The project was developed by two students, Joanna Rivera Ramos and Olivia Tune.
Outside the Literacy Cat Co. at 915 N. Broadway, they have installed a free book-sharing box they designed and built. Called “Pequeña Biblioteca”— Spanish for “Little Library”— it is dedicated specifically to Spanish and bilingual children's literature, created to expand access and encourage early literacy.
Tune, a senior in Psychology with a minor in Spanish, came up with the idea after noticing reading opportunities for children were all in English.
“I realized there was a disparity in English and Spanish book opportunities for students,” said Tune, who wants to work with children in her career. “There are many English Little Free Libraries in town, but not a Spanish one.”
She and Rivera Ramos divided the project: the build of the box and communicating with community partners.
Tune led the community engagement aspect of the project.
“Language representation matters because it allows children to connect with their culture and the language that their family speaks,” Tune said. “It helps create representation of different cultures and ideas which can help bring the community closer.”
Both students credit Pitt State’s “Spanish in the Community” course, taught by Professor Grant Moss, for providing the opportunity to take a concept to reality.
Rivera Ramos, a Construction Engineering major with minors in Business Administration and Spanish, led the construction of the library.
“For me, it is deeply important to build bridges between languages and diverse cultures that connect us all,” Rivera Ramos said. “Through these books, students and families can connect with their own culture or explore new ones. You don’t need to know Spanish to be an active participant in this library. If anything, this is an opportunity for Pittsburg and surrounding communities to begin their journey in learning Spanish and discovering the many cultures that speak it.”
She designed it using Civil 3D and built it at the Crossland Technology Center. Materials were donated through Backyard Discovery, and she worked alongside classmates Nicolas Juarez and Alan Mendez Garcia to complete this project. Her instructors ensured the quality and integrity of the build.
“My instructors supported me throughout the process, from refining the design to presenting the project to potential partners,” she said. “This project represents something bigger than a structure — it’s a valuable resource and a reminder that education and culture should be accessible to everyone.”
Her motivation is rooted in lived experiences.
“As a first-generation Mexican American, I was never taught my language in school. I learned to speak Spanish at home and to read it through church, especially in choir,” she said. “Being able to provide others with access to these resources and create a space where culture and language are celebrated is something I am incredibly proud of.”
Language representation in children’s books is incredibly important, she said, because it allows children to explore worlds beyond just English.
“You are not limited to one language. Tienes el mundo a tus pies! The world is your oyster! Our library creates a space where both Spanish and non-Spanish speakers can connect, learn, and grow together as individuals,” she said.
She is proud to have created something that extends beyond the university and impacts families in the community.
“It shows that what we learn in the classroom has a real purpose and can create lasting change,” she said.
Some families have been moved to tears, she added.
“They feel like this finally gives them a space where their culture is not something they have to set aside, but something that is recognized and celebrated.”
The Pequeña Biblioteca will be maintained by Hispanics of Today, a student organization that will organize donation drives and help rotate books throughout the year. Additional support will come through campus and community partnerships.
Community members can support this initiative by donating books, spreading awareness, and engaging with the library.
“Success would look like a library consistently filled with a diverse collection of Spanish and bilingual books from around the world, with families regularly using and benefiting from this resource,” she said.
— Pitt State —
Story by Kaylee Dillow | Student Communication Intern