Last May 27, in honor of National Book Day, Uruguay released over 20,000 books across public spaces under the slogan, “Leave a book, take a book,” and inaugurated two new themed libraries in the interior of the country.
“It’s a great initiative to encourage people to start reading. We all have that book sleeping in a drawer that no one has read for many years. Taking it out to the streets, leaving it in a plaza, or on a bus bench for others to read gives the book a new life,” participant in national book release day.
Book Release Event
On Monday, May 27, when Uruguay celebrated National Book Day, the country embraced reading through a nationwide Book Release event. Under the slogan “Leave a book, take a book,” more than 20,000 books were released in public spaces, with great participation from citizens.
“It’s fantastic to bring books to people who don’t have access to free books. This day we are bringing books to places where they are not usually found,” participant in national book release day.
As part of this celebration, the Ministry of Culture also inaugurated two themed libraries in the interior of the country on the same day, with the presence of Minister Pablo da Silveira, National Director of Culture Mariana Wainstein, and the team from the National Institute of Letters.
The Luis Firpo Library, specializing in theater and dramaturgy, was inaugurated on Monday morning at the National Cultural Center (CCN) in Paysandú. The Science and Geopark Library was inaugurated at the CCN in Trinidad that same afternoon.
Themed libraries are spaces within the CCNs that contain specific bibliographic collections of a literary genre or cultural theme and are free and open to the public. These spaces aim to promote local enrichment of bibliographic resources and encourage regional circulation.
“What is the immediate reaction of someone from the interior who can’t find material in their department? To go to Montevideo to look for it. This is a product of a centralist vision that we don’t want to prolong,” said Da Silveira.
The Luis Firpo Library, curated by playwright Gabriel Calderón and local librarian Ezequías Escobar, will help further develop the performing arts in the department. “Producers, directors, set designers, and costume designers will come here for specific consultations,” stated Wainstein.
The themes are defined in coordination with the National Directorate of Culture according to the characteristics, history, and interests of the department or locality where they are located. The Science and Geopark Library in Trinidad was curated by science journalist Leo Lagos and cultural management technician and heritage specialist Amalia Fumero.
Soledad Quartucci | CEO/Founder, Latina Republic
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