- Description
- Updates
- FAQ
- Comments
- Backers
We live in an era of incredible story-telling and the recentering of peoples and communities who have been historically exploited, marginalized, and invisibilized. Books are at the center of lifelong learning, building community, and making meaning.
As new literature and media expand, there remains however a deep inequality. Throughout much of Southeast Asia, books are a luxury and public libraries are rare. For millions here, a book costs a week’s salary. Many cities and barangays (neighborhoods) lack a public library. Few feminist, liberal religious, environmental justice, and human rights books are available.
CORAL is a Unitarian Universalist community ministry based in Southeast Asia. We are establishing a small free library in line with our liberal religious and social change mission. We seek to collect, steward, and lend progressive books that are more difficult for ordinary people to find. We are based in Antipolo City, just East of Metro Manila in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountains as part of a larger cohousing community. Learn more about us at www.coralph.org.
As Unitarian Univeraliasts, we believe deeply in the ongoing search for truth and meaning. For many of us, this has meant a loving relationship with literature. Lending and gifting books are an incredible way to build connections between people, and introduce new ideas to keep our “mind on fire” as Emerson might say. We seek donations of books, and small financial contributions to help us ship and organize donated books.
Updates
Project FAQ
Why create a Free Library in the Philippines? Many cities and barangays (neighborhoods) lack public libraries. Books are expensive and cost a day's wages. Our youth and young leaders deserve access to progressive, liberal religious, and human rights centered literature. We plan to open the Free Library in 2021.
How will the funds be utilized? The library is primarily a labor of love, envisioned by our collective of organizers and Unitarian Universalist ministers. Funds raised will be used to cover the shipping of donated books, and technology costs to make the library available online. Sea shipping approximately 75 books from the USA costs around $100.00 USD.
Who manages the Free Library? Rev. Joseph Santos-Lyons is the project director, and we have hired a part-time associate locally who will assist in the library activities. We have an emerging international advisory committee who we consult with on the development of the project.
How do you access the Free Library? As the Center for Organizing, Renewal, and Leadership grows, we anticipate having regular events and programs where participants can experience the library and check out books in person. We anticipate partnerships with youth and student groups to share books more intentionally and efficiently. We are also utilizing BookSource to make our library collection available online for borrowing.
How can I donate books? Please contact us via email at info@coralph.org so we can discuss your donation and figure out the best way to arrange shipping. We collect small donations together for larger shipments in Portland, Oregon thanks to the West Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
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11/24/2020$50.00
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11/21/2020$50.00
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11/19/2020$25.00
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11/19/2020$25.00
