 The Rosarito Friends of the Library (Amigos de la Biblioteca de Rosarito) has donated nearly three hundred new Spanish language children`s books to the five Rosarito Public Libraries. The donated books were delivered to all five of the Rosarito public libraries by volunteer members of the Rosarito Friends of the Library during the week of December 14.
The books were selected from a publisher`s catalog by Ana Lucia Morales Ledesma, the head librarian for the Rosarito Public Libraries. Ms. Morales wanted children’s books that were colorful and exciting with illustrations that would grab the attention of the young readers and present important information to them in an interesting manner. She selected sets of books that filled holes in the libraries` existing book offerings, and some additional sets that teach children about citizenship and respect for others. The set of books on citizenship contains individual books about being honest, making friends, following rules, being fair, being responsible, being helpful and being a leader. The set of books on children`s feelings helps kids explore their emotions and learn how to handle those emotions with individual books on caring, jealousy, anger, joy, pride, sorrow, impatience, worry, loneliness, shyness, bravery and embarrassment. Ms. Morales also chose sets of books about members of the community (careers), colors, shapes and colors in the environment, the world of science, and what living things need.
Each of the four branch libraries received one complete set of all the books selected by Ms. Morales, or 47 books for each branch. The main library at the CEMAC facility received two complete sets of the books.
Residents of Rosarito know that the budget of the municipal government is simply unable to meet all of the needs of the community, and that many very worthwhile projects necessarily go unfunded. The mission of the Rosarito Friends of the Library is to aid and support the local public libraries with donations of books, equipment, supplies, repairs to library buildings and support of literacy programs. In addition to the donation of these new children`s books, the Friends of the Library have recently purchased new computer workstation tables for one branch library. New computers for that library were available from the state government, but the state required that approved workstation tables be on site at the library or the free computers would not be given to that library. With time running out and the city government unable to provide the required workstations, the Friends of the Library donated nearly all of the funds to purchase the workstations and ensure that the new computers were delivered by the state.. A modest amount of funds was provided by the municipal government for this project as well.
The needs of the libraries are many, and the Friends of the Library have many projects on the table at his time. A program to encourage children to read for pleasure is being developed: a gazebo will be constructed at a branch library to benefit the users: all of the library buildings will be repainted, inside and out, by Friends of the Library volunteers.
Membership in Friends of the Library is open to all interested persons, and the membership fee is only $5 per year. Donations of Spanish language books, library supplies and equipment, money and sweat equity are all welcomed. For more information about the Rosarito Friends of the Library, contact Tom Reeve (661-613-1285), Barbara Saragosa (664-609-3137), or visit the Rosarito Friends of the Library website at www.friendsofthelibrary.com.mx
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