Palapa Society, Todos Santos

What’s New (Blog)

Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska Volunteer Wanda Piccini

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PB: Who is your favorite author?

WP: John Sanford; I like his style and I can’t ever guess what is going to happen or who-done-it. He is a very clever writer who challenges the reader; not at all formulaic.

PB: If you were to branch out and expand your reading what section would you explore?

WP: I would go to biography or historical fiction. I really like Anne Rule because many of her books are based on real events, like the Green River murders.

PB: What would you tell prospective volunteers about the library?

WP: That volunteering is a good way to get involved in the community. The library may be a stationary place, but its fingers extend into the community by providing self-directed, life-long learning, and other formal educational opportunities for Mexican nationals.

PB: In your opinion how could the library better serve the community?

WP: I think there could be more publicity about the library, that we could have more members, especially with the (younger) 30-and-40-somethings. I have had mothers come in with their children and ask if there is a regular story time in the children’s library.

I think the group story time is an important part of a children’s library, I know it was when my girls were small.

Library membership fees increase as of January 1, 2024:

$500 for new memberships, $300 for renewals.

Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska, Tracy Chambers

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PB: If you were going to look for a book, what section would you go to?

TC: My favorite would be Science Fiction, the second would be Fiction.

PB: What would you say to people who are hesitant to become a member of the library?

TC: I’d just look at them in astonishment and say, why wouldn’t you? The cost of a membership is so low; you are donating to the town, to the Palapa and Puente students, to the people who live here. You’re helping their children succeed; why wouldn’t you?

PB: What do you think of our new policy of giving some of our elders a life-long membership?

TC: I think it’s totally awesome. I totally approve!!

 

PB: It’s for people over 75, who have been longtime library supporters. The most recent inductee said, “I’ll renew when I get some more money”. That was enough for me to invite them.

TC: Books should be free, knowledge should be free.

PB: My favorite retort to someone who reported abuse of the Little Free Libraries, “You can’t steal a free book.”

Student Blog: Punta Prieta Power Plant Visit

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I am Daniel, a student at The Palapa School, currently in the 2nd year of high school. During these almost two years as a student, I’ve had many academic experiences and for now, I wish to share just one of them.

Our physics teacher organized a field trip to the Punta Prieta Power Plant. We learned about the functioning of electrical generators which tied into one of the class topics.

Upon arrival, we were given protective helmets and received a warm welcome. We were then taken to a small conference room where they explained how their facilities operated and how electrical energy is generated and distributed to supply our homes. The specialist engineers explained the entire process step-by-step.

Seawater is used to generate steam and produce electricity. The most striking thing was that the water was crystal clear. We also observed the plant’s chimneys where we took plenty of photos.

We saw the machines from the outside, and then it was time to visit the control room. There were hundreds of buttons, each serving a different purpose. They explained how the machines worked. It was truly impressive to see.

December 2023, The Palapa Society Newsletter

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Read more about:
  • The Palapa School: Presidential Campaign
  • Global Gateway Program
  • Season of Giving Continues
  • The Palapa School: Training Program
  • Student Blog: Punta Prieta power Plant Visit
  • Puente al Inglés para Niños
  • Puente al Inglés para Adultos
  • Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska
  • Children’s Library Hours
  • Community Calendar
To learn more about this please click here

The Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska Director Attends FIL

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The Feria Internacional de Libros (FIL), is the second largest book fair in the world, just slightly behind the Frankfurter Buchmesse, in size and scale. November, 2023 marked the 36th FIL, and this year, the European Union was the honored invitee so in addition to authors and publishers from Mexico, and central and South America there were literary guests from Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, Ireland, Poland and Sweden as well as authors

Held annually in late November in Guadalajara, Jalisco, the Feria is a forum for authors, illustrators, publishers, agents, editors, and of course the public who come out to buy tens of thousands of books. The first five days of the Feria are reserved for professionals, so as a librarian, I qualified to attend talks and panels, and browse the book seller’s stalls before the public entered. It was a time of great comradery and recognition, as we “professionals” sat together in the salons to listen to a variety of presentations by academics, authors, editors, and publishers. I attended a workshop given by Carlos Armenta of Impronta Editorial, on the letterpress, a somewhat antiquated form of printing using movable lead type, which is being revived for small press runs, like poetry chapbooks.

I also attended several talks by Chilean authors who through collective memory are attempting to come to terms with the details of the September 11, 1973 military takeover of the Democratic government of Salvador Allende. The 50th anniversary recently passed, (September 11, 2023) and many fiction and non-fiction books related to the golpe or coup were presented. One of the most interesting, yet disturbing take-ways from the conference was the importance of children’s literature to a country’s culture and collective identity. According to author and academic Vivian Levin, the seventeen years during the Pinochet dictatorship was time devoid of independently published children’s books. In essence this created a huge cultural void for children, who use age-appropriate literature to process family, social and historical events, and did not have books to help them through those difficult times.

January 1, 1994, is an important date for Mexico, as January 1, 2024, will mark the 30th anniversary of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN)’s 12-day uprising in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. I attended a panel moderated by author Juan Villoro, who presented a magazine, published by the UNAM, dedicated to the anniversary of the EZLN movement, which includes academic essays, and speeches and writings by Subcomandante Marcos and Comandanta Ramona. There will be a copy of this magazine-style book in the library.
Attending the FIL, was an incredible experience from the exposure to a variety of Latin American authors’ presenting their books, and the freedom to browse book stalls from various countries, universities and independent publishers. I plan to attend next year, but hope to gather a group of people to represent Todos Santos, and Baja California Sur, and I would love to share this incredible cultural experience with others.