More than a month ago I was invited to a conversation at the Pilot Public Library in Medellin, Colombia, to talk about the Rural Libraries Network, our legacy, our work, our challenges and our dreams.
The library is actually called the Medellin Pilot Public Library for Latin America and was founded in 1952 by UNESCO. It was Alfredo Mires, our co-founder, who initiated a close relationship from the Network with several libraries in Colombia, among them the “Pilot”. Alfredo always told us how amazed he had been with this experience. And when Alfredo passed away in 2022, the Pilot Public Library paid him a heartfelt tribute.
As I entered this beautiful library in June of this year, the friend who greeted me took me directly to a very special shelf: there were our books, Alfredo's and the Network's other children. And there I was, with tears in my eyes, because of so much affection and so much admiration that the beautiful people of this giant of librarianship have for us.
Thank you, friends, for this reception and recognition.
Rita Mocker
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