Ambassadors Juan Anibal Barria of the Embassy Chile, Alfonso Munera of the Emabssy of Colombia and Rosario Asela Molinero of the Embassy of Mexico, expressed their desire to continue to work with the National Library and Information System Authority (Nalis) to promote culture and literature.

This declaration was made by the Barria, Munera and Molinero during their visits to the National Library in Port of Spain on October 15 and 16 and November 29 respectively, to hand over collections of Spanish language literature books to NALIS.

The recently donated collections consist of 247 titles by Mexican authors; 12 titles by Chilean authors and seven titles by Colombian authors, inclusive of works by Nobel prize winners.

Some of the donated books will be added to the Spanish Language Collection at the National Library and a portion will be used at the NALIS managed Women’s Prison Library at Arouca. Already included in the Spanish Language Collection at the National Library are books previously donated by the embassies of Argentina, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, Peru and Spain.

The new titles, which are made up of fiction and non-fiction materials, will be made accessible to persons wishing to learn Spanish as well as native Spanish speakers.

NALIS is committed to the promotion of intercultural dialogue and the learning of Spanish as this country’s first foreign language. In this regard, NALIS hosts Spanish language classes for students at its libraries; facilitates the Spanish conservation club – Club de Español and features Latin arts, cuisine, music and culture during its annual Latin Nights celebrations.