The Jaume Fuster library recognized with the Liber award for the promotion of reading

The promotion of reading is one of the main objectives of the public library network. A task that the Federation of Publishers' Guilds of Spain annually recognizes through the Liber Award, which this year has distinguished the Jaume Fuster library in Gràcia as the best initiative for promoting reading in libraries open to the public.

The facility located in Gràcia, inaugurated in November 2005 coinciding with the celebration of the Year of the Book and Literature in the city, was the twenty-ninth public library in the city. In addition, it represented a milestone for the city as it was the last step in the strategic renovation of Lesseps Square in Barcelona, conceived through a participatory process with residents. The library is named after the writer, screenwriter, and translator Jaume Fuster (Barcelona, 1945-1998), an active member of the Associació d'Escriptors en Llengua Catalana.

The facility, built on old coach houses, was designed by Josep Llinàs who, with this building, won the FAD architecture award. It is currently considered one of the district's jewels, not only for its architectural value but also for its documentary collection, one of the most extensive and complete in the entire public library network. The Jaume Fuster is the central library of the Gràcia district, and inherited part of the collection from the old Antoni Julià de Capmany facility, also located in the Gràcia district until the 70s.

With more than 100,000 available documents, the documentary collection also has a strong connection with the Gràcia district, as it gathers historical documents referring to this district as well as works by authors who live or have lived there. It also has a specialized collection on travel, where guides to countries, regions, or cities can also be found.

In addition, it was the first public library to have an auditorium with capacity for 250 people and its own exhibition hall. With a deep relationship with Barcelona's literary scene, the Jaume Fuster library often hosts literary presentations and has housed various exhibitions dedicated to Barcelona's publishing history in its exhibition hall.

With almost 2,000 daily users, the library has become a neuralgic point not only for the district but for the entire city, being well connected by public transport. With this distinction, the Liber 2025 award recognizes its constant commitment to promoting reading, as well as its ability to join forces and establish synergies with institutions and educational centers.

The award ceremony will take place on October 9, at an event at the Conde Duque Cultural Center within the framework of the activities of the International Book Fair, Liber, 2025, which will return to IFEMA (Madrid), after its passage in 2024 through the Catalan capital.