Taking advantage of the celebration of the year of libraries, it is worth mentioning some of the most outstanding ones in Barcelona, a city that loves culture and is aware of the important role of books in our lives. These are some of the most amazing libraries in Barcelona.
Apart from being the first centenary of the network of public libraries of the Commonwealth of Catalonia, 2015 has also been declared the Year of Libraries. From 1915 until now, the number of libraries has considerably increased in the neighbourhoods and cities, especially in Barcelona.
Undoubtedly, a library is one of the main tools to spread the culture and also an answer to the society’s need for knowledge. Figures evidence so by showing a total of 370 libraries and 11 mobile libraries spread throughout 411 Catalan municipalities.
With 11 million of books and hundreds of employees, libraries are places full of anecdotes and knowledge both for children and adults. As Jorge Luis Borges said: “I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library“.
Let’s unveil the tiny (and huge) temples of culture that are spread throughout the Old Quarter, the historic Eixample Neighbourhood, the coastline and the upper area of Barcelona.
History in Ciutat Vella
Ciutat Vella is the location of the libraries with the greatest history of the city.
The most emblematic one is the National Library of Catalonia (C/Hospital, 56), located in a building dated back to the 15th century. Born in 1907 as the library of the Institut d’Estudis Catalans, it housed the old hospital of Santa Creu de Barcelona until it resumed its role as a library. Today it extends along an area of 8820 m2 with a collection of more than three million volumes. There is also an area for theatre performances, which take place in the Gothic hall of the building.
Right next to it, there is also Sant Pau-Santa Creu Library (C/Carme, 47), dated back to the 5th century. Back then, it used to be an old people’s home and a hospital for travellers, which ended up joining to Santa Creu Hospital. Today, there are still two different rooms, one for adults and another one for children, under a Gothic vaulted roof, a real architectural gem right in the heart of Raval Neighbourhood.
There is another historical centre in the Old Quarter of the city. We are talking about Andreu Nin Library (La Rambla, 32), named after a professor and political activist of POUM. Located in a building dated back to 1879, the library is on the ground floor of the old Grand Falcón Hotel.
Following our journey throughout the Old Quarter, Francesca Bonnemaison Library (C/ Sant Pere Més Baix, 7) is located near Via Laietana, in the middle of La Ribera-El Born. It is named after an important educator and supporter of feminism since it was the first women library in Europe.
Eixample Neighbourhood of Barcelona
Each area of Eixample Neighbourhood has its own Eixample library.
In the Old Eixample Esquerra, just next to Hospital Clínic, Agustí Centelles Library (C/ Comte d’Urgell, 145) features an important collection of books for children and adolescents. It is an interesting alternative to entertain the little ones.
In the new Eixample Esquerra, Joan Miró Library (C/Vilamarí, 61) is close to Plaça Espanya and right in the middle of one of the largest parks in Barcelona. It is like a tiny island due to its architecture, which makes it a place of cultural reference.
Without leaving the left side of Eixample Neighbourhood, right next to one of the historical markets of Barcelona, Sant Antoni-Joan Oliver Library (C/ Comte Borrell, 44) is one of the most modern ones. The incredible renewal of the old sweet factory resulted in a five-story library. It is a square with plenty of light, which receives all kinds of audience.
Eixample Dreta features three other libraries, one in each of its areas. One of them is located quite close to Passeig de Gràcia and is called Sofia Barat Library (C/ Girona, 64). Opened in 2000, it is located in the middle of a block that can be accessed from a quiet corridor on Girona Street. It is a quiet oasis for the whole neighbourhood.
Following towards Plaça de Glòries, we can get to two totally different areas. On the north hand, there is Sagrada Família-Josep M. Ainaud de Lasarte library (C/ Provença, 480), which is part of one of the most multi-faceted buildings of the neighbourhood. It is a modern library named after a historian and politic, who used to reside in Sagrada Familia Neighbourhood.
On the other side of Eixample, Fort Pienc Library (Pl. Fort Pienc, 4) also has a multi-faceted role. It specializes in contemporary architecture and design and is located a few streets away from the impressive Plaça de Glòries.
Barcelona’s coastline
Halfway between the historical area of the city and the modern Diagonal Mar, Barcelona features a coastline full of different types of libraries.
In La Barceloneta, there is a library with history, called La Fraternitat Library (C/ Comte de Santa Clara, 8), located in a fishermen neighbourhood and housed in a modernist building dated back to 1910. This old property used to be owned by a labour union and was built in brickwork. Today it is a building full of glass and natural light.
Leaving Barceloneta behind, we get to Vila Olimpica and Poblenou Neighbourhoods, in Sant Martí district.
The former features Xavier Benguerel Library (Avda Bogatell, 17), a building with 20 years of history that stands out for its multi-function hall in which many types of performances take place.
Following the coastline, we find Poblenou-Manuel Arranz Library (C/ Joncar, 35), also situated in an old construction: the old textile factory Can Saladrigas. This building is located just a few streets away from Rambla del Poblenou, and today is full of History books, tradition and popular culture.
A bit further away, there is El Clot-Josep Benet Library (Pl. Glòries, 37), where the well-known ‘grapadora‘ is located (a building with the shape of a stapler).
The building housing the Design Museum of Barcelona leaves everyone jaw-dropped with its architecture and centric location, in the versatile Plaça de Glòries, which is the meeting point between the city and the sea.
Barcelona’s upper area
Barcelona’s upper area features some of the most modern libraries of the city.
There is one library that acts as a border between the upper area and the city centre. That is Jaume Fuster Library (Pl Lesseps, 20-22).
There is one that is located on the foot of Tibidabo. It is Collserola-Josep Miracle Library (C/ Reis Catòlics, 16), which is part of the sustainable urban plan of the city of Barcelona, taking the environment into account.
In Sarrià Neighbourhood, Clarà Library (C/ Doctor Carulla 22) is a building that is more connected to the past than to the future. It is a rationalist construction, built by Duran i Reynals, which used to be the workshop of sculptor Josep Clarà i Ayats.
Going back to the city centre, we get to one of the latest inclusions of the city, Sant Gervasi–Joan Maragall Library (C/ Sant Gervasi de Cassoles, 85).
This is a modern space located in the old Vil·la Florida, which can be seen only in part since it is half buried. The new architectural gem of Sant Gervasi has a total area of 3000 m2 and totally multi-faceted halls.
Upcoming projects
The city is in constant movement. That is why there are some projects of new and revolutionary centres, including libraries transforming the landscape and becoming part of the city’s cultural framework.
One of the most ambitious library projects if the future construction of Library of the County of Barcelona. The project’s approval is still pending and it is supposed to be built on the land surrounding Estació de França and Passeig de la Circumval.lació.
Back in 2010, the then presiding Minister of Culture announced that Barcelona would have the ‘largest’ library in Spain. It has been thought as a building made of glass with an area of 18000 m2, able to house almost 600,000 volumes. Such a project was supposed to start in 2012. For now, it is just a project whose apporval has not been successful as regards politics and finance.
That is a huge cultural dream for locals, who are waiting for it to become true.
