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Diari de Catalunya

Barcelona Libraries Expand Hours and Introduce New Specializations

The network of 41 libraries in the Catalan capital is growing with four new centers and enhancing its thematic and service offerings.

Generic image of the interior of a modern library with bookshelves full of books and reading areas.
IA

Generic image of the interior of a modern library with bookshelves full of books and reading areas.

The Barcelona library network, currently comprising 41 facilities distributed across its 10 districts, continues to grow and improve its services, with extended opening hours and the introduction of new thematic specializations.

These cultural centers, not all neighborhoods possess, are characterized by their specialization in one or several areas, such as cinema or forensic sciences. Some of these specializations are linked to the neighborhood where they are located, like the marine collection in Barceloneta, or to the center's name, such as the Gabriel García Márquez Library, dedicated to Latin American literature.
The latest addition to the network is the Sarrià – J. V. Foix Library, inaugurated in February 2025, which stands out for its specialized collection in digital culture. Furthermore, the Libraries Master Plan anticipates the opening of four more centers by 2030. Among these new facilities are the Prosperitat – Ideal Plástica Flor Library (scheduled between 2023 and 2027), the Marina del Prat Vermell Library (between 2027 and 2031), and the Sant Gervasi Sud Library (also between 2027 and 2031). During the same period, the State Public Library in Barcelona is also expected, to be located near Estació de França.
Regarding opening hours, Barcelona's libraries extended their availability after the pandemic. Currently, all centers open on Saturday mornings, from 10 AM to 2 PM. Additionally, ten facilities also offer service on Saturday afternoons, from 4 PM to 8 PM. On Sundays, four libraries are once again operational from 10 AM to 2 PM: the Sagrada Família – Josep Maria Ainaud Lasarte Library, the Jaume Fuster Library, the Ignasi Iglésias – Can Fabra Library, and the el Carmel – Juan Marsé Library.
The specializations of the catalogs are varied and often reflect the local context or the figure after whom the library is named. For instance, the Francesc Candel Library, in Marina de Port, has a collection dedicated to motoring, in line with the industrial history of the Zona Franca. Similarly, the Esquerra de l’Eixample – Agustí Centelles Library specializes in photography, and the el Carmel – Juan Marsé Library, in Barcelona-themed novels. It is worth noting that these specializations can evolve, as seen at the Montserrat Abelló Library, which, after a donation of over 2,000 documents, now focuses on science fiction.

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