With over 18 years of history, studies, work, teaching and research carried out in Cochabamba – Bolivia, Professor Fernando Garcés and his family have donated 1,210 books to the university's library in Quito. 

During his stay in Bolivia, he collected books on education, partly because his wife Soledad is a teacher and also because of his master's and PhD degree studies. There are books from Mexico, Peru and Bolivia about philosophy, anthropology, Andean linguistics and others.  

His donation included original books in Kichwa from the 19th century, the first grammar book of Quechua written by Fray Domingo de Santo Tomás, a dictionary of quechua of Anchash from 1901 written by Juan Gualberto Lobato, history books like the chronicles of Guaman Poma, de Santa Cruz Pachacuti, Yamqui Salcamaygua, and contemporary books such as anthropology and political sociology, books on indigenous autonomy and interculturality and plurinationality. 

Professor Garcés says that anecdotes and memories create affection towards objects in our lives. An example is the devotional book of Julio Paris from 1892, an original book that he rescued from a pile of books that a woman in Riobamba was burning because they took up space in her house. 

"The best place for books to be is in the library, where teachers, students and the overall public will access to them. Printed books do not lessen the value of digital ones, the difference relies on what we feel when we have a book in our hands, its smell or texture represent different ways to get closer to knowledge", he said. 

Mara Tamayo, coordinator of the library, said it was one of the biggest donations the library has had. "The books are of great interest for linguists, anthropologists, professors and students of anthropology", she said.