Below are a few of our favorite bookstores in Oaxaca. The first one has books in English, but most of the rest have books primarily in Spanish (and some indigenous languages).
Amate Books, Macedonio Alcalá 307-2. English language bookstore very near to the Santo Domingo Cultural Center — down hill and across the street.
Librería Educal, a small, high quality bookstore on the south side of Independencia between 5 de Mayo and Reforma, in the same building that houses the Teatro Alcalá. Useful books, magazines, etc., for teaching. If you want to try to make a Lotería curricular unit, check out the Posada Lotería packet on sale here.
Bookstore (need to find the name), aimed at Mexican teachers. On the east side of the Llano park, across from the park, about in the middle of the block. You walk into a breezeway and make a left. On your right is an ATM.
Librería Grañén Porrúa, Macedonio Alcalá 104. Small but quality bookstore owned by the same woman who owns the book and gift shop inside the Santo Domingo Cultural Center and has an office in San Pablo. She comes from the two book publishing families who are named in the shop’s title. Down the hill and on the same side of the street as the cultural center.
Proveedora Escolar, Independencia 1001. Books Mexican teachers use in their classes and more. A good place to buy economical editions of codex facsimiles.
Recommended libraries:
We are hoping to have access to the library at San Pablo, near our classroom and on the same level.
Another excellent library is found at the Instituto de Artes Gráficos de Oaxaca (IAGO) on Macedonio Alcalá, across the street from Santo Domingo. See, for example, the great collection of books about codices at the IAGO.
The Biblioteca Francisco de Burgoa is the best historical library in the state of Oaxaca. This is located inside the Santo Domingo Cultural Center, which also has a great tienda with a wonderful selection of books for sale. We’ll visit the Burgoa as part of one of our study days.
Biblioteca Infantil de Oaxaca, José López Alavez #1342 (Colonial Xochimilco) is a must-see for teachers. Great architectural design. Nice collection. Funded by the Harp Helú Foundation (one of our sponsors). Open Monday-Friday, 11am-7pm, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-7pm.
The Oaxaca Lending Library, Pino Suárez 519. Books in English. Spanish-language tutoring. Library hours: Monday-Friday, 10am-2pm and 4-7pm. Saturdays 10am-1pm.
The Welte Institute for Oaxacan Studies is located at Emilio Carranza #203 in Colonia Reforma. The library is open to the public from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm Monday through Friday.