Located in the heart of Hinche, the municipal library of the main town in the Centre department now welcomes about a hundred registered readers and offers them a collection of nearly 6,000 books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Located in the heart of Hinche, the municipal library of the capital of the Centre department now welcomes about a hundred registered readers and provides them with a collection of nearly 6,000 books. Having become a go-to place for students and cultural players in the Central Plateau, it runs lots of reading promotion activities despite limited resources. We met with its director, Pr\u00e9vilus Joslyn, who shared the journey of an institution saved from neglect and driven by the ambition to make it a true hub of knowledge and culture.On the last day of our stay in the Central Plateau, after several days of training for journalists from different towns in the department, a meeting was necessary. Throughout the week, the Hinche Municipal Library had welcomed us in a setting conducive to work. Its director, Pr\u00e9vilus Joslyn, had greeted us from our very first session in the large room upstairs in the building. That Sunday morning, while he was still helping out with a graduation ceremony, he met us in his office to talk about the history of the institution he clearly runs with great dedication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The story of the library is one of perseverance. Created in 2012 under the name Hinche Community Library with the support of a Quebec organization, it seemed destined for an uncertain future when the organization withdrew two years later. Management was then handed over to the town hall, but the institution struggled to find its place among municipal priorities. Yet Pr\u00e9vilus Joslyn refused to see it disappear and continued, almost alone, to keep its activities going.The turning point came after several steps with the cultural authorities. In 2017, he presented the situation to the National Library of Haiti. Despite delays caused by the political context, the discussions eventually paid off. A new building was constructed with support from the Bureau of Monetization of Development Aid Programs (BMPAD), and in 2019, the library officially joined the network of the National Book Directorate (DNL), which it is still part of today.Originally from Hinche, Pr\u00e9vilus Joslyn is a philosophy teacher and has an academic background in education sciences, law, and education administration. For him, these different experiences all lead to the same goal: sharing knowledge. The library is much more than just a place to store books. He sees it as a space for continuous learning, both for readers and for those who run it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faced with the decline in reading among young people, a phenomenon he notices far beyond Haiti, the director prefers to focus on action rather than just observation. In Hinche, reading clubs, writing workshops, lectures, competitions, and literary meetings are multiplying to spark the interest of the new generations. According to him, these initiatives are beginning to show encouraging results, with an increase in young attendees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The library now hosts about a hundred registered readers and offers them a collection of nearly 6,000 works. Students, teachers, researchers, civil servants, and everyday reading enthusiasts cross paths there daily, especially during the school year, which is the busiest period.Beyond lending books, the library has gradually become a cultural hub. Painting and craft exhibitions, book fairs and festivals, lectures, and reading and writing workshops fill its calendar. During the summer holidays, camps and various activities help keep young people connected to reading. The library doesn\u2019t limit its efforts to its walls either. Regular outreach takes place in schools, public squares, and surrounding communities to connect with readers.Despite this momentum, challenges remain numerous. University students are asking for more specialized scientific books, while the needs for computer equipment, internet connection, electricity, and financial resources are still significant. The director also hopes to create a digital documentary fund and to develop the outdoor spaces so that the courtyard becomes a real place for cultural activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Throughout the interview, one belief keeps coming back: a library is more than just its shelves. It’s a space where knowledge, culture, and citizenship come together. In Hinche, this vision takes shape every day thanks to an institution that, despite limited resources, continues to expand its reach and make books a tool for development for the whole community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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