The City Council of Seville continues to advance the improvement of the municipal network of public libraries through a Comprehensive transformation plan in the amount of €700,000 For the next two years, which will be allocated to renewing equipment, which also includes the creation of new cultural and educational spaces in different neighborhoods of the city in addition to extending working hours.
Specifically, more than 270 thousand euros of the total amount will be allocated to the purchase of books; 235 thousand euros will be allocated to renovate the furniture, and more than 200 thousand euros will be allocated to planning and development Nearly 700 social and cultural activities were distributed this yearbasically, among the 14 libraries that make up the municipal network.
Regarding this last aspect, he highlights the planned programming Reading clubs for children and adults and photo workshops poetry and oral stories, Podcast Mobile literary workshops, conferences on mental health, responsible use of social networks and easy reading groups, municipal sources detailed.
Other improvements have been made or are underway
These improvements are in addition to those already made, such as increasing the number of books that can be loaned and the times they can be returned; In addition Install a return box that remains open 24 hours a day. The cultural delegation also states that the municipal network has currently extended its general working hours: Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. And from 4:00 p.m. Until 9:00 pm, i.e. 10 opening hours per day.
In addition, there are five libraries that were previously partially closed in the morning or afternoon Open full hours; Study room Felipe Gonzalez does this from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Without interruption, the person named Julia Uceda maintains a continuous schedule from 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., without closing at noon, in response to high neighborhood demand.
Specifically, in this latest space reopened, In March of this year After a closed contract, The children’s room has been transformed into a creative spaceMunicipal sources confirmed that it is accessible and specifically designed to “encourage reading from an early age.”
Another library where the city council works is Blas Infante, located in eastern Seville A major expansion of infrastructure is being developedWhich will range in size from 350 square meters to 2,350 square meters.
This is a procedure that will be allowed Establishing a classroom with a capacity of 130 seats; Includes a conference and activity room; Another for teamwork in addition to tripling the children’s room, which currently occupies just over 100 square meters and will have an area of 350 square meters and will include a children’s library with appropriate furniture and funds for infants, in a commitment to “families, childhood and universal access to culture”.
Social and solidarity work
On the other hand, the City Council continues to promote the social nature of these cultural spaces through the fourth edition of the Bibliotrueque Solidario, celebrating the “1 book for 1 kilo” campaign that replaces books with non-perishable food achieved this year. Exceeds 1,510 kilograms of food, i.e. 50% more This will be in 2024. It will be distributed to social agencies in each neighborhood, including: Caritas, Women Survivors, Sin Domme, Liman Association, Social Commission of the Library of Alexandria Foundation, Brotherhood of the Homeless in Alcosa and various soup kitchens.
Since the arrival of the present municipal government, municipal libraries have become… Mayor José Luis Sanz said the city had seen “real change.”Which highlighted the extension of working hours, the increase in services, and the opening of its doors “to a greater number of people and more activities than ever before.”
Libraries today are “no longer silent and closed spaces, but living places.” Open to the community, which encourages reading and creativity“And coexistence and critical thinking,” the senior advisor explained, stressing the role of these centers as spaces for “learning, inclusion, mental health, creativity, and family support” and “real engines of social and cultural transformation that strengthen the community fabric of neighborhoods.”