiblioWorks supports local school

Girls after dancing a traditional Bolivian dance

This year has continued well for BiblioWorks with progress being made on a new project in Pampa Aceituno. This is a small, Quechua community in the municipality of Sucre, a few kilometres outside the city, and BiblioWorks is working there with the Bolivian state-owned petrol company YPFB.READ MORE

Meet our great team of staff and volunteers!

Maritza working hard as always

BiblioWorks has had a very good January. We were excited about this year from the beginning; excited about creating new projects, training more people, providing more learning materials to children, high school students and communities in need. However, most of all we were excited about working together as a team, which has always been our strongest asset.READ MORE

Happy 2012 from BiblioWorks!

We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. BiblioWorks is excited about the New Year and improving our literacy and library initiatives in Bolivia and the Asheville, NC area. In 2011 we saw an extremely positive increase in donations and volunteer support. READ MORE

Fundraising Event in Asheville, North Carolina

It was the perfect fall weather for a backyard party this past Saturday, Nov 5th in Asheville, NC.  A clear night, stars, no wind, but indeed quite chilly.  BiblioWorks’ board member John Carzoli was willing enough to let us use his backyard, and his family!  Yes!, even the Carzoli family got involved in preparing 2 huge pots of chili and platters of delicious cornbread to keep everyone warm.READ MORE

Promoting Community Libraries

Adults reading pamphlets about the importance of education

BiblioWorks has been working hard this year to promote each of our libraries in the communities. All of our libraries are public; however most of the people who visit them are children, high school students and teachers. This year we have been creating strategies to attract adults to use our libraries.READ MORE

Sustainability in the Villa Serrano Library

School Principals sign the sustainability agreement

This year BiblioWorks is focusing on making our libraries sustainable and leaving them in the capable hands of local governments and community leaders. By the end of 2011 we will leave behind the Municipal Library in Villa Serrano. BiblioWorks has worked in Villa Serrano since 2007 when the library was inaugurated. The library is a cultural center where many children, teachers and other community members go every day.READ MORE

Adults go to the Yamparáez library

Parents learn about the educational games in the library

Recently BiblioWorks organized a day-long activity with parents whose kids visit the library in Yamparáez . Unfortunately we have not worked much with adults as most of the library users in all of the towns are children or high-school students. The activity involved a brief introduction to the benefits of literacy and education and then some activities to motivate the parents to read about the things they enjoy doing. It was a huge success and the parents left wanting to learn more.READ MORE

Allen Singleton
Featured Library: Padilla
To be inaugurated in June 2016
BiblioWorks’ 13th library
4 hours from Sucre
Learn More...