Since it began at Winter Institute 14 in Albuquerque, N.Mex., a little less than a month ago, the Libros Para el Viaje (Books for the Journey) book drive has raised thousands of Spanish-language books for refugees from Central and South America, Bookselling This Week reported.
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| Denise Chávez with some of the Wi donations. | |
Denise Chávez, owner of Casa Camino Real Book Store and Art Gallery in Las Cruces, N.Mex., came up with the idea for the book drive, and told BTW that she estimates she may have collected 2,500 books or more already. Chávez is now distributing those books to individuals, parents, children and families in hospitality centers along the U.S.-Mexico border with the help of local volunteers.
"I have to say the books have been phenomenal," said Chávez. "They have continued to arrive. I would say the book drive is fully alive and well, if only because things are so bad here on the border. The refugees' status is very bleak. But what I want to say to the booksellers is, you have no idea what a book means to these young children or to these adults. Thank you very, very much."
Chávez has received donations from booksellers, the American Booksellers Association, publishers, literary organizations and individuals around the country. On the day after Winter Institute, Albuquerque's Fonseca Freight Company delivered the books she had collected during the show to Las Cruces for free, and the Sisbarro car dealership in Las Cruces donated a space for Chávez to store the books before they're donated.
Anyone who wishes to donate can mail books to Chávez at La Casa Camino Real, 314 South Tornillo Street, Las Cruces, N.Mex. 88001. Spanish-English dictionaries, as well as any books that help with learning English, would be much appreciated. Chávez has created guidelines for choosing books to donate, and Veronica Liu, founder of Word Up Community Bookshop in Washington Heights, N.Y., and BrocheAroe Fabian, owner of River Dog Book Co. in Beaver Dam, Wis., have also posted recommendations for Spanish-language books. Those wishing to make financial donations to help refugees can find more information at Annunciation House and the Border Servant Corps.
Chávez has also asked anyone who donated without giving their name to please contact her here, so that she can thank them.