Tours
Visits to LPP-network libraries provide a first-hand look at LPP’s impact on young children, families, and communities and often take place in locations that participants would not otherwise be likely to visit. Participants get a deeper understanding of the community through conversations (translation provided) with community leaders, parents and library managers. The highlight of the visit is sitting down to read with the children who are eager to show and read from their favorite books. Comfortable, secure transportation is provided.
Upcoming Libros Para Pueblos library visits
Libros Para Pueblos (LPP) is a non-profit organization that supports more than 60 children’s libraries in underserved neighborhoods and rural communities throughout the state of Oaxaca. Our visits to libraries give participants a chance to talk with children who read from their favorite books, meet community educators, and see first-hand the impact of the library on Oaxacan families.
Thursday, January 11, 2024 – San Martin Tilcajete
This community, world-famous for its wood carving “alebrijes”, is the home of a Libros library partner since 2015. Libros sponsors have donated more than 1,000 children’s books to create a vibrant library, regularly visited by 150 children. We will visit the library, read with the children and talk with community educators about their goals and challenges. Following the time with the children, we will visit conservation center for endemic plants and trees “palo que habla”, followed by lunch in a local restaurant.
Thursday, January 25, 2024 – San Lucas Tlanichico
This library tour will take us to the Yuu Nann Library, which in Zapotec means “house of knowledge,” in the municipality of San Lucas Tlanichico. This village of 600 is located about one hour from Oaxaca city. The library joined the LPP network in 2019 and has since received 500 donated books for the 100 children in the community. The children will read one-on-one with participants, and we’ll talk with the library manager about educational goals and challenges. The local economy centers on peanut cultivation and production of products, and we will visit a local family to see the cultivated lands and learn firsthand about the community’s income-generating activity. Lunch will be in a local restaurant.
Thursday, February 8, Santa Catarina Quiané
Imagine a beautiful children’s library inside the gazebo in the main plaza that houses 500 books donated by Libros Para Pueblos sponsors since 2020. Join us on a visit to this magical town located 45 minutes south of Oaxaca city. Children will read with each participant, one-on-one, from the book collection and we’ll talk with community educators about the impact of the library in the community. We’ll visit the church that stands in front of the scenic mountain range and learn of its history from a local guide. Lunch will be at a nearby community restaurant. And a well-known mezcal dispensary is just one block away!
Thursday, February 22, San Antonio de la Cal – PUPPET PRESENTATION! *1,200-peso donation
This is a unique opportunity to join with the community children and parents to see the Libros’ “Reading Promotion Through Puppetry” presentation. Two master puppeteers from La Bruja puppet theater in Huantantla, Tlaxcala, will present their 24th show in collaboration with Libros Para Pueblos. In 2023, they visited library partners in fifteen locations, enchanting the more than 2,300 attendees and motivating children to visit the library and read more. We will take up to 35 participants to this location, 30 minutes south of Oaxaca city.
Don’t miss this one-time-only opportunity to be part of a Oaxacan community and see the excitement generated by the Libros puppet project.
A donation of 1200 pesos goes toward financing the 2024 project to visit 15 more libraries.
Thursday, March 7, Santiago Etla
This tour will take us to the municipal library in Santiago Etla, located 30 minutes from Oaxaca city. An LPP partner since 2010, the library houses a collection of more than 1000 donated books and excels in innovative reading promotion activities: children reading to their pets to build confidence, individual reading to the group, and painting and sculpture of characters in the books. During the visit, children will read one-on-one with participants. We’ll talk with the library manager about the impact of reading activities for academic and social development. Later, we’ll visit a local artisan workshop and have lunch in a nearby restaurant.
Thursday, March 14, Colonia Zapoteca, Zaachila
Join us on a visit to the “Mundo del Saber” (World of Knowledge) library in the Zapoteca neighborhood of Zaachila, located 30 minutes south of Oaxaca city. It is the first LPP-partner library, and since 2000 has a collection of more than 1,500 donated. Over the years, the library managers have developed creative activities to supplement the reading and turn the library into an active “world of knowledge.” During the visit, children will read one-on-one with participants and we’ll talk with community educators about the impact of this library in the life of the community. Later, we will visit the Tlapanochestli ranch where cochineal insects are grown and become the world-famous natural red dyes used in local weaving. Lunch will be at a local restaurant.
Tours include only 14 participants -- early sign-up is recommended. An 800-peso donation is requested.
Please visit our offices on the terrace of the Oaxaca Lending Library to register or get more information.
Calendar to be updated soon.