First anniversary library of contemporary cultures