David S Kitson Library: Costa Rica Tour and Testimonials from the library in Nosara, Costa Rica

Beverly Kitson presents, "David S. Kitson Library: Costa Rica Tour and Testimonials"

OUR MISSION
To promote reading, learning, and cross-cultural understanding.  

OUR VISION
Fundación Biblioteca David Kitson enriches and empowers the people of our community by encouraging the lifelong habit and love of reading; providing welcoming spaces that offer collections and resources that inform, inspire, enrich, empower and entertain; promoting educational and training opportunities as an integral part of the community; creating a link between cultures that builds local and global awareness through cross-cultural understanding and friendship.

"Begun with students as its primary audience, the library has produced many “graduates” who have gone on top college, professions, and employment in Nosara or elsewhere. The library has also enriched lives throughout the entire community." — Nosara Civic Association

Project Description
The David Kitson Library was donated to the Nosara community by expats and visitors in memory of David Kitson, a community activist. The library provides a unique opportunity for the locals to check out books, to use the internet on the computers, to take math classes and to attend other activities. There is an active Seniors Group, an educational group for mothers and young children, and reading groups for all ages.

The library was founded in 1996 in a classroom in a local school, but since then has constructed its own building in downtown Nosara.

The Library has worked closely with the Guanacaste Community Fund on several projects, such as the purchase of Kindles for the use of the reading clubs and math classes for high school seniors. As one of the oldest and strongest of the community nonprofits in the Nosara area, the Kitson Library has also helped other newer organizations implement projects funded by the GCF by administering grant money.

‍Impact

- Over 16,000 visitors in 2019
- 15,000+ books in the collection
- The students of the math tutoring program launched in 2019 had a 82% passing rate in the national exam - much higher than the national average

The Elkhart Rotary Club is a Partner of the David S. Kitson Library
Every summer vacation since 2005, students from the Elkhart, Indiana Youth Rotary Outreach Program have spent a week during their summer vacations visiting Nosara and working to maintain the Library building. Over 245 volunteers have served the Library through this partnership.

This will be a HYBRID MEETING - - you can attend IN-PERSON OR VIRTUALLY on Crowdcast at https://www.crowdcast.io/e/elkr-111-1?lmref=D4KclA. Whether we see you in-person at Matterhorn or see your chat broadcast on the screen, hope to see you there!

Don't miss it!