The Librarian - The Book Collection

Aprender opened the region's first library in March of 2007. The library - Biblioteca Los 3 Ernestos - is located across the street from the town's school and is open to everybody, five days a week. It is a simple one-room cement block structure with a tin-roof; yet with hundreds of books and it represents a big change for the kids in a town where few houses have any books at all.

The Library offers more than 600 titles, dictionaries, encyclopedias, art books, maps, as well as pens, pencils, paper, educational toys, and more. It’s an ideal space for doing homework: with wooden tables and chairs, reference books, and a knowledgeable librarian always willing to lend a hand.  

The Library has an inviting atmosphere for drawing, painting, or playing with Legos; and the tile floor is a nice alternative to the dirt floors of most local houses – especially in the rainy season when dirt transforms into mud.

The Library is a dependable sanctuary where a kid can find some attention and encouragement to explore, create, learn ... where the kids feel important ... where curious minds can roam in peace.

The Library also hosts on-going tutoring sessions and different educational activities:  to learn about them please see our Projects Page.

The Biblioteca Los 3 Ernestos is named after three Ernestos we admire: Ernesto Cardenal, Ernesto Sabato, and Ernesto (“Che”) Guevara.

The Librarian:  So far Aprender has only had one on-going paid position: the librarian. The librarian’s role is so important and time consuming that it requires a professional trained in children’s education who is able to make a long-term commitment. The librarian’s teaching skills are essential because of the amount of tutoring required.

During the Library’s first two years, the librarian was Cindy Castillo: a Nicaraguan university-graduate, trained as an elementary school teacher with a Masters degree in Special Education. Cindy has been a big part of Aprender from the early days: she worked for a year and a half running various tutoring and literacy classes before the library even existed. Cindy recently stepped down as librarian because she was offered a job in Granada working with special-needs children: her specialty. Aprender will miss her,  but we know it is for the best and we wish her much success.

As the Library begins its third year, we have a new librarian. Her name is Aracelys Cruz Acevedo.  Aracelys is a young Nicaraguan woman with university training as an elementary school teacher. She lives in the neighboring town and comes highly recommended. We are excited to have her as a new key player on the Aprender team.

The Book Collection  is an ongoing effort. We started with 150 books, and as of March of 2009 we have 600 titles available. This collection is possible thanks to:

Daniel Scheimberg, Hans Kruiswik, David Dorosco, Kerl Lloyd, Carrie and Gibson, Donna, Valentina and Candelaria, Cindy Castillo, Ernesto Cardenal, Kirsten and Robert, David Hans,  Macky Corbalán, Romina, Emiliano and Teresa  Calcagno, Veronica Prado, Hilaria Dantas, Angela Jerez, Mariela Lupi, Santiago Scrinzi, Mateo Prezzano, Katchen Lock, Arturo Guzman, Jaime Green, Isabel Curry, Marcos Solis, Crhis Delange, Maximo Rivera, Kali Morse, Brown Family, Douglas and Family, Kirsten and Robert, Linda and Roy, Pierre Kory, Hector Castillo, friends of Susan Gregory, Delegado de Marena, Starry Family, Katy Sevilla, Jose Marchena, SIMAS, John Womack, Jean Ross, Revista Enlace, Libreria Rigoberto Perez Managua, Debora Gorman, German, J. Oliver, Emily – John and Michael, H. Smith, Harley, Jean Ross, John Womack, Ruby Starry, Joel and Marie Pitt, Diego Blatt, Paloma Urrutia.