New books

On the evening of Thursday, 23rd October, the Cajamarca Rural Library Network enthusiastically presented ten new publications: El libro del tío Lino (Uncle Lino's Book) and the first nine volumes of our Biblioteca Campesina (Peasant Library) series, in their second, third and fourth editions.

Mr Ramiro Yglesias, a community member from Contumazá, was in charge of presenting El libro del tío Lino. He told us about the origin of these traditional and popular stories from his region. Ramiro also mentioned the students of the school in Cosiete, Uncle Lino's birthplace, and the students of the Cristo Rey School in Cajamarca, whose drawings embellish our edition of El libro del tío Lino.

The new first volumes of the Biblioteca Campesina series were presented by Professor Sara Moreno, representative of our BRIE (Rural Library in Educational Institutions) at the Víctor Andrés Belaunde Public Higher Education School in the city of Jaén, and by our comrades Javier Huamán, Manuela Vásquez, Rosa Rumay, and Sergio Díaz, from different libraries and provinces.

Having these new publications in our hands is a great joy for us. Teacher Alfredo Mires said that a new book is ‘like the birth of a new child.’ 

But the reissues are also a source of happiness for us, because for years many of the books in the Biblioteca Campesina series have not been available in our rural libraries because they have been out of print. Soon, all these new books will be distributed to our libraries in the countryside, and we are sure that the communities will receive them with great affection.

Thank you to everyone who joined us tonight.

Sergio Días Estela, from the community of Masintranca, Chota

Coordinator of the Cajamarca Rural Library Network

The Network in Colombia

The Rural Libraries Network was invited to participate with a presentation at the Cundinamarca Public Libraries Meeting in Colombia, an annual event organised by the Departmental Institute of Culture and Tourism (IDECUT) which brought together hundreds of librarians and cultural agents in the city of Girardot from 14 to 17 October. 

The meeting was held under the slogan "Roots that read, communities that grow, public libraries that enrich rural life" and focused its programme on the role of public and community libraries as spaces for community development, culture and social cohesion.

We were able to share our 54 years of experience with libraries in rural communities in Cajamarca, Peru, and the important role that volunteering plays in our organisation. Our publications were received with great interest and inspired efforts to preserve traditions and knowledge in the public libraries of Cundinamarca.

We are grateful for this opportunity to share our experience and thus forge new human and community ties.

 

A Radio Broadcaster in Rural Libraries

Towards the end of August, we received a visit from Cuban broadcaster and radio presenter José Ignacio López Vigil. Together with his sister, María, and his wife, Tachi Arriola, he is the creator of several radio series that take a critical look at Latin American history, society and culture, accompanying and reinforcing many of the principles of our Network.

His radio dramas, such as Un paisano me contó, 500 años and Noticias de última ira (the latter two based on texts by our Uruguayan friend Eduardo Galeano), reflect the unjust reality of our context and invite us to reflect on the injustices that have been dormant until today due to colonialist logic and imposition.

José Ignacio and his people are also great admirers of our work in rescuing and raising awareness of Andean traditions. His suitcase returned to its place filled with several of our books. During the lunch we shared with him, the always interesting conversation was peppered with lessons, teachings, anecdotes and colourful knowledge exchanged in the warmth of friendship.

We cannot close this note without warmly recommending his website (www.radialistas.net), where all his work can be found free of charge. Thank you, maestro and brother José Ignacio, we look forward to seeing you soon to continue our conversation.

Rumi Mires