Ann over at Mingei World Arts sends us some great news…

Mingei World Arts is thrilled to announce that we have raised more than $2300 to date — more than enough to open the doors to the Library in La Union, Mexico!   Funds were raised through a benefit performance featuring Carmen Deedee and John McCutcheon at the Decatur Library on July 29 and from sales of hand-carved folk art reading figures from the carvers of the village.  The event was co-sponsored by the Georgia Center for the Book.

Ann VanSlyke, one of the owners of Mingei, is off to Mexico on Monday.  The Library inauguration is scheduled for August 20th.   For this project, Mingei partnered with Libros Para Pueblos, an organization that creates libraries in rural villages in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico.   Mingei continues to take donations and still has some of these wonderful reading figures, and more are on the way.  20% of sales of these figures will be sent to the library in perpetuity to support and maintain its programs.  The collection, including the newest pieces, will be featured during the Decatur Book Festival.

Donations to Libros Para Pueblos are tax deductible. For more information, visit their website at http://www.librosparapueblos.com. To earmark your donation for the La Union library, please donate through Mingei World Arts. Make checks payable to The Oaxaca Lending Library Foundation, with Libros Para Pueblos, La Union in the subject line.

Congrats Ann!