Nicaragua: Tipitapa Community Library

Tipitapa is a small city less than 20 miles from Nicaragua’s capital city, Managua. At the heart of the city, in the middle of central park, a small building contains the Profesora Dalila Ampés Municipal library.

The city’s narrow roads are almost always full of bicycles and pedestrians. It seems as if the people in the city are always out and about; they are friendly and talkative. Most of Tipitapa’s inhabitants are crop farmers and merchants, although a few years ago some international clothing factories provided the community with new job opportunities. Tipitapa boasts a natural volcanic hot water spring that attracts local and international tourism. Sadly, Tipitapa also has escalating rates of violence and poverty.

In 2008, the vice-mayor of Tipitapa began the planning of a library to serve the community. The budget for the project was almost non-existent and it wasn’t until 2010 that an old clinic was first used to house this library. The few books, which had been donated by local community members, served the needs of an average of 40 people per day. Finally, in February of 2011 the construction of the new building began. The grand opening of the new library involved phenomenal community collaboration, which included music and dance performances.

One of the main goals of this library is to provide students with resources to strengthen their education. Locals and even students from neighboring communities up to 15 miles away come to this library to do research, read and do homework. According to Jamileth, the librarian, they want children to come to the library not only to learn, but also to have fun. The library staff wants to engage children in arts and crafts, music, dance, and theater. However, achieving this requires materials and supplies the library cannot afford.

These are some of the library’s needs:

Books

Children’s books

Art Supplies

Musical Instruments

A library in a city like Tipitapa has the ability to greatly influence and strengthen the community, helping it to become better educated. In turn, a better education means the possibility of pursuing a career and changing the violent and impoverished quality of life that many face.