The balance of reading

The readings, the readers and the ways of reading in the countryside continue to show us the dynamism that inhabits within the breast of the Network of Rural Libraries of Cajamarca.

As our colleague Alfredo Mires Ortiz says: "Reading is not an academic exercise, it is not to get a good grade: reading is to awaken the ability to read the world and, through that reading, read books."

Together with the readings that Cajamarcan peasants take of nature, there are the readings they take of books. We want to highlight Fernando Alexis, 11, from the province of Chota, who is one of the most frequent readers of the rural library in his community.

If reading, as Alfredo teaches us, "must be a constant passion", rural libraries in the provinces of Hualgayoc and Cutervo attest that among their constant readers are girls, boys and young people between the ages of 7 and 18, and also a good number between 19 and 35 years.

The Cieza family, in Hualgayoc, stands out for the number of books they request and read. Don Anaximandro Velarde, librarian of his community, is distinguished for being a tireless reader.

On the other hand, one of the sectors of the province of Contumazá, registers an important number of readers of 61 years and older.

This news encourages us to continue to promote reading practices in the countryside; thanks to our librarians and coordinators, men and women, girls, young people and adults who promote the exchange of books, reading circles and 'nutritious' reading that leads us to "read our own reality, put what we know to the service of our people and be humble." Reading "has to be a proclamation of freedom, to grow, to imagine a better world."