Where books mean the world - Colombia

Mobile librarians on the road. They bring books to places where people live on the margins or on the sidelines and the nearest book is just too far away. They take us with them on their journeys and introduce us to the world of their readers. In this episode of the five-part documentary series, we are with José Alberto Gutiérrez in Colombia. Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, is one of the fastest growing metropolises in South America. With almost 11 million inhabitants, it is the largest urban agglomeration and the most important economic and cultural center in the country. However, a large proportion of the population lives in the wild slums on the outskirts of the city. A library like the one José Alberto Gutiérrez has set up in the Nueva Gloria district is unique here. José Alberto Gutiérrez is employed by the municipal waste collection service as a garbage truck driver. Almost 20 years ago, he discovered a book crate for the first time on his trips through the city and began “rescuing” books from then on. These finds are a source of happiness for him, and to share this happiness with others, he founded the “The Power of Words” foundation in 2004 and set up a small library in his house. Children from his neighborhood come to him, do their homework and are well protected from the dangers of the South American metropolis here. The public takes notice of him and José receives boxes of books as gifts. Now his house is bursting at the seams. José and his wife Luz Mary Gutiérrez owe a lot to books. Encouraged by their many books, both of them, who only attended elementary school, graduate from high school in their mid-50s. We accompany them on their trips to remote villages hidden in the tropical rainforest, where they distribute books, which are enthusiastically received by young and old alike. Gutiérrez knows that he not only gives something valuable, but also an opportunity. We see that José loses his job because the company is privatized. It is unclear what will happen next. José takes us to a nearby property that a benefactor has given him. He wants to build a building here someday for his books and for the education of the people who live here.