Abstract
During colonial times, the evangelizing efforts of missionaries encouraged the development of New Spain's culture. Requiring written materials to support their work, they produced doctrinal works and epistles, most of which were in two languages, to teach the Indians about matters sacred and secular. With the arrival of the religious orders, cultural institutions with a need for books were founded. The work of Brother Juan de Zumarraga, Bishop of Mexico City, as a teacher, patron of the printer's craft, writer, and advocate of libraries was outstanding. Thanks to the convents, a good number of those books still survive today.
