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UTSA Housekeepers' recipes featured in library collection

More than a dozen special and tasty books were donated to the library at UTSA. The authors are members of the University's housekeeping staff. The contribution is just the latest accomplishment for the talented group.

SAN ANTONIO — More than a dozen special and tasty books were donated to the library at UTSA. The authors are members of the University’s housekeeping staff. The contribution is just the latest accomplishment for the talented group.

A party on the fourth floor at the UTSA Library served as a celebration of the new book collection being added to the shelves. The meals are made from recipes in hand-crafted cook books. The authors are guests of honor. Each contributor signed a deed allowing UTSA to preserve and share these special books with the world forever.

“It is the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Jaime Sanchez, one of the authors. “You’re going to be in the UTSA history.”

Sanchez and the other 15 authors are also UTSA employees. They are part of the housekeeping crew that makes sure the campus stays beautiful.

“I [clean the] library,” said Erlinda Castillo, another author. “We empty trash, clean the restrooms. It’s always busy there. It’s 24 hours of students. They never go home, they stay there to study.”

She will now get to see her book every day while at work.

“I was stunned, I was so happy that it’s going to stay here,” said Castillo. “Maybe my nieces and nephews will come see it and I think they’re going to be so proud of me.”

From Nutella cake to Johnny’s perfectly seasoned Vienna sausages with croutons, the morsels are mouthwatering.

“We have one of the biggest Mexican cookbook collections in the world and they were fascinated by it and realized they had something to contribute as well,” said Dean Hendrix, the Dean of Libraries. “We’re very honored to have their contribution at UTSA”

The cookbook project was organized through the “Erlinda’s Wish” program. The initiative offers housekeeping staff bilingual computer courses, writing and language classes.

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