Jinotepe Public Library

Travel about 45 minutes south of Managua and you’ll run into Jinotepe. Located on the Pan American Highway, this city is busy and active. Many that live in the city work in the free trade zone while those that live just outside the city farm and raise livestock. The central city market is jammed with agricultural products and a congested area of business.

There are approximately 13,000 students in Jinotepe, ranging from pre-school all the way to university level. There are a number of schools located here including an extension of a university in Managua as well as a couple tech schools. Education in Nicaragua is generally poor due to the lack of resources in the schools. Schools do not have books for each student and do not offer computer and internet use. Students are on their own when it comes to finding resources to complete their homework.

Think for a minute if you had to complete a research project or a simple assignment, but had no books and no money to use the local cyber cafe…what would you do? Getting an education would become almost impossible. The Public Library in Jinotepe is filling that void. It is making resources available for students that would otherwise not be accessible. It provides a place to study and learn, free of charge, open to all. The Jinotepe Public Library is a place of culture, education, and encouragement. Librarians travel to local schools to read stories to children and promote reading and the use of the Library. Art and music classes are held at the Library; promoting the arts and development of skills.

The Jinotepe Public Library is vital to the level of education that can be received by those living in and near Jinotepe. It makes becoming educated possible for any individual; it gives hope to those that had no hope before. It opens doors of opportunity for many that felt they had no options. A library is a window to the world; a place where knowledge is at one’s fingertips. How great would it be to be a part of this; helping to make information and an education accessible where it is most needed. You can be a part of this process by helping to make the following resources available:

Computers and Internet

Books

Library shelving

Children’s educational games

Arts/craft supplies

The gift of an education not only benefits the student; it benefits all those that come in contact with that educated person in the present and future. Giving a person an education gives them the ability to give others that same education.