Filipino grandfather’s sidewalk library sparks reading mission — one book at a time
MANILA: Hernando Guanlao had just 50 books when in 2000, on a mission to encourage more people to read, he set out a sidewalk display. A quarter of a century later, the collection has grown to include thousands of volumes and a roadside library that is free and open to all, at all times.
Located in Barangay La Paz in Makati City, the Philippines’ main financial district, Reading Club 2000 greets passersby with the sign: “A good book is easy to find.”
Affectionately known as Tatay Nanie, Guanlao keeps books on the shelves in front of his house, on the ground floor and in his driveway, making them accessible to anyone looking for something to read. His vast collection ranges from fiction and non-fiction books to religious texts, academic theses, encyclopedias, dictionaries, children’s literature and magazines, as well as self-help and textbooks.
The library is open 24/7, has no rules, no membership fee, and no late return penalties. If a reader fails to return a book, it is no problem — more will soon arrive in its place.
