HELP US GET ON THE ROAD FOR THE SIXTH YEAR IN A ROW!
Since July 2013, the Traveling Libraries, the "Entonces el libro" Suitcases have been traveling free of charge to schools, libraries and museums throughout Argentina.
We need help making 2018 possible.
The Book: Entonces el libro ("So Then The Book") is a non-fictional account of my time with my Great-Uncle János, and his decision to reveal our family's identity after decades of secrecy. The reader is taken on a full color journey from Oregon to Argentina, to Transylvania, and beyond. Original letters, photographs and paintings entwine János’ testimony with my poetry to reveal a family’s identity whispered away two generations prior. The book originally came to life in English, as an artist's book, in 2006, entitled The János Book.
It was published in Spanish in 2012 in Córdoba, Argentina, as "Entonces el libro."
Find out what the fuss is all about: Read the book online in English for FREE here.
The Traveling Library: Soon after "Entonces el libro" came out, teachers in Córdoba, Argentina began writing to me that they were using the book as a tool in their classrooms. Because of its non-traditional format (full color collage), and because of its content, it immediately became a versatile tool for educators. It's regularly used in a variety of subjects from History, to Literature, Anthropology, Methodology, Ethics, and more. "Entonces el libro" is most regularly used to teach about discrimination, identity, immigration, oral histories, expression, World War II, visual arts and quite regularly, it is tied into teaching about the last military dictatorship here in Argentina. As if this weren't inspiration enough to me as an author, as a bookbinder I am enthralled to see how many schools naturally decide to make their own books that tell their story once they come into contact with this one.
I created "Entonces el libro" for personal reasons. Seeing it organically turn into learning tool is exciting, and worth encouraging. It puts our family's experience as immigrants and as Holocaust victims and survivors into a perspective I had never imagined before. It transforms a very dark chapter of human history into light.
After hearing from the first teachers, I had this vision of one teacher with one book, and the usual 30+ students. That didn't seem right. So the idea of a Traveling Suitcase came to mind. One that would equip teachers with various copies of the book, plus a study guide. Thanks to sponsors, I was able to put together the first Traveling Library in July 2013 and it began traveling from town to town by bus in a suitcase. In addition to the study guide, the suitcase has a registry where each school documents their experience.
How It Works:
Interested teachers or institutions are in touch with me, they reserve their dates, and I send the Traveling Library by bus to their town. They have it for four weeks, and then they send the suitcase back to me by bus. Most teachers and institutions find out about the Traveling Suitcase via Facebook or word of mouth. While institutions such as DAIA, The Goethe Cultural Institut, and Generaciones de la Shoá have sponsored books in the past, most sponsors are simply enthusiastic individuals and schools who extend their hands so that the Traveling Libraries continue.
Of interest:
· Since the inception of the Traveling Libraries in 2013, "Entonces el libro" has been an educational resource, free of charge, for over 6000 individuals in Argentina, visiting over 150 different schools, museums and libraries.
· The students that use "Entonces el libro" as a learning tool have ranged in ages from 11 years old to over 80, with high school students being the most prevalent.
· It is rare that I personally know the teacher who reserves the suitcase.
· There seems to be a balance between the public and the private sector, both sides of the economic spectrum are using the suitcase as a tool.
· When I open up the reservations for the entire year each February, they fill up in less than 48 hours.
· Once the suitcases hit the road each fall, they travel non-stop until the end of the school year.
· More and more the Traveling Libraries and the entire experience are used as material for college level students studying to become teachers.
· This year I will hold to FOUR traveling suitcases once again, because while continuing to grow is a temptation, I realize FOUR is the amount of suitcases I can actually coordinate on my own. Two travel exclusively throughout the Province of Cordoba, where I reside. Two travel long distance, throughout all of Argentina.
· In 2017, it was an immense honor to be a part of #TEDxCordoba, where I was able to share the power of the Traveling Libraries. See https://youtu.be/JcbI83BiHxQ Make sure you turn those English subtitles on!
HOW TO BE A PART: In order for the Traveling Libraries, the "Entonces el libro" Suitcases to be on the road throuhough all of 2018, I need help with the following expenses:
TRAVEL COSTS FOR THE FOUR SUITCASES
– 12,500 pesos/u$s 630 for 28 round trips on the bus.
– 6,000 pesos/u$s $300 for other misc. costs (the actual suitcases and suitcase repair, photocopies of study guides, contact paper, packing tape, and packing materials).
18,500 pesos SUBTOTAL, approximately $930 US dollars. (The exchange rate and inflation varies.)
TRAVEL COSTS FOR SPEAKING AT FIVE SCHOOLS (new this year!)
Despite the great demand, I realize I am unable to manage more than FOUR suitcases. However, schools regularly request that I come visit them to speak about the suitcases, about my time with János and how the book came to life. I often must decline the invitations because I cannot finance the cost of the travel or afford the time away from work. Most schools do not have a budget that allows for the small stipend I request to cover the cost of my travels and my absence from our bookbinding studio. If I were able to visit 5 public schools (free of charge to them) throughout the Prov. of Córdoba during the 2018 school year, I would allow the Traveling Library experience to impact a wider audience in a way that its users have been requesting insistently for years.
15,000 pesos SUBTOTAL, approxmately $770 US dollars to cover at least 5 trips to visit public schools in the Prov. of Córdoba.
GRAND TOTAL: 33,500 pesos / u$s 1700 dollars
Again this year, in the registry, nearly every school writes at the end of their experience with the book, “We hope the Traveling Libraries continue!”
We really do.
Thanks for your help.
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More about the Traveling Libraries, the "Entonces el libro" suitcases.
See the study guide
Entonces el libro on Facebook.
Hear about the Traveling Library experience on #TEDxCordoba https://youtu.be/JcbI83BiHxQ
Argentina
