Tribute to courage and drive —11

A tribute to many fellow coordinators and librarians who continue their efforts in this journey of the Cajamarca Rural Libraries Network, from different areas and communities. From Cutervo, in San Andrés: Mario Sánchez; in Churumayo: Eusebio Silva; in San Juan: Aníbal Segura and Jorge Carrasco. From Celendín: Santos Rodríguez. From the Chota area, in Pión: Custodio Tello; in Cutaxi: Silverio Herrera and in Chalamarca: Rigoberto Vásquez. From the Hualgayoc area, in Ahijadero: Lino Gálvez; in Chala: Víctor Carranza, and in Pújupe: Antero Vásquez.

To them the affection and full recognition!

New spirits, new books, new journeys

Despite the pandemic changing our daily lives, the tasks of the Rural Libraries Network have been recovering their rhythm little by little. New actions and processes have been advanced, new books and new spirits accompany us in this stage - characterized, according to our brother Alfredo Mires Ortiz, by "purges and reinventions, cleanses and purifications."

The Network has several Rural Family Libraries (BR in FA), a new type of library that emerged from the context of the pandemic and that, today, strongly contributes to the fact that books are finding readers in their own homes. The books, the encounters to read are close, very close.

We have been asked for new Rural Libraries in an Educational Institution (BRIE), as is the case of the library in the educational institution of San Pedro, in Chiclayo, coordinated by Professor Marino Torres. We welcome him and his students to this library family.

The books "El campesino y la tierra", by our Contumazá community member Marcos Florián Alcántara, and "El puma al acecho" written by Alfredo Mires Ortiz and Miguel Garnett are now available for exchange.

We thank Francis Bazán and Mauricio Pérez, who gave us a hand in preparing these materials for the rural areas.

Some coordinators have come to Cajamarca, to the Central Office, to bring their already read books and take others, which will circulate among the communities. This movement of books encourages us, the exchange of books as seeds is an essential bastion in the conception of our Network.

We know that our library families continue to read, in addition to developing their work on the farm. They make their offerings to the land, take care of their fields and crops and continue their efforts as volunteers and community members of the Network.

It is very pleasant to meet together despite these times; recognize ourselves as great family of friends, brothers and sisters.

Coming together again

At the beginning of November - when there were not so many new cases of coronavirus here - we had the first face-to-face meeting with the coordinators of the Community Program for the accompaniment of children with projected capacities, after almost two years.

The Community Program at this time has nine peasant coordinators. Two of them could not attend this meeting and, as we were so few and we are all vaccinated, we were able to meet in the Hatun Wasi, the large salon of Rural Libraries, with the windows and doors open. We had also moved the dining room to the open space of the garage so that we could be more comfortable and safe during meals.

It was a truly moving encounter, with deep and enriching feelings at the same time. Being able to speak directly, see each other and share again has done us all very good.

We received and exchanged many experiences, we kept up to date with the achievements and progress of the project and of the children and we confirmed the importance of the work of our volunteers - without the Community Program, children with disabilities in rural communities would have been abandoned throughout the entire pandemic.

Thanks to this team of really great people!

Thank you for your presence, your continuous volunteer work, your dedication and love for the children and families of the Program.

Thanks for the parrots

Don Antonio Goicochea is a San Miguel teacher, a promoter of reading and good ways of teaching children in schools; he is also a producer of teaching materials. "El Antu", as he is affectionately known, is also a writer and, among his productions, a few years ago he published the book "My talking parrot", in which he narrates many stories that occurred in his native San Miguel and elsewhere. 

This entertaining book will soon be in our rural libraries thanks to a donation that Antu himself has made for our Network.

We are recognized for the valuable books we have received. We know that each issue will encourage reading in the communities where they will soon arrive.

Thank you Professor Antonio, for your contribution to our libraries.

Tribute to spirit and drive - 10

There are many women who light up the sky of the Rural Libraries Network of Cajamarca.

We want to praise the loving and constant work of Mrs. Laura Palacios, coordinator of a sector of rural libraries in the communities of the Condorcucho area, in charge of rural women and volunteers from the Cajabamba Network.

Also a recognition to the coordinators of the Rural Libraries in Educational Institutions such as Elizabeth Olano and Sara Moreno, from Jaén; Marleny Olivera, from San Ignacio; Soledad Álvarez, Nalda Malca and Carmen Malca, from Cajabamba; Manuela Vásquez, from Bambamarca; Flor Mendoza, from San Pablo. They represent the commitment and full affection of our great library family.

Fraternal hugs!

1971-2021: Tribute to our Network - 10

The Rural Libraries Network is considered by all its members as a great farm, for this reason it is cared for and respected, it is protected and surrounded.

Our beloved farm has allowed us to cement and relearn the practice of breeding. She has taught us to raise and be raised; through it we learned to recognize that we are earth and to her we go; we are seeds and with them we germinate.

We are hill, puquio and lagoon. We are sky, we are clouds. We are ayllu and full nature.

The Huamán brothers

Javier and Segundo, the Huamán Lara brothers, reaffirm the sense of the great family of the  Rural Libraries Network of Cajamarca, a great family that goes beyond kinship, that appreciates and values everything that exists, that learns in community and who knows how to join forces in good and bad moments.

Javier and Segundo have been with us at the headquarters of the Network. They have come to accompany us, to encourage us, to maintain the little house. They bring us news from the countryside, from the libraries, pleasant folk and also the greetings and enthusiasm of Don Apolinar, Humberto, José, Marcial, Liduvina, Nancy, Elsita, Hernán, Manuel, Guido, Camila and all the members of their family.