Don Pascualito, how much we will miss him!

Pascual Sanchez Montoya from the community of Chuco in San Marcos, was born on 24th March, 1947 and passed away on 19th July, 2025. 

The great, the humble, the wise, the loving and in love with rural libraries is no longer there in his little house in Chuco, with his wife Doña Juana, his children and grandchildren. His body is gone, but his soul, bright as the sun, will always be in the heart of this librarian family that learned so much from him. Infinite thanks to Pascualito for always being and remaining with us. 

We want to acknowledge his life and teachings, through the following words said by him back in 2017: 

The objectives of libraries "have been ambitious, very healthy, for all the peasants that did not have the opportunity to have books at home, was this great opportunity, (...) because I said just as I have this insatiable desire to read, that everyone had; I wish society would change, I wish there was more awareness, I wish there was more love for our land, more love for our plants, for our little animals, because with that one can feel happy; loving, helping, serving and sharing. It is the greatest happiness that a human being can feel, the greatest satisfaction, because that is what we were born for, to serve and not to be served..."

Don Pascual as a legendary librarian of the Network was very clear about his presence in this world, he told us: 

"Of course we need the service of others, that is welcome, but more than being served (one) must be a servant, there is the challenge, and there is the greatness of a country, when there are people who think so, better to serve than to be served, better to help than to be helped, better to give than to receive; that is the challenge."

In addition, Pascualito emphasized that: "we must be all love for our neighbour; and by neighbour I do not mean only human beings, my neighbour is also my dear dog, my neighbour is also my dear horse, my neighbour is also my dear sheep, they are all my neighbours. Because everyone needs to live, just as I need to live, they also need to live" (Pascual Sánchez, 2017, interview)

Hasta siempre, Pascualito.