Community Library Rija’tzuul Na’ooj
¡Our spirit is to discover! Rija’tzuul Na’ooj means: seed of wisdom
San Juan la Laguna, Sololá, Guatemala
It is a community where 98% of its population is indigenous Maya Tz’utujil and K’iche’. Our town has three villages located in the mountains and it has approximately 14,000 habitants. Our people live mostly out of the cultivation of coffee, corn, beans and
vegetables. The women weave with looms attached to their waist and elaborate typical clothing and handcrafts to support the family income. We live on the edge of the Atitlán lake. How we operate:
The library has a local committee that manages the library and collaborates in its activities. The municipality covers the salary of our two librarians and the water and electricity bills. Many community volunteers help with the library’s activities. Number of library visits during 2011
5113 boys
4846 girls
5206 male youth
4710 female youth
1636 male adults
1274 female adults
22,785 users during the year
Programming:
Story hours in Spanish and in Mayan language
Pixab’, meeting of grandparents and children
Cultural tours
Book clubs
Early childhood literacy
Art, dances and theatre
GPS Community mapping of cultural and natural heritage
Community Meetings
Workshops, conferences, trainings
Contest (singing, poetry, comedy, riddles, aphorisms, etc.) Calligraphy, drawing and painting. Handicrafts
Our star activity is the meeting where grandparents go to the library to tell stories, legends, and personal anecdotes to children in the local Mayan language. Sometimes the children visit the grandparents in their homes. This activity has helped promote respect and appreciation to elders’ knowledge and wisdom. Also derived from this activity we have published one bilingual book which is an oral tradition from our community. Our Projects:
• A business center for community artisans. Our community is of high touristic interest but sometimes women don’t have the opportunity to sell their products directly to customers or to sell them in a broader way.
• Open new community libraries in each of the villages of our town, which are in the mountains.
• Implementing of the Teacher’s Home. This is a space within the library where teachers can find different kinds of materials to prepare their classes. Contact Information:
E-Mail: [email protected]
Blog de la biblioteca
http://www.bibliotecarijatzuulnaooj.blogspot.com/
Página de la Fundación Riecken
http://esp.riecken.org/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bibliotecas-Comunitarias-Riecken/121799307901606
https://www.facebook.com/RCLibraries
Te recomendamos visitar también. Pagina de Maya Tz’utujil (Tz’utujil Tziij)
https://www.facebook.com/maya.tzutujil
Our library is part of the Network of the Riecken Community Libraries in Guatemala and Honduras. www.riecken.org
Asociación Comunitaria de Desarrollo Social y Cultural Rija'tzuul Na'ooj
