L’Alfàs del Pi, a municipality on Spain’s Costa Blanca, is experiencing a surge in cultural engagement, as evidenced by a significant increase in library usage throughout . The municipal library closed the year with robust growth in both membership and visitor numbers, signaling a deepening community investment in literacy and cultural activities.
Currently, the library boasts a total of 4,538 registered members, comprising 2,544 adults and 1,994 children. alone saw the addition of 243 new members – 109 adults and 132 children – demonstrating a particularly strong appeal to younger demographics. Five institutions, including schools and associations, are now registered, with two joining during the last year, strengthening ties with the local educational and community sectors.
The library’s appeal is also reflected in increased foot traffic. A total of 14,636 visits were recorded in , up from 13,294 in . The breakdown of visitors reveals broad participation: 3,030 male, 4,538 female, 3,189 children, and 3,879 girls, highlighting strong family involvement.
Lending activity also increased. The library facilitated 9,780 book loans to adults and 6,484 to children, alongside 153 loans to institutions. An additional 89 interlibrary loans were processed, demonstrating a commitment to cultural cooperation with other municipalities by sharing resources.
The library’s success isn’t solely attributable to its lending services. A diverse program of 61 cultural activities – including storytelling sessions, book presentations, film screenings, school visits, craft workshops, and exhibitions – attracted a wide range of attendees and solidified the library’s position as a dynamic community hub.
The Biblioteca Municipal de l’Alfàs del Pi has a long history, opening its doors in with an initial collection of 2,000 books in the former town hall basement. It relocated to the second floor of the Casa de Cultura in , where the main hall was named after Valencian journalist and poet Vicent Andrés Estellés. A dedicated children’s area, named after poet Miguel Hernández, was added in . Today, the library’s catalog comprises 51,749 books, 3,815 films, and 1,874 audio files.
Manuel Casado, the municipal councilor for Culture, expressed strong satisfaction with the results. “The Municipal Library is an open, dynamic and constantly evolving space that continues to grow thanks to the involvement of the citizenry,” Casado stated. He specifically highlighted the increase in child and youth memberships, emphasizing that “fostering a reading habit from an early age is a priority for this government team, and these data demonstrate that we are on the right track.”
Looking ahead to , the library plans to prioritize the acquisition of new furniture to increase the visibility and accessibility of its collection. This investment aims to showcase a larger portion of the library’s holdings to the public.
The library is also responding to evolving reader preferences with a significant expansion of its comic book and graphic novel section, catering to both adult and children’s interests. This reflects a growing demand for these genres among library users.
A recent initiative, the ‘Maleta viatgera’ (Traveling Suitcase) project, aims to bring curated book selections to schools within the municipality. The contents of each suitcase are tailored to the specific needs of the participating institution. Currently, the project is underway at the CEIP Veles e Vents school, offering approximately thirty science-themed titles to students.
“We want the library to also go beyond its walls and reach educational centers, associations and groups in the municipality,” Casado explained. “Projects like the ‘Maleta viatgera’ allow us to bring reading and knowledge where the students are, awakening their curiosity and broadening horizons.” With these results and new initiatives, the Biblioteca Municipal de l’Alfàs del Pi reaffirms its commitment to promoting reading and universal access to culture.
The broader economic context of l’Alfàs del Pi, as reported on , indicates strengthening tourism, driven by increased visitor spending and a consistent influx of international tourists. While not directly linked to the library’s performance, this positive economic trend likely contributes to a more engaged and culturally active community.
