BiblioWorks opens its 8th library!

Too late to take it back when you cut the ribbon on these libraries! Kids start pouring in to the new Tomina Library.

After well more than a year of planning, fund-raising, and hard-work (mostly on the part of our extraordinary Bolivian team), we’re thrilled to announce that BiblioWorks first new library in two years has opened in Tomina.  While BiblioWorks itself hasn’t had a chance to update its own blog, you can read a terrific summary of the library opening from one of our indispensable in-country volunteers.

Some people may know that BiblioWorks took a hiatus from building new libraries last year in order to spend a year focusing resources on its existing 7 libraries in the Chuquisaca province of Bolivia.  That enabled some great work in improving the sustainability of the libraries, provide librarian training, and, of course, to put more resources and books into the libraries.

So, we’re excited to have this opportunity to help open its 8th library in Tomina.  Like other parts of the northwest province of Chuquisaca, Tomina suffers from some of the poorest conditions in Bolivia.  And Bolivia is the second poorest nation in the western hemisphere.  Literacy rates are under 50% while 83% of the population lives in poverty, so we know our efforts are going to a place in need.

I bet you've never seen a party like this at a library!

The Tomina library will service 5 district schools’ students and teachers, as well as being open to the public itself – a population of over 10,000 people.

And, for those who don’t know what this has to do with Biblio — BiblioWorks is a 501(c)3 non-profit (which means you can donate too – and we hope you’ll consider it!) that was founded by Biblio in 2005 and receives a large portion of its ongoing support from our own profits.  You can learn more about Biblio and Social Responsibility here, or about BiblioWorks here.