Libraries
The San Miguel de Allende Adolescent Center (CASA AC) library program has been a fundamental pillar in promoting access to information and encouraging reading within the community.
Over the years, these libraries have served as spaces for learning, exploration, and meeting for children, youth, and adults, offering a wide range of informational resources and educational activities.
Conflict
However, the growth in information needs and changes in reading habits have highlighted the urgent need to renew and strengthen library services. The lack of updated materials, limited accessibility to new technologies, and declining user participation have generated challenges that require innovative and strategic solutions to maintain the positive impact of the library.
program.
Purpose
In light of this situation, we present “Reviving the Heart of Knowledge: The CASA AC Libraries Program,” a 2025 Action Plan proposal focused on improving information services and revitalizing the role of information technology in the public sector.
of libraries within the community. Through concrete strategies, we seek to modernize management, expand resources, and encourage active user participation, ensuring that these spaces continue to be a driving force of knowledge and development for all.
The Current State of the Program
CASA AC Libraries
In San Miguel de Allende, CASA AC has been a pillar of learning and social change for years, bringing education, culture, and access to knowledge through its central library, community libraries, and its innovative bookmobile. Today, the library program not only continues, but is more vibrant than ever, evolving and expanding to continue impacting the communities that need it most.
Every book borrowed, every reading space opened, and every story shared are a testament to our commitment to the universal right to education. CASA AC's library program continues to strengthen, transforming its spaces into dynamic centers of learning, interaction, and social development.
The Current Status of the CASA AC Library Program for its impact on access to reading and culture. Through its four lines of action:
- The Rosario Castellanos Public Library.
- The Community Library Network “Street Libraries”.
- The Mobile Library.
- The “Chiquillos’ Hill” Reading Program.
We continue working to ensure that every person, regardless of age or socioeconomic background, can enjoy the transformative power of literature.
Currently, the program is in a phase of expansion and strengthening, focusing on:
- Increase the bibliographic collection with up-to-date, high-quality books.
- Expand the reach of street libraries to more rural communities.
- Strengthen strategic alliances with other educational and cultural institutions.
With these actions, we continue to strengthen our role as a driving force for learning and inclusion, ensuring that CASA AC libraries are living spaces that transform lives and strengthen the social fabric of San Miguel de Allende.
Our Philosophy
REVIVING THE HEART OF KNOWLEDGE.
Our Goal:
It is to guarantee free, open, and equal access to reading, culture, and knowledge through the Rosario Castellanos public library, the "Callejeras" community library network, the mobile library, and the reading program in a La Loma de los Chiquillos kindergarten.
Library Mission
Bringing reading to everyone without distinction, promoting inclusion and access to books.
Library Vision
Promote policies that guarantee daily contact with literature from childhood.
Values
- Freedom to know yourself and be yourself.
- Equal cultural opportunities.
- Access to information.
- Institutional commitment.
- Cooperation with other literary and cultural venues.
- Respect for opinions and ways of thinking.
Our Goal for a Sustainable Future:
At the CASA AC Library, we believe that access to information and culture are pillars for building a more just and sustainable world. Therefore, our work is directly aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, contributing to quality education, reducing inequalities, and creating prosperous communities.
Lines of Action
Library Rosario Castellano Public
A space for knowledge and culture open to the entire community. We offer book loans, reference services, workshops, and activities to promote reading and lifelong learning.
Street Libraries
We bring reading into the homes of our community, transforming houses into havens of stories. An innovative model that promotes access to knowledge in close and safe spaces.
Mobile Library
Books in motion, knowledge without borders. We bring reading to rural communities and neighborhoods with limited access to educational resources, bringing the magic of books to where it's most needed.
Early Reading Program: “Loving Books”
Sowing a love of reading from childhood. A unique program that allows CASA AC kindergarten children to enjoy reading and fun learning activities in the library.
Special Programs and Activities
Drag Storyteller
Inclusion and fun through reading. A unique program in Latin America that transforms the way children approach books, fostering critical thinking, creativity, and appreciation for diversity.
Our Services
Areas and Spaces
Explore our corners of knowledge and creativity. From the Storytelling Coliseum to the future Record Library, each space is designed to enrich your learning experience and connect with the community.
