Nicaragua: Fidel Coloma Community Library

The Fidel Coloma Public Library is located in Managua, the capital city of Nicaragua. Its name comes from a Chilean writer who visited Nicaragua in the 1950’s and founded Nicaragua’s first teacher academy.

This library was built over 30 years ago by the local government in a high-risk neighborhood of Managua, San Judas. Even though the library has served the community for so long, the library contains less than 3000 books, most of which are outdated textbooks. A recent donation allowed the roof to be repaired finally. Its previous roof was full of gaps that made it impossible to use many areas of the library. Currently, one of the library’s problems is that the side of the building adjacent to the community market is used by many drunks to relieve themselves. The library is trying to raise the funds necessary to build a fence around the affected area to keep the people out.

These are other needs of the library:

Books

Video Equipment

Furniture

Exterior Improvements

Before the construction of a major two major roads through the heart of the neighborhood, San Judas was an isolated high-risk area known for dangerous gang wars. Now these have become less frequent as children and teens become less involved in gangs. According to Sozzette Asencio, the librarian, one of the main purposes of this library is to keep kids off the streets, educate them, and teach them a way of life without violence. To do this, the library has created dance teams, choral groups, art competitions and reading/writing competitions.

Slowly, this community is developing in a positive way as more people discover the joy and importance of reading. The Fidel Coloma Community Library provides them with this opportunity as you provide the library with the tools necessary for this.