A great school library is the heart of a school and a center for a community. Pueblo a Pueblo’s Pathways to Literacy project helps public primary schools build first-ever school libraries and engage hundreds of children in library- and classroom-based literacy activities. These include story hours, classroom reading corners, vacation literacy camps, and book lending for classrooms, teachers, and community members.

Library Nueva Providencia is the newest addition to Pueblo a Pueblo’s Pathways to Literacy project. It is a new library at one of Pueblo a Pueblo’s partner schools, Nueva Providencia. This school is located in a rural indigenous community in San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala, where both schoolchildren and community members lack access to books and library services. In some indigenous areas in Guatemala, up to 75% of women cannot read or write. Furthermore, teachers in rural areas are under-trained and lack the necessary experience to promote reading. The result is widespread illiteracy, lack of educational opportunity, and poor quality of basic education.

With a new library at Nueva Providencia, this will begin to change. Students will have access to books, literacy activities, and a trained librarian. The library will form school and community groups to encourage a love of reading and manage the library independently. The child-friendly library will be successful in helping children gain meaningful skills and in helping teachers empower kids to continue learning together.