Love for books | Vanguard MX

A personal library reflects the loving owner of volumes that he has chosen over time, evoking the first encounter with the book: now, thanks to the generous hand of a friend, father, mother, brother. Or, perhaps, due to a fortuitous and fortunate coincidence in a unique, special place, which was reached by chance.

Who one by one is stacking books on the bedside table and finds his privileged place in his library, knows what the book means in his life: what it said to him on a stormy night or on a bright day.

For those who have known and loved to build their own libraries, their personal libraries, they know what public libraries also mean: those that from their shelves offer silently adventures, confessions, biographies, landscapes, images, stories and knowledge.

To enter them is to navigate the oceans of enchanting worlds; in unimagined universes full of beauty and wisdom. Public libraries have been, over time, the possibilities of many to embark alone through paths walked by others, illuminated by others and that invite them to walk in a unique and non-transferable experience.

On Sunday, June 13, the Librarian’s Day was commemorated in Coahuila. A profession in which the spirit of service, knowledge, wisdom and kindness prevails. All these virtues apply, since the tasks undertaken in a library are not limited exclusively to those limited by the walls of the physical space. They come into contact with the many souls that seek to water knowledge in such exciting places.

Two main figures stood out in this exciting task, both of them recently unfortunately deceased: Víctor Moncada Maya and Alfonso Vázquez Sotelo.

Víctor Moncada, co-worker of whom this writes, librarian at the Vito Alessio Robles Cultural Center; and Alfonso Vázquez, who was the general coordinator of Libraries of Coahuila.

Victor was the owner of a vast culture and great sensitivity. A connoisseur of Mexican culture, he enjoyed its narrative and poetic expressions. He had the enormous generosity to share his findings and a devotion to the figures of Mercedes Sosa and Violeta Parra, for a social commitment that became a flag in each of their acts, always fulfilling their tasks with joy and responsibility. His love of books was legendary in him. His passion was to get in touch with them every day, which he transmitted to his family and to his close relatives and friends. It was a delight to hear him refer to the binding of the books and the beauty in the background and in the form of the words of their content.

Don Alfonso’s books also crossed here and there. From a very young age, when his parents showed him the taste of pasta and contents. When doing his social service he did it in the Hemeroteca of the State of Guanajuato and, later, when he specialized in Librarianship. Later, when he held the position of Head of the Documentation Center in Mexico and then at the Colegio de Bachilleres, where he was Head of Public Services and the 20 libraries of the College were in charge. He worked at Conafe and later on Documentation and Information on Integral Development for the Family in Saltillo.

As director of the State Documentation Institute, he told me on one occasion that his father, Don Margarito Vázquez, a chronicler from Silao, Guanajuato, spoke with his children about history at all times and that it was young Alfonso who he entrusted to organize his library. In our talk, he said that reading León Felipe comforted him because “By reading his works, he said, one finds the center of life.”

Two figures to remember in this month on the 13th of which the Librarian is celebrated. A beautiful and hopeful profession that in both, Víctor and Don Alfonso, had two endearing models.

Two main references.

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