Checking books out of the library in Puebla

Just kidding. You can’t check books out here. And even if you could they would mostly be in Latin. I have always loved libraries. Two of my favorite jobs were working in libraries. I still use the Seattle online library.

On Thursday we went to the Biblioteca Palafoxiana. This library was built in 1649 and is the oldest public library in the Américas. Now it’s a museum, but you can still see the books if you are a researcher and get government approval.

We had this great tour guide who not only spoke perfect English, he was a bit alternative with nail polish and makeup which was great.

The library was on the second floor of a building but had three levels of books, with really steep steps to get to each level.

The door on the right in this picture is where they kept the forbidden books. These were the books the Church deemed evil including books by Leonardo Divinci and Gallaleo.

This was used so you could have several books open at once, sort of like we do today with different windows open on our computers.

This door was the door going into the library. Our guide explained that in the 1800’s the Mexican president came to Puebla. They built this door to impress him. Bit he never came. He just ate in a restaurant and left.

So that was the oldest library we’ve been to. But below is one of the newest ones we’ve been to. It was established in 2014 as a Pop Up library

Our niece Joey and I created this library in her house for the enjoyment of our family.

We all got library cards but only a lucky few got color ones. We weren’t allowed to use the color printer for more.

As head librarian Joey checked everyone in and all the books out.

My entire family loves to read, so they all really did browse the shelves and pick out books.

Since then Joey had gone from mini librarian to a beautiful young woman. She graduates high school on Sunday. We are so proud of her!