Turning 50

Those of us who have already been through that celebration know that turning 50 means having been through a lot. For this reason, often we tend to look at the past with nostalgia; reviewing it sometimes even makes us want to go back to the point where we feel that something failed and then change our history. Fortunately, this is not the case with our Network.

What is the case is that Rural Libraries does not turn away when it needs to change something or improve it: we are instead enlivened and revived, we regenerate and rebuild with our own history. In the Network we review “everything we were to know who we want to continue being”, as Alfredo says.

They have been 50 years of tireless walking for many, and in so many places, of meeting people and making them family. To bring books and hope, to read and share the wisdom that is gathered from one town to take it to other towns.

50 years where we continue building, encouraging processes; sometimes reviewing what was done, inventing and reinventing, adapting to changes, resources, and emerging needs.

And never backing down; if anything, maybe resting a bit to breathe, take a new impulse and start the walk again.

The Network turns 50, with quarantine, with a pandemic, but also with force and with vision.

Here we continue, here we are.

In San Bernardino

Teacher Flor Soledad Mendoza, from the school in San Bernardino (San Pablo province), participated in a discussion about our Network and then made the decision to call us to ask if a library could be formed at her educational institution: “Of course! yes! ”, we told her.

With the support of her director, Teacher Juan Palomino, everything went smoothly.

But it is pandemic time and you have to be very careful; and San Bernardino is not close, so since the end of last year we have been looking at how to meet to deliver the materials, our encouragement and the books.

Only a few days ago we were so lucky: they both visited us and returned to their land bearing that precious seed of reading.

Congratulations and lots of hugs!

1971-2021: Tribute to our Network - 3

The Network is our soul, it is the full path to remembrance and reverence, ritual and harmonization. It is the joyful and permanent song of the minga, the community, the co-responsibility, the tuning of all worlds and beings: the world here, the world inside, the world above, the world over there; together we are, together we complement each other and grow, we know each other farm-stone-mountain-animal and river.

The Network is soul and body, vibration and entanglement with the earth and the sun.

Tribute to courage and drive - 3

The Network is a family of families, for this reason this time the recognition goes to our very own Huamán Campos and Huamán Lara.

Thanks to Liduvina Campos Núñez, from Lliuchucolpa, a wise librarian, and Javier Huamán Lara, coordinator and advisor of the Network; to his daughters Nanci and Elsa.

To Mr. Apolinar Huamán and Mrs. Ignacia Lara: to Shego, Marina, José, Marcial and Humberto. All of them have exalted the principles that govern us as farmers, volunteers, peasants: they are full testimony of solidarity, brotherhood and commitment.

A legacy of heart and art

Many years ago, friends and family in Germany founded the David’s Schleuder (David's Sling) Association for the benefit of children with projected abilities served by the Network's Community Program.

From the beginning of the foundation, our friend Roswitha Brenner was a partner and very soon she assumed the position of recording secretary, a task that she carried out responsibly, with great solvency and great judgment.

On 22nd October, 2020, Roswitha left us, after a long and painful illness. Until her farewell, she devoted herself to painting with great passion and now her artistic heritage is fantastic.

Before she died, Roswitha asked that an attempt be made to sell her paintings to raise funds for children with projected abilities in our Community Program: "Maybe it will be enough to buy a wheelchair for one of these children", were her words.

The family chose 94 paintings from this huge art collection that can be viewed and purchased online on this platform: https://www.kkon.de/nachlass-roswitha-brenner/

Thank you, Roswitha, for your generosity.

You will always live in our hearts.

Rita mocker

Everyone - wake up!

 

50 years with books in the earth

We celebrate another year with books in the earth, another year encouraging and affirming the culture of our communities, with great enthusiasm to spread stories and testimonies. And with a lot of love to belong to this community that encourages reading. That is vitality for us.

With great enthusiasm we share what is ours.

Congratulations to those who made it possible.

Virtual meeting with the BRIE

On 13th March, we were fortunate to meet - remotely - with the teacher-coordinators of the Rural Libraries in Educational Institutions (BRIE).

How nice to talk, to see each other again and to know that, despite the distance, we continue together, linked by that essential thread of affection, appreciation, commitment to our work as librarians.

The party has begun

Our Network of Rural Libraries has been forged little by little, without much noise. And so, almost without realizing it, we have reached 50 years.

We would have liked to celebrate with a great Assembly, going out to the Apu Qayaqpuma, carrying books and cold cuts to make the offering to our mother earth, listening to the stories of our elders, laughing with the theatre plays we had prepared, singing, learning in the circles of reading around the fire, with a bit of dancing as well and, like good community members, enjoying our delicious food.

There will not be a celebration of that kind, but we are together. Because the enthusiasm continues, the desire continues; because we miss each other, because we remember each other. And everyone in their community will share their anecdotes and enjoy the books, posters and almanacs that have arrived to advise that the party has already begun.