For lack of funds, the library had been closed ten years during Guatemala's Civil War. It had fewer than 20 books for children. Lake Atitlan Libraries Inc. Unlike most charities, none of the money contributed goes to cover fund-raising costs. New books are extra.
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Some of the children. I n Panajachel whole families often live in a single room where there may be no table and only one light bulb. The library is Panajachel's study hall, and it's usually jammed with children. Often there are more kids than chairs. Reference books simply are not available anywhere else but here.