Ponce Municipal Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ponce Municipal Library |
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| Headquarters of the Ponce Public Library in Barrio San Antón, Ponce, Puerto Rico | |
| Country | Puerto Rico |
| Type | Public library |
| Established | 1870 |
| Location | Boulevard Miguel Pou, Barrio San Antón, Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Coordinates | 18°00′44″N 66°36′12″W / 18.01223°N 66.60339°W |
| Branches | 7 Within the city:
Outside the city:
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| Collection | |
| Size | 3,000 books + 60,000+ periodicals |
| Access and use | |
| Population served | 166,327 |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $500,000 |
| Director | Ms. Jo Arleen Torres Hernández |
| Staff | 39 |
| References: Las Fiestas Populares de Ponce. Ramon Marin. | |
The Ponce Municipal Library, also known as Biblioteca Municipal Mariana Suárez de Longo, is the main library system for the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is the oldest public library in Puerto Rico, first opening its doors in 1870.
The library system has its main building on Miguel Pou Boulevard in the San Antón area of Ponce. It also has seven smaller library branches. Three of these branches are in the city, and four are in the nearby rural areas. The main library moved into a new building in August 2007. This building was designed by a local architect named Juan Dalmau Sambolín.
Contents
History of Ponce's Public Library
Early Beginnings: Gabinete de Lectura
The story of the Ponce Municipal Library began with a group called the "Gabinete de Lectura" (Reading Cabinet). This group was started in 1869–1870 by Alejandro Tapia y Rivera. It was the first place in Ponce focused on education, culture, and science.
The Gabinete de Lectura was founded in 1870 by several important people, including Eduardo Neumann Gandía. It was located on Calle Sol. However, the government in San Juan closed it in 1874. They were worried that if common people became too educated, they might rebel.
But the Gabinete reopened in 1876 thanks to many of its original founders and new supporters. It officially restarted on April 8, 1877.
The First Official Library
The Ponce Municipal Library was formally created in 1890 and reorganized in 1894. This first library was located inside the Ponce City Hall building. It started with about 1,500 books. These books came from the Gabinete de Lectura, a private collection, and donations from citizens.
The first librarian was Joaquin Figueroa. By 1913, the library had grown to over 4,754 items, including books and magazines. In 1937, the library was restarted under the leadership of Luis A. Ferre. It later moved to Calle Isabel in the Ponce Historic Zone.
In 1940, Mayor Jose Tormos Diego prepared a part of Teatro La Perla to be the new library headquarters.
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At first, you could only read books inside the library. But in 1945, the library started a system where you could borrow books to take home. Most of the people who used the library were school children.
By 1946, the library had 9,648 books. These books were organized using the Dewey Decimal System, which helps libraries keep track of their books. The library received support from groups like the Ponce Lions Club.
By 1947, the library was on the second floor of Teatro La Perla. Luis A. Ferre, who later became a governor, was a big supporter. Some of the artworks that are now in the Museo de Arte de Ponce were first displayed on the walls of this library. In 1971, the library moved to a new building right next to Teatro La Perla. It stayed there until 2007.
The Current Modern Facility
Construction for the library's new main building began in December 2004. It was finished in January 2007 and opened in April 2007. The building cost about $8.5 million, and another $2 million was spent on furniture. The total cost was $10.5 million.
The city moved its central library to this new building in August 2007. This modern library was a dream of the late Mayor Rafael Churumba Cordero.
Main Library Building Features
The main library is located on Miguel Pou Boulevard in the San Anton area of Ponce. The new building opened in August 2007. It cost $14 million to build. The library was built where the old Ponce Judicial Center used to be.
The library has a special exhibition hall. This hall is used for art shows and other public events that celebrate culture and community. The library's courtyard offers free wireless internet access. It's a great spot for book presentations, storytelling, and lectures.
Honoring Mariana Suárez de Longo
The main library is named after Mariana Suárez de Longo. She was a very respected "Teacher of Teachers." Mariana Suárez de Longo was born in Aibonito, Puerto Rico, in 1906. She graduated from Ponce High School in 1923.
She dedicated almost 40 years of her life to educating young people in Puerto Rico. In 1946, she became the first Puerto Rican woman to be named a School Superintendent. She was in charge of the Ponce area schools from 1950 to 1962.
In 1954, she earned a master's degree from New York University. From 1963 to 1966, she led the southern region of the Puerto Rico Department of Education. She retired in 1972 and passed away in Ponce in 1995.
Satellite Library Branches
The Ponce Municipal Library system includes several smaller branches. These "satellite" libraries help serve different parts of the city and its surrounding rural areas.
| No. | Branch Name | Target Population | Barrio | Locality | Opened | Focus | References |
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| 1 | Guillermo Jackson | Urban | Segundo | Clausells | 1960 | Traditional | |
| 2 | Jose Rodríguez Ayala | Urban | Sexto | Jaime L. Drew/Escuela José Gautier Benítez (closed in 2018) | ??? | Traditional | |
| 3 | Rafaela Prieto de Gonzalez | Urban | Playa | Escuela Segundo Ruiz Belvis and Santiago González | Oct 1962 | Traditional | |
| 4 | Coto Laurel | Urban | Coto Laurel | Llanos del Sur/Escuela Superior Juan Serralles | 1960 | Traditional | |
| 5 | Guaraguao | Rural | Guaraguao | Edificio Head Start | ??? | Traditional | |
| 6 | Rosario Latorre | Rural | Magueyes | Corral Viejo | ??? | Traditional | |
| 7 | Quebrada Limón | Rural | Quebrada Limón | La Joya de Francia | ??? | Digital |
In 2018, another digital center was opened at the Ponce Servicios building.
Ponce Historical Archive
The Archivo Histórico de Ponce (Ponce Historical Archive) is a special research library. It focuses on the history of Ponce. It used to be on Calle Marina and Plaza Degetau. In 2016, it moved to the renovated Ponce Servicios Building.
The Historical Archive has many old newspapers published in Ponce. These include papers from the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. Some famous ones are La Gaceta de Puerto Rico and El Diario de Puerto Rico. It also keeps copies of the local newspaper, La Perla del Sur.
Library Services for Everyone
The Ponce Municipal Library offers many services. It has a virtual education center with access to over 30 digital services. These services cover topics from auto repair to health, medicine, and literature. The library also has about 150 computers for public use.
There is a special area called Mi Rincón de Lectura (My Reading Corner). This is a cozy spot for parents to read to their children. The two-story main library also has a youth library. This youth library is part of an international program called PIALI. PIALI helps introduce children to literature. The library also hosts temporary art exhibitions.
Head Librarians
- J. Joaquin Figueroa (ca. 1890 - ca. 1913)
- Georgina Lazaro (ca.1980 - ca.1990)
- Adelina Coppin Alvarado (ca.1990 - ca.2002)
See also
In Spanish: Biblioteca Municipal e Infantil Mariana Suárez de Longo para niños
