We do not sell books, we share knowledge

For nine years, Doris Robles has been the librarian at El Zapote School. This educational Center is reached by a dirt road and Doris enters through the back door after crossing a clearing. In front of the school is the estuary: the place where the sea meets fresh water.

When Doris first took on the responsibilities of a librarian, she didn’t even like to read. Later, she was one of the main promoters of the “Bibliobus”, a broken down bus that was placed at the school’s courtyard. Now, with the help of two students, the library travels the dirt streets on a bicycle with a cart carrying books.

The “Bibliobus” cart was devised by a teacher in 2015 and still makes its rounds. It has a sign that reads “we do not sell books, we share knowledge”.

Doris says that all she does from the library is to change lives and not just that of children’s. “I have a lady who has been around since the “Bibliobus” began - she says - and now that she has a hard time reading, she browses the images or her small granddaughter reads to her.” Doris also tries to bring her books with large print.

There are several elderly readers who, when they see her arrive with the cart, ask her for books about nature, fish, and plants. She shows what she has brought them and leaves some books for them to read.

When Doris leaves they ask her, “When will you be back?”.

Doris goes by every 15 days. And this little part of the work sums up mischievously, as if she were a salesperson: “Since we started, there hasn’t been a single day that we haven’t sold. We always sell, even if it is little, but we always sell”.

Doris says that all she does from the library is to change lives and not just that of children’s

Mario says that the story began in 2011. He was training with a scholarship in Texas when Zoila Recinos, co-founder of ConTextos, wrote to tell him about this new NGO. “And it fit like a glove - he says - because my community action program, upon my return focused on community libraries schools”.

In 2012 they opened the library with books in one of the school’s hallways. The students arranged the 500 books in the corridor each morning and they put them away every afternoon. Later, the library moved to a closet space, then to a small classroom and then to a larger one.

Mario –who cannot stay still- started a digital reading project. “Mrs. Irma and Maritza helped me a lot”, he says. So much so, that they procured a donation of kindles for the school.

Mario Quintanilla, Teacher

To find the place, you can ask for the school or for “Teacher Mario”.

“Oh yes! Professor Mario! Go straight down this street and then to the right”.

That is how you get to the Caserío Lotificación San Antonio School Center, in Las Delicias in Sonsonate.

That is how you get to one of ConTextos’ libraries, which teacher Mario Quintanilla has taught reading, writing and drawing for ten years.

I have seen the commitment that teachers have towards the library

Today the library is already part of the school plan so it receives school funding and the grades are organized to have time for reading and writing once a week.

The achievements are tangible.

“I have seen the commitment that teachers have towards the library and I have seen how oral skills have developed in the students; they are critical, analytical and if they consider that something is not right, they raise their hands and start a dialogue”.

“Yes, maybe that’s the word, I’m in love with ConTextos” she says.

Lorena Lima is an English teacher and since she saw a ConTextos’ presentation, she pushed until her school, Salvador Martínez Figueroa School Center, located in Texistepeque, Santa Ana, became part of ConTextos’ network of school libraries in 2015.

“I wanted to meet them but I also wanted them to meet me,” she says.

She began to follow ConTextos on social media and to participate in their book and wine meetings until she applied for a library.

Lorena says that from ConTextos she learned to be self-sufficient and to develop sustainable projects

“I wanted to get more and more involved because I thought it would be a good opportunity to bring something different to my school”.

Lorena not only promoted the library but also taught ConTextos’ program “I am an Author” for three generations of students. In this program, each person writes and publishes a book with a personal story. Sessions begin when students are in eighth grade and continue through ninth grade.

“One gets so involved in the writing process! –she says- you learn each story because drafts are being made and you are suggesting changes ”. During these encounters, trust is built, and the group becomes united. There are stories about the death of a relative, changes in the household, best friends, and even extortion.

Lorena says that from ConTextos she learned to be self-sufficient and to develop sustainable projects. At her school, the library does not have a librarian: the teachers take care of it during recesses and there are volunteers who provide maintenance. Teachers bring their students to the library and very often, older students will read to the little ones.

“These young people - says Lorena - are developing their leadership, they feel that their work is worthwhile and the little ones see them as an inspiration”.

What else can you ask for in a library?

Colato, Teacher