San Jose Toledo Community Library

The San Jose Toledo Community Library was established in 1999 through the efforts of Peace Corps volunteers Harry Bennett and Margie Bennett, who dedicated three years to introducing library services to the village. During their tenure, many students began borrowing books to read at home, and parents also engaged in reading with their children, fostering a culture of literacy in the community.

After the Peace Corps volunteers concluded their service in 2002, Mr. Salustino Peck, a teacher at San Jose RC School, volunteered to keep the library open for one year. In 2003, Mr. Madonio Cal, another local teacher, worked with the Belize National Library Service and Information System (BNLSIS) to provide books and resources for the San Jose School Library. Under BNLSIS supervision and support, the school library was officially transformed into a community library, and Mr. Cal served as its librarian for two years until 2005.

On June 1st, 2007, Ms. Georgina Cal joined BNLSIS as the Community Librarian for San Jose Toledo. She has served the community for 18 years, making her one of the longest-serving librarians in the area.

The library offers a range of services, including reference support, book loans, reading promotion activities, and various educational programs. Its annual programs include Reading Intervention, Summer Reading, Traditional Sewing, Health Talks, and Homework Assistance, all aimed at encouraging the use of library resources and supporting community learning.