The Team
The Library Program has a collaborative team led by the Coordinator, who is responsible for supervising and managing all its activities. Alongside them, the Promoters carry out educational and cultural initiatives to promote reading. The program also receives support from Volunteers and young people from Social Service, who collaborate on operational, educational, and management tasks.
LIC. JUANA LIZETH MORENO MUÑIZ
She holds a degree in Document Management and Archival Studies from the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí. Proactive and eager to learn, she excels in customer service, file organization, administrative procedures, and payroll management. With experience in optimizing document processes, she currently leads the Street Libraries Network, a project that brings culture and knowledge to the community, promoting reading in open spaces.
Mr. Carlos Molina “Gary Bigotes”
Carlos Molina, known in the library and cultural world as "Gary Bigotes," holds a degree in Library Information Management from the Universidad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (UASLP). With experience in document management, reading promotion, and information systems administration, he has led initiatives such as the Drag Queen Storytime Project, promoting inclusive reading, and the Mobile Library, bringing books and culture to marginalized communities. His commitment to social librarianship and equitable access to culture has been key in the development of these projects.
Angelly Rodriguez Pantoja
A business administration student at the University of León, she is part of the CASA AC team, where she currently works as the manager of the Rosario Castellanos Library. Her connection with the organization began when she joined as an intern, and her love for working in the library led her to continue as a volunteer. Now, she has taken a further step in her professional development by joining the administrative area, combining her passion for management with her commitment to education and culture.
Our Strategic Alliances
The Library Program is supported by various strategic partnerships that strengthen its impact and validation. Its collaborators include educational institutions, cultural organizations, and government entities, which provide logistical support, resources, and visibility. These partnerships enable the implementation of innovative projects, such as Street Libraries, the Mobile Library, and the Drag Storytime Project, expanding its reach to marginalized communities and promoting an inclusive and accessible culture. These partnerships are essential to guarantee the program's sustainability and ensure that reading promotion reaches more people, without barriers.
SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE TEENAGER CENTER, HOUSE A, C.
It is the foundation that gives life to the Library Program, providing the necessary support for its operation and growth. Its commitment to education and inclusion has enabled the development of innovative projects that bring reading to diverse communities.
FACULTY OF INFORMATION SCIENCES | UASLP
A key institution in the professionalization of library staff. Through this partnership, the program has strengthened its operational structure and each year welcomes volunteers who contribute their knowledge and enthusiasm to reading promotion activities.
NATIONAL NETWORK OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF LIBRARIES
As Official Library 8312, the program is part of the National Network of Public Libraries, which guarantees its institutional recognition and access to resources, training, and specialized advice. This connection allows it to offer formal library services and strengthen its impact on the community.
NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR EDUCATIONAL PROMOTION (CONAFE)
Contribute to the training of the library team and support the development of the Street Library Network, an initiative that brings knowledge and reading to public spaces, promoting equitable access to book culture.
IBERLIBRARIES
In 2020, Iberbibliotecas recognized and supported the Library Program after it won the Grant Call, within the Street Libraries action line. Thanks to this support, library outreach work was strengthened and an inclusive model was consolidated that facilitates access to reading in vulnerable communities.
Rotary Club
In 2018, the Rotary Club boosted the growth of the Library Program by donating to create the Mobile Library, an initiative that brings books and cultural activities to communities with limited access to library services. This contribution has been key to expanding the program's reach and promoting reading in unconventional spaces.
SECRETARY OF EDUCATION | GUANAJUATO.
The Guanajuato Department of Education supports the Library Program by officially authorizing access to basic education institutions in San Miguel de Allende and Dolores Hidalgo, allowing for the implementation of reading promotion activities within schools. This collaboration ensures that the program can directly contribute to the educational development of children and youth in the state.
Bibliodra: Art, Reading, and Community | SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, GTO.
The Library Program has opened its doors to Drag Storytelling, allowing this innovative reading mediation program to reach elementary schools in San Miguel de Allende and Dolores Hidalgo. Thanks to this collaboration, children and youth will be able to enjoy reading-promoting activities in an inclusive and creative environment. With the support of library science and pedagogy specialists, "Bibliodra: Art, Reading, and Community" was born. This program promotes reading, critical thinking, and the appreciation of diversity through literature.
How to help?
At the San Miguel de Allende Adolescent Center (CASA AC), there are many ways to support, whether by volunteering, donating resources, or participating in community programs, all focused on youth well-being and development.