The Barcelona Library, which specializes in Latin American literature, has been named the best public library in the world. The award was made by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.
The library, named after Nobel Prize-winning Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez, opened last year in the working-class neighborhood of San Marti de Provence. This is the third largest library in the city, its area is four thousand square meters and it is located on six floors.
The jury praised both the architecture of the building (it resembles an open book) and the staff’s approach to attracting visitors. For example, this year the library will open a “feelings room” designed for children with special needs and learning difficulties.
In addition, the institution already has a space for the little ones, as well as a radio studio where the presenters discuss the events of the fictional city in which some of the novels of Gabriel Garcia Márquez take place.
The library has a capacity of 800 people, but sometimes more than a thousand people a day visit it.
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions annually presents awards to the best libraries. This year, the Janez Vaikard Valvasor Public Library (Slovenia), the Parramatta City Library (Australia), and the Shanghai Oriental Library (China) also claimed the prestigious title.