Kitson Library: Beyond Books!

Date

Twenty years ago this month, the Kitson Memorial Library got its start in one room of the Serapio Lopez school. Last year, housed in its own quarters, the library opened its doors 15,000 times to Nosareños.

Begun with students as its primary audience, the library has produced many “graduates” who have gone on top college, professions, and employment in Nosara or elsewhere. The library has also enriched lives throughout the entire community.

Serapio Lopez pre-kinder class on a visit

“Before the library, nobody read. Now, anywhere there’s a line in Nosara, you’ll see people reading – books, newspapers, magazines, computer screens. That’s the library at work,” said Bobbi Johnson.

The new building, erected in 2005, had room to shelve all its holdings and establish separate spaces for a variety of simultaneous activities that reach beyond lending books. It offers a story hour, tutoring, and classes in computers and English. A theater group and a women’s circle started a trend that rapidly made the library a focal point for all of Nosara. Programs such as Soy Bebe and Me Gusta Leer, along with the mobile library, keep people coming back. In addition, the library has brought in people who register for the country’s high school equivalency program, adult education, and Vive Tu Sueño, which promotes and assists local entrepreneurs.

Students of English and their tutors

At a celebration of the library’s birthday August 10, people recalled how the library came to be. Beverly Kitson wanted to turn the donations received in tribute to her late husband David into something that would serve his memory as it also served the Nosara community. That vision and those donations established the Kitson Library.

Beverly conceived of the celebration as a way to honor her staff and volunteers as well as library patrons. For 16 years the chief librarian has been Consuelo Juarez, who obtained her library science degree with encouragement from Beverly. She is joined by assistant librarian Marjorie Alvarez and Extension Coordinator Kelly MacDonald, whose tasks include managing the many volunteers who work there.

The Ladies from the National Library System (SINABI). Marlene, Carmen, Beverly, Lovania and Helga

National officials pointed out the library’s impact beyond Nosara.

“We don’t have a tradition of volunteering in Costa Rica, but now other libraries are learning how to encourage contributions of both time and money,” said Maria del Carmen Madrigal, Director General of the Sistema Nacional de Bibliotecas (SINABI).

Madrigal and three other top officials from SINABI came to honor Beverly and the library: Coordinator of Libraries Lovania Garmendia, Director of Automatization Helga Ocampo, and Retired Coordinator Marlene Vargas.

Beverly Kitson said, “What’s unique about the Kitson Library is the extent to which the foreign community supports this library.” Almost all the funding comes from two annual events, the patrons’ party and the gala which has featured theater productions, dance groups, musical performances, and stand-up comedy.

For most donors, however, these events are just dessert. Knowing how much the library has changed Nosara for the better is nourishment enough.

More
articles