Its Regional Library plays a key role in the cultural and educational life of the port of Antofagasta in northern Chile.
Services:
- Guided visits
- Public transport
Opening times:
Tues-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat-Sun 10am-2pm
Admission:
Free
About the institution
The Antofagasta Regional Library is part of Chile's National System of Public Libraries. It opened in 2013 and is housed in the Edificio de los Servicios Públicos (Public Services Building) on the city's Plaza de Armas square.
The imposing building is one of the landmarks of the historical quarter of Antofagasta and was declared a National Monument in 2009. Dating back to the 1920s, it was built in the French neoclassical style in reinforced concrete and plaster, with wooden windows and staircases.
The building is also home to a number of other public services, including the post office.
Services
The services offered by the Antofagasta Regional Library include:
- Reading rooms. Containing over 26,000 books, the Library has six reading rooms: General Collections Room, Literature Room, Children's Room, Young People's and Comics Room, Memory Room (devoted to books about the Antofagasta Region, including its history, traditions and economy as well as novels by local writers) and Press Room (local and national newspapers and magazines).
- Study/meeting rooms. On the first floor, there are three rooms available for meetings or group study.
- IT services. Under the national BiblioRedes computer-access program, the Library has an IT laboratory, equipped with 15 computers. As well as Internet access, it offers training in basic digital literacy and, for example, the construction of websites and blogs. All areas of the Library also have Wi-Fi.
- Guided visits. The Library has a program of guided visits for schoolchildren and other organized groups.
- Cultural activities. The activities offered by the Library include exhibitions, film cycles and theater performances, often by local groups.
- Educational activities. The workshops implemented by the Library target both children and adults and include the arts and handicrafts as well as writing techniques.
