This spring, I traveled with a friend to a small, bohemian town on the southwestern coast of Mexico. We went for all the regular reasons: to hit the beach, eat great food, and have an adventure. All these things happened - and much more.
By happenstance, we met an incredible woman, one who literally personifies the melding of community, passion, and purpose. Her story is one of the most inspiring examples of reinvention I’ve ever witnessed.
Cecilia recently moved from Colorado to Mexico. She and her husband Michael settled in the beautiful town of Puerto Escondido, home to artists, surfers, and expats. It was the culmination of a long-held dream; their kids are young adults, currently traveling the globe on the World Cup ski circuit. Her husband is closing in on retirement.
They found themselves at a crossroads.
What happened next is far from retirement – it’s much better.
How a Mother Reinvented Herself
Ceci, as she’s known to her friends, has always loved books. She was a teacher for over twenty-five years and still teaches languages to adults and families part-time. Ceci home-schooled her own children to allow for travel, so books were an ever-present theme in their home.
When she first moved to Puerto Escondido, she became a volunteer at the town’s only library; a smidge of an operation tucked at the back of a restaurant, specializing in beach books geared to tourists. When Ceci learned this space was closing its doors after twenty years, she jumped at the opportunity to reinvent a community space.
The concept of a lending library is something most of us take for granted. Yet it’s extraordinarily rare for most Mexicans, especially those who live outside of large cities (and for many within cities as well).
And here lay the seed of an idea. What if she were to create a library, not just for tourists, but for everyone? Servicing the locals, the young, the old, the rich, and the poor.
From this simple ‘what if’ a whirlwind of activity quickly followed. The former proprietor of the library donated all her books. Cecilia and Michael added many more from their own collection – in fact, they brought hundreds of children’s books from their home in the U.S., a whopping TWENTY extra suitcases!
They rented three adjacent, unused storefronts, built shelving, and gave everything a cheery lick of paint.
A few short months later, the Biblioteca Puerto Escondido was born, opening its doors in January 2022.
One of the Biblioteca’s best customers
The Tiny Library with a Big Heart
To say this little library is a cheery outpost of community in action is an understatement. Our visit brought me to tears.
On a regular basis, Ceci must explain the concept of a free library to locals, who have never had access to books on loan, not even in primary school. They are astounded that they can browse the collection, take a book free of charge, and repeat this process as many times as they like.
Twice per month, a children’s book is read aloud to a captive audience. One little girl is a regular, and always arrives in her very best dress.
It’s an idea that has quickly taken off. After-school regulars, many in elementary school, read the books almost as quickly as they come in. A woman from Australia gives free English conversation classes every week. A private primary school brings their students on a regular basis.
The Biblioteca is a beautiful example of reinvention, of melding your passions with a need, and quite simply, of making the world a better place. It’s one of the best examples of the Wheel of Wellness I’ve ever witnessed.
With little more than donated books, elbow grease and a dream, it’s become a place of connection, of learning, of stories shared amongst neighbours, expats, and tourists.
Though our visit to this sleepy beach town beach was a fun-filled holiday, Ceci’s little gem was the unequivocal highlight. And that’s something worth sharing.
The after-school gang keeps growing
How to Support The Library
Keeping a vibrant stock of multilingual books is an ongoing challenge.
Cecilia keeps a wish list on Amazon; these can be donated directly to the Biblioteca by ordering online (follow the link at the bottom of the page for either Spanish or French books).
Or, if find yourself traveling to beautiful Puerto Escondido, go for a visit and pack some along!
Follow the Biblioteca on Instagram @bibliotecapuertoescondido to see snapshots of the library in action (it just may be your new favourite feed!).
