This award-winning community library in the town of San Mateo Ixtatán has multilingual (Mayan & Spanish) books, hosts multiple reading clubs, teacher training and financial literacy programs for all community members. This library is the first of its kind in the region and one of only a handful in the department of Huehuetenango.
This program, managed and administered by GuateMaya Alliance, began on June 15, 2016, with support from the Central Bank of Guatemala. It benefits students from various public and private schools, universities, and families in San Mateo Ixtatán. The program's goal is to promote and facilitate access to information and foster a culture of reading to broaden perspectives and support personal, professional, social, and economic development in the community. We firmly believe that access to education and information is key to the development of communities and their residents.
The library's main activities include:
1) Reading Club for children from different schools in San Mateo Ixtatán, with a focus on human rights, environmental care, and financial literacy.
2) Acquisition and reproduction of bibliographic materials and community library general services.
Each year, the library serves over 2,000 users, offering a world of possibilities through its shelves. For two consecutive years, it has been recognized as the most active and visited library, providing endless opportunities for discovery.
Reading Club
The community library in San Mateo Ixtatán runs a Reading Club for over 80 children and adolescents from local schools. The club focuses on human rights, the environment, and financial literacy, aiming to develop critical thinking, leadership, and communication skills. Weekly, in-person sessions cover topics such as children's rights, equality, entrepreneurship, savings plans, and environmental care, using a project-based learning approach.
Participants are divided into four groups, with each two-hour session held in the morning or afternoon, depending on availability. To encourage participation, students receive educational backpacks with supplies. Now in its third year, the project has shown notable improvements in participants' leadership and social skills, helping them promote human rights and environmental awareness in their communities.
The financial literacy program of the community library plans to develop virtual workshops for the Mayan community living in the United States, as well as make digital content available in Spanish and Chuj for the general public.
Customer service
Each year, the library serves over 2,000 users from various educational institutions. These include children, adolescents, young adults, and professionals who visit either for research or simply for the pleasure of reading. During their visits, staff assist users in effectively accessing available bibliographic materials and guide how to properly use the books. To ensure the materials remain in good condition and to offer efficient service, cataloging and classification work is regularly carried out, making it easier for users to locate the resources they need.
Thanks to the support of the Central Bank of Guatemala and the GuateMaya Alliance, new books are regularly added, ensuring a wide variety of materials. The collection includes reference books, general works on topics such as philosophy, social sciences, psychology, children’s literature, and the exact sciences, providing valuable resources for all users.
