Revitalizing Community Libraries in Honduras

20 years ago, many people in rural villages of Honduras and Guatemala would have never read an entire book, much less owned one. The idea of a modern community library – open and free to all – would have seemed like a dream. That dream became a reality in 2000 when the first Riecken Community Library was opened in Sulaco, Yoro in Honduras by Susan Riecken and Allen Andersson, and Sister Fátima from the church who offered a location on which to build it. Since then, Riecken Community Libraries, in partnership with local communities and their municipal governments, has built a vibrant network of libraries in Honduras and Guatemala, holding to the belief that community libraries democratize access to information, create opportunities for social change, and serve as agents of human and community development. 

Library-initiated projects solving local challenges in Riecken library communities have included filtered water pump project for local potable water, Youth HIV/AIDS awareness and reproductive health training, development of local teacher skills using the library as a base, online access to banking, school registration and training, and marketing workshops for local products such as coffee and aloe – to name a few. Because there is a high degree of trust in library leadership and volunteer desire for the skills offered, Riecken Community Libraries maintains a high level of volunteerism that keeps the libraries running smoothly. The 9,000 volunteers represent annual in-kind support of over $400,000 USD.

The Riecken library buildings – all built between 2000 and 2017 – range in size and design, depending on the community in which it was built, with on-going general maintenance dependent upon tightly constrained local resources. Engineering assessments found that the most common repair needs of the libraries included major roof repairs or replacement. Such structural weaknesses grow worse with lack of attention, and are now being addressed with resources, materials and labor – with greatest need being resolved first. Book and equipment wear-and-tear is costly in a community library environment, not to mention the speed with which technology surpasses available hardware for its effective use.

In 2022, Riecken began to receive major USAID/ASHA support to fund durable commodities (books). Books collection has been crucial in Riecken’s reading, women’s leadership and youth programming.  Building repairs have been key to improving the prestige of the library in their communities. Highly valued by the community it serves, each Riecken library goes well beyond traditional library activities, providing space where local issues are analyzed and discussed, and people read and research to identify local solutions together as a community. Today, in Honduras where political strife, violence and desperate economic conditions prevail, this can be critical to their very chances for survival.

Introducing the modern American library to Central America has brought positive change to the lives of individuals, their families and their communities. As a key driver of this new paradigm and on its 20th Anniversary, Riecken Community Libraries celebrates a culture and tradition of innovation each time one of its libraries opens its doors.  In this process Riecken is proud to advocate for its partners and the US values Riecken brings to the region.

With a desire to bring reading closer to children in the rural villages of the municipality, the “Visión al Futuro” Community Library launched an inspiring Mobile Library and Storytime project in the schools of three villages: El Robledal, Corral Falso, and El Guayacán. This initiative allowed many children to discover storybooks for the first time, get to know the library, and enjoy meaningful moments immersed in stories.

The library has always aspired to share a love for books. However, it was well known that many children in nearby villages had never had the opportunity to enjoy reading, simply because they lacked access to age-appropriate books.

To change this, the library decided to bring the books directly to the children through the Mobile Library and Storytime initiative. The program began by visiting three villages, carrying colorful and engaging storybooks. Each visit became a special occasion for the children, who were thrilled to see the books and listen to the stories.

Following each visit, children were invited to the main library in the municipality, where they could explore the space, see the full collection, and participate in fun activities. Many children, who had never been inside a library before, were amazed to see so many shelves filled with books.

More than 25 children from the participating villages experienced the mobile library and interacted with books for the very first time. Teachers observed that the children showed increased interest in reading after hearing the stories.

By bringing stories directly to them, the library has ignited a love for reading that is hoped to last a lifetime. These children not only found magic in the pages of books, but also discovered a welcoming space full of adventure. The library’s volunteer leaders remain committed to making reading accessible and enjoyable for all children—no matter where they live. 

Riecken Community Libraries are a social platform and an essential space for the social cohesion present in 14 communities in Guatemala and 52 communities in Honduras.