A Second Life to Stories
Every year in the United States, millions of books are being purged from library shelves to make room for new ones. Libraries do try to find a home for them: by holding a book sale, and the unsold books from the sale are recycled.
Some are turned into mulch. From my perspective as a gardener, recycling isn't such a bad thing.
I found this out while attending a Book Sale in Tampa, Florida, in 2000. At one of these book sales, I asked the Chairman what they do with unsold books. She offered to let us haul as many books as we could use after I told her that we had just sponsored our first Children's Library in the Philippines. That was 2004. Twenty years later, we have found 58 homes (libraries) in the Philippines and shipped over 85,000 unwanted books to their shelves. Many books were brand new, others were gently used, and some needed minimal repairs.
As of June 2025, the Hower-Bates Library Network has paused shipping books to the Philippines. We are so proud of our success that we would be happy to share our experience with anyone who wants to replicate it.
TD Guipo Learning Center
The first library we established was the TD Guipo Learning Center, named after my parents Trinidad and Doroteo Guipo. They taught 40 and 35 years respectively. It is housed in the elementary school building of Notre Dame of Dadiangas University in General Santos City where Al taught from 1969-1971 as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
Friends of Hower-Bates Library Network
This passion project began in 2004 through a collaborative partnership with Notre Dame Dadiangas College where Al taught from 1969-1971. NDDC provided the space, and with the help of family and friends, we raised funds to fill the room with learning materials such as books and computers.
Alvin and Prima Children's Library
The third library is i Notre Dame of Marbel University and was established in 2019.
In Thoughts & Reflections, Prima shares personal insights on the things that have shaped her the most - from raising a family across cultures to finding purpose in everyday moments. Her writing offer quiet wisdom, lived experience, and the kind of grace that comes from a life grounded in service.
Whether you want to collaborate on community projects, book readings, or cultural events, Prima welcomes meaningful connections that continue her legacy of service and storytelling. Reach out to explore how you can work together to inspire and empower others!
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