A Different Approach to Address Violence

The State of Chihuahua, one of the States hardest hit by drug-related violence, is looking to rebuild its torn social fabric through a new reading–promotion initiative. The project aims to bolster a sense of community by installing small, open-air libraries known as “Paralibros” in public squares. The idea is based on a similar program set up by Colombian non-governmental organization Fundalectura in Bogota in the late 1990s, when that city was recovering from a period of sky-high violent crime rates and looking to return public spaces to ordinary citizens.

The new Chihuahua libraries contain a range of titles, from classics of world literature to self-help guides, works to assist aspiring entrepreneurs, poetry collections and books geared for children and adolescents—the main target audience for the initiative. This has been launched in seven of Mexico’s 32 states.