Biblioteca Girasol - Matapalo Community Library
Libraries - Matagalpa, Matagalpa Department, Nicaragua
Biblioteca Girasol - Matapalo Community Library Employees
Biblioteca Girasol - Matapalo Community Library Details
Biblioteca Girasol is a small community library located in Matapalo, Nicaragua. Matapalo is a rural community of about 500 people in the mountainous region of Matagalpa, in the northwest part of the country. We believe lending libraries harness children's early love for reading while also providing a safe and supportive learning environment. The children in our community love reading, but books are extremely hard to come by in this area. When you do come across them, the selection is limited and the prices are inaccessible. Since opening the library, we've built a collection of 200 books ranging from picture books to novels. In addition to operating as a lending library, we offer English classes, art classes and dance classes. On the weekends, we open as a free space for homework help, crafts and games. Youth leadership is central to our approach. Inspired by the Tipitapa-based Nicaraguan youth organizing team, el Equipo Arco Iris (The Rainbow Team), our team of 13 youth (ages of 12-17) is involved in the administration of the library at every level. We meet every Thursday to plan for upcoming events, reflect on the past week's challenges and delegate tasks for the week ahead. They work as librarians checking out books to other children, support classes as teaching assistants, care for the library by cleaning up and organizing books, read to younger children, and sell snacks to fundraise for new materials.
