Building libraries is a challenging and rewarding process that we could not do on our own. Working with local and national organizations we decide which communities to serve and how we can help them. We also coordinate with these organizations to plan activities in our libraries and assure their sustainability. Our most important partners in Bolivia are:

US Embassy book donation at one of our libraries.

• U.S. Embassy Book Program- We have been working with their program since 2005. The program is designed to share U.S. history and culture with communities in Bolivia. They donate translated copies of American classics such as Huckleberry Finn and Moby Dick; books about the history of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln; and childrens' stories about American holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving. Each time we open a new library in Chuquisaca, representatives from the U.S. Embassy donate approximately 250 books.
  

Signing an agreement between the Banco del Libro and Presto library.

• Banco del Libro – Established under the Ministry of Education, the Banco del Libro is an organization set up to manage and oversee all municipal libraries in Bolivia. They have standing agreements with a total of 230 libraries in their National Registry, outlining the specific responsibilities of both municipal governments and the Banco del Libro. The Municipal Government is required to provide a library space, pay for all utilities, and pay for a permanent librarian. The Banco del Libro will then support the library with a donation of about 200 books, train their librarian in La Paz, and monitor the library in the future. We have an agreement with the Banco del Libro that when we open a new library in Chuquisaca, that library will become part of the national registry and fall under their jurisdiction.
  

Peace Corps Bolivia Director, Javier Garza, with Julia Ortiz, PC volunteer in Morado K'asa.

• Peace Corps Volunteers – In the Peace Corps Bolivia program, there are a total of 140 volunteers who are assigned to live in rural communities for a period of two years, working in a variety of projects, such as: agriculture, environment, basic sanitation, and small business. Those volunteers that are living in the communities where we build libraries help us collaborate with local municipal authorities and teachers during the course of our projects. When we first begin a project, we can count on them to make important contacts within the community, facilitate the signing of agreements, and organize activities for the official library opening. Once the library is open, they help us form library committees, train teachers and students, and oversee the general development of the library process.
  

Anita Zandstra with a group in Yamparaez.

• Central Mennonite Committee (CCM) – This is a religious organization that has been working with rural libraries in Bolivia for 17 years. They have opened numerous libraries in the eastern part of Bolivia and also work throughout the country conducting creative, motivational librarian and teacher training. We bring them to our libraries in Chuquisaca, where during a 2-3 day workshop, they teach basic library training in subjects such as: dewey decimal system, leadership, self-esteem, and different activities to promote reading and community interest in the library. Recently the CCM trained BiblioWorks staff on how to recreate seminars and educational sessions for libraries in Chuquisaca.

• Local Municipal Governments and Community Groups - At a community level, our library projects require the collaboration of different local organizations. Through a signed agreement with the Municipal Government, we are provided the library space, paid utilities, a librarian, and yearly book purchases through their annual budget. The School Board is required to participate actively in the libraries, involving teachers in decisions made about the library. We also form and work directly with Library Committees that are responsible for the day-to-day concerns of the library.
  

Description of Our Library Programs

Since there is such an enormous need for libraries in rural Bolivia, it's always hard for us to choose in which communities to work. We look for communities that we believe will be fully dedicated to their project and able to follow through with all of the responsibilities needed to create a sustainable library. Once we decide upon a community, we base our work on four library programs. The important thing about our programs is that BiblioWorks only invests more as we see the communities investing more in their projects. With this design, we assure responsibility and sustainability. Here is a description of our four library programs:

1. Lite Library
2. Standard Library
3. Digital Library
4. Superior Library