That's right!

A few weeks ago, we saw a post on Instagram: a carnival mask featuring a ñaupita character. The painting was done by artist Kim-Libélula.

As a team, we immediately reviewed the post because we know that many people and institutions make use of the work, the product of the arduous research of our late brother Alfredo Mires, and never mention the source, much less acknowledge the artistic author of the drawings published in the iconography books of the Rural Libraries Network. As an example, let's look at the posters of the Cajamarca carnival... But this time was different because the painter mentions that she made her mask with Alfredo Mires' iconography, so we are happy to continue sharing the vast legacy that Alfredo left us.

We sincerely recognise Kim-Libélula's work and her respect for the work of others.

Long-time friends

In the midst of preparations for our first assembly of the year, we received a pleasant visit.

Jerónimo and Clara, friends of Esperanza TM, came to share fond memories with us, talk about our work in libraries, and rethink new horizons in this ever-changing world.

Thank you, dear friends, for your trust, your solidarity and support, and for always accompanying us. Our journey becomes easier; our spirits are lifted by your kind words, good humour, sincere actions, admiration and respect.

You are always welcome in this great family of yours, the Rural Libraries Network.

The wig

With such sorrow, life went bald. She was ashamed to walk around like that. So she gathered bits of joy and made herself a wig.

Life is beautiful when she wears her hair like that.

But there is a lot of wind in the world.

Alfredo Mires

in: The Goblin of the Labyrinth

Helping hands...

Our first General Assembly of the year is approaching. At the meeting, our coordinator colleagues will bring the reissues of the first nine volumes of the Peasant Library collection in the series: We, the People of Cajamarca, as well as other titles that we know are of interest to readers in rural libraries because they contain topics that can be applied to their daily activities, complementing their ancestral knowledge. 

These books have been prepared with the support of a team of volunteers from both the central office and a group of friends who have joined our cause. Their support has been essential in achieving our goal.

Thank you to Cintia, María, Nathalie, Sandra, Andrea, Emma, Juan Andrés, Brenda, Auris, Rodrigo, Jaylli, Graciela, Bruno, Paul, Brandon and the entire central team of the Network for contributing to our rural libraries.

Being community members

Even the antonyms of the word united sound unpleasant: disunited, disorganised, alone, separated, scattered, abandoned... Words that are the opposite of together hurt: divided, disconnected, distant, estranged, alienated, marginalised, isolated, cut off...

Words such as union, affinity, joining, grouping, team, minga, junction, neighbour, empathy are so powerful. And not only powerful, but also beautiful and vivid are words such as family, home, shelter, pachaque. Community: what fulfilment, what strength!

(…)

Excerpt from the introduction written by Alfredo Mires

for the book by the Rural Libraries Network, Ser comuneros (Being Community Members).

Jallalla Ñaupa Fair

Jallalla (celebration and good wishes).

"The beginnings are of courageous enthusiasts who, with conviction, 

embark on a journey full of dreams."

For those who see special value in numbers, framed temporarily by significant events, visiting the blog of the Cajamarca Rural Library Network allows us to understand the connection that destiny seems to give us with memorable events. As I read through the lines and savoured the narrative, I came across a date (1971) "with books on the earth". Fifty-five years later, on 12 and 13 December 2025, the Cajamarca Rural Library Network launches and develops its FIRST ÑAUPA FAIR. An event that brought to life the culinary expressions, crafts and enterprises of a group of people who filled every corner with smiles, colours and life experiences. Traditional sweets, drinks, textiles and dreams gave a Christmas flavour to a space that liberates letters in every text read.

There was no need to list what was sold, lost or gained. The atmosphere was perfumed with the smell of mulled wine, cinnamon and medicinal plants. Visitors enjoyed good conversation accompanied by a good book and a hot chocolate. The traditional and the modern, the classic and the innovative, the biodegradable and the natural were all mixed together. Economic value took a back seat to the immeasurable value of cordiality. 

Leafing through the books again and again, turning the pages and commenting on the poems, smiling at the stories, admiring the images, were not just the preserve of young people and adults. Children were amazed by the forms and contents. 

A fair that, at 55 years of age, leaves me with an experience that will resonate in my memories as "my first craft fair". I am an entrepreneur of handmade soaps from Colombia. I attended the Ñaupa Fair by fate. I mention fate at the beginning of this text because I firmly believe that life places us where we need to be and gives us what we need and deserve.   

Gloria Velásquez

The mark of indifference

Several times a year, our family climbs Mount Qayaqpuma to perform our all’pata paguikun, our offering to the earth, the mountains and the deceased. It is a way of being close to nature and to the spirit of Alfredo, who loved this mountain. It is a way of leaving behind – even if only for a moment – the city and so-called 'civilisation' (I have a friend who calls it 'syphilisation') and it is an opportunity to find tranquillity and peace in a very special place.

Every time I go, there is something I hadn't seen on my previous visit, something that pains me: farms invading the apu, a road that wasn't there before, buildings that do not blend in with the beautiful landscape, or the hurtful sight of an open pit mine. I don't know if Qayaqpuma will still be the same in ten or twenty years. No one can know. In our eagerness to 'live closer to nature' or 'promote tourism', we humans unscrupulously invade these last healthy and sacred places and leave our mark of indifference. It seems that people forget that nature is not a rubbish dump but our great common home.

I am grateful for the company of Mara and Mateo on this outing, who, without making a fuss about it, dedicated themselves to picking up all the rubbish they found on the way back. If there were more humans like them, the world would be a different place.

Rita Mocker