The proposal of the Network was increased several years ago with the formation of the Rural Libraries in Educational Institutions (BRIE): in the schools or colleges that decide to have a Rural Library.
One of them is the one that Manuela Vásquez, coordinator of our Network, has in her Educational Institution.
You should see how enthusiastically the children read and borrow books!
Recently, our Network of Rural Libraries celebrated its anniversary, always humble, in silence, without fanfare. And, as we always say, here, the noise is made by the books.
Our best way to celebrate, then, is through collective reading, because even if it is just one person who reads, it is the whole community that benefits. We celebrate with the journey of our books into communities where they are always welcomed and read. And, in addition to celebrating the reading in the books, we celebrate the living library made up of readers and librarians, men and women, children, young and old; but, above all, the memory of those who have bequeathed us this immense oral tradition that today is transmitted through the books that are born in our Network. We celebrate the perseverance of those who collect this oral tradition in the communities, patiently listening to those who know, and writing their memories as faithfully as possible. We also celebrate those who, for so many years, have been leaving their example and their wisdom within reach of the present and the future: Father Juan, Alfredo, Don Pascualito and all our companions who are part of this family. They, without a doubt, are our largest and wisest library. They are our living library.
Antonio Basanta is a renowned Spanish writer (PhD in Hispanic literature), teacher, editor and author of many books related to reading promotion.
He has been director of the Germán Sánchez Ruipérez Foundation for more than 25 years.
Recently, Antonio published his most recent book, "Leer contra la nada" (Reading against nothingness), which brings together profound reflections on the value of reading.
Antonio has generously donated this book to the communities of our Network.
Here and always, our respect, affection, admiration and gratitude to Antonio.
Manuela Vásquez is a teacher and coordinator of our network.
She is part of the community with 37 children from the Educational Institution 82663, attached to the IESP of Bambamarca.
In her school she has a BRIE (Rural Library in Educational Institutions).
The children themselves run the library, do the lending and register the readers.
Congratulations, Manuela!
This is an extraordinary example for teachers, students and community.
They say that the snow and the cold are coming again.
They say that the little flowers that bloomed in recent days need our care.
They say that last night's bombs have again destroyed many houses of friends in the east.
They say that we are living in darkening times....
But we know that spring is coming, because it is here, even if we don't see it.
We take care of the flowers, even the tiniest ones.
We cling to the hope that cooperation always wins.
We know that every candle shifts the darkness,
because we keep on walking...
Happy birthday to all members of Rural Libraries!
With big hugs
Monika Pfändler
Book Day was celebrated on 23rd April. We are glad that every year this celebration is more and more notorious, more and more publicised. And we hope that it does not become just another date in the calendar, like Mother's Day or other dates full of good wishes, shop windows with exquisite offers, parties and feasts, but, the next day, the protagonists are again forgotten for a whole year.
In the Rural Libraries Network we celebrate our books when they are born, when they are ready to travel to the communities, when they are read, when they are written off due to deterioration from use, when they run out and there is not one left in stock. But, above all, we celebrate them every time we read them and learn from them.
