Beginning Community members of El Chilamate, a rural Nicaraguan village, had the dream of opening a lending library for years, but never had the means to accomplish that dream. So in early 2006, when Opportunity International, a non-profit organization working in Nicaragua to alleviate poverty through micro-finance loans and community development opportunities, proposed the IDEA fund as a way for communities to develop community economic development projects, El Chilamate leaders jumped at the opportunity. To receive the loan through Opportunity's IDEA fund, community members had to apply, writing down their reasons for creating a community library and how they would pay back the loan, with options of paying back in cash or through community development classes. El Chilamate leaders decided to pay back by offering four on-going classes: (1) Adult Basic Education, (2) Folkloric Dancing, (3) Painting, and (4) Crafts. In September 2006, the application was approved, and library construction began.
The Present
At the end of November 2006, construction of the library building finished and furniture was purchased locally. A Library Board of Directors was set-up and volunteer librarians were trained on how to operate a library. On February 14, 2007, the library had its official inauguration ceremony. Book collection is the next priority. Since the lending library system in Nicaragua is essentially non-existent, books are being acquired through individuals, groups, and foundations. To find out how to donate books, go to Book Donations. The Future
By the end of 2007, the Librarian Board of Directors would like to have 2000 books and suport other on-going classes as well as special events, including celebrations/fundraisers.