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Biblioteca Infantil Bilingüe OaxaCanadá y Amigos: 

Biblioteca Infantil Bilingüe OaxaCanadá y Amigos

Slide2: 

This summer we promoted and opened the first bilingual children’s library in the state of Oaxaca. We hope you enjoy this celebration as much as we did.

Why This Project?: 

Why This Project? Oaxaca has a population of 500,000 people for which there are only two public libraries with a very limited children’s section. There are no libraries in elementary schools. Books are VERY expensive in Mexico. Oaxaca is the poorest state in Mexico. Oaxaca ranks second in the country for illiteracy. English is taught only in private elementary schools, which tend to be very expensive. Most national and international scholarships offered by different universities require English proficiency.

Promotion : 

Promotion We visited several schools. The kids really enjoyed the books.

Promotion: 

Promotion They were happily reading ...

Promotion: 

Promotion ...and got hooked on the books!

Preparation: 

Preparation Many people worked to get everything ready.

Preparation: 

Preparation Everything was almost ready...

Preparation: 

Preparation ... for the Grand Opening.

Opening: 

Opening On July 15th, 2002, the library officially opened.

Opening: 

Opening We shared our mission with our guests and celebrated with them.

Opening: 

Opening Our friends visited the library as a father read to his child.

Functioning: 

Functioning Our proud librarian has informed us that during the first week, 25 people have enlisted for memberships, from which 12 were scholarships. In addition, more than 100 books have been checked out.

More?…: 

More?… If you would like a complete description of the project, the people involved, and ways to collaborate, please feel free to read on.

Mission Statement: 

Mission Statement It is our mission to give Oaxacan youth and children the opportunity to experience reading in a way that motivates them to become avid readers, so that, through reading, they will enrich their Spanish and develop English skills to be successful and improve the standards of living of this and future generations.

Core Values: 

Core Values Education, based on reading, is the cornerstone of each and every person’s success. Children are the hope of our society. Knowing our Spanish language brings us closer to our roots and culture, which in turn creates a more united society. Proficiency in English gives us the opportunity to learn and collaborate with other cultures in order to improve our society.

Our Objectives: 

Our Objectives To create small children’s libraries in different parts of the city of Oaxaca to reach out to children and youth. To promote the libraries in a way that invites children and youth to use it as a place of leisure as well as a resource. To encourage teachers to use the libraries as an integral resource in their reading program. Encourage ESL student-teachers and future graduates of the Language Center of the University of Oaxaca to use the libraries as a resource in teaching English to children in public elementary schools. To invite the private sector, government, publishing companies and the public to collaborate with the project.

Our Steps: 

Our Steps In 1999, Dr. Ron Jobe, an expert in children’s literature and professor at the University of British Columbia, started donating books to the project. The Rotary Club of Tsawwassen, Canada, donated $1,000.00 CD and collected around 8,000 books which sadly we could not bring down to Mexico due to customs restrictions.

Our Steps: 

Our Steps Canadian International College has donated books, and above all, has helped us in bringing the books to Mexico. We would like to extend a special thank you to Cheryl Humpries and the Knowlton Family for their support. The Lopez Gopar family donated the location for the library. Both the Lopez Gopar and the Lopez Ocampo families have donated their time. I would also like to acknowledge, Belem López who has donated books, her time, and helped in transporting the books.

Functioning: 

Functioning The library is open for in house public use at no charge. To check books out of the library, users pay a symbolic annual fee of $2.50 – 5.00 US, on a sliding scale, according to their income. Scholarships are granted to students with a 9.5 (A) GPA or higher and to students with financial difficulties. Student-teachers give a deposit of $5 US dollars refundable upon completion of the school year.

Our needs: 

Our needs Your help is very important to us. We need: More Spanish books for children and young adults. More encyclopedias, non-fiction books, dictionaries, etc. Financial support to run the library: librarian salary, furniture, promotion and office supplies. Computers to hold the library’s catalog and to access the Internet and multimedia software. Contacts with governing institutions, charity foundations, publishing companies, and the private sector to provide support the project.

Address and Contact: 

Address and Contact Our address: Sabinos 110-B Colonia Candiani Oaxaca, México C.P. 68130 Tel. (011-52-951) 51- 4 73 56 You can contact Mario E. López at: 675 Corby St. Woodburn, OR 97071 USA lopezmario@hotmail.com melopez@woodburn.k12.or.us Tel. (503) 982 6134

Acknowledgements: 

Acknowledgements We would like extend our most sincere thanks to everyone, our “FRIENDS”. Bilingual Children’s Library Oaxacanada and FRIENDS Hopefully, you will join this project and its mission. Children, youth and adults thank you from the bottom of their hearts. ¡ MUCHíSIMAS GRACIAS !