The Library Grows in Puyo

At the beginning of 2024, the bilingual library ministry transitioned from Shell to Puyo and was relaunched under a new name: La Linterna. The move brought both challenges and exciting new opportunities, with greater visibility and potential community engagement.

The relocation was necessary after leaving the Nate Saint School, where the library had operated for two years. Puyo offers a higher volume of foot traffic, a more diverse population, and broader opportunities for outreach. While the initial weeks were slow, steady interest emerged as new visitors stopped by regularly.

In April, we held a book sale, offering our duplicate English titles at garage sale prices. The goal was to attract new patrons and build local awareness. We sold about 300 books and made connections with 12 new families, plus some high school students. Most were families looking for children’s books, but we also met a director of the national election agency (for Puyo) and a marketing consultant who were looking for novels and nonfiction.

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Library use patterns have also shifted. In Shell, over 2,000 books were loaned to about 10 core families. In Puyo, checkouts are lower, but over 100 individuals have visited in these first couple of months. Many prefer to read on site. When a book costs half a day’s wages, taking it home feels like a big responsibility. We value their respect for the books.

Another surprising trend is the strong local interest in English books. Puyo has five English schools, and at least half of La Linterna’s patrons seek English resources. This has reinforced the value of maintaining a bilingual collection.

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We’re learning to adapt. We’re learning what people want to read. The library continues to offer a high-quality English collection, with a growing Spanish section. You can now view our catalog online.

Looking ahead, we are praying about possible outreach programs hosted at the library. Support and collaboration are welcome as the ministry seeks to grow.

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