In a region with more bars than readers, the 'Casa Bohemia-Refugio de libros' community library has opened in San Agustín, Huila, featuring thousands of literary works to promote critical thinking and cultural exchange.
The 'Casa Bohemia-Refugio de libros' community library opened its doors on Friday, January 23, in San Agustín, Huila, Colombia. Led by anthropologist Horacio Guerrero García, who has lived in the area since 1986, the project began two years ago by purchasing and restoring an early 20th-century bahareque house. It houses around 5,000 volumes, acquired from global bookstores or donated by supporters, arranged on open shelves for easy access.
Bibliotecóloga Ángela Abril Osorio from the collective explains that the organization aims to 'raise questions and offer multiple response possibilities' for visitors, with sections like Latin American thought by country and collections of women intellectuals. The space features a children's room, a fanzinoteca with social movement materials, and a filmoteca for documentaries and a future film club.
Three main areas define the site: the library itself, an art gallery and local crafts space, and a spot to taste southwestern Colombian coffees. Over 40 collections cover literature and social sciences from Latin America, Europe, and Asia. The opening included the launch of Jorge Zalamea's book 'El sueño de las escalinatas'.
Experts like Marcos Fabián Herrera praise its role in reader development, likening it to neighborhood libraries in Bogotá and regions such as Chocó. Horacio Guerrero calls it 'a contribution to art and culture in homage to the people of Alto Magdalena'. This initiative seeks to transform the environment through reading, amid Huila's library history spanning over 80 years.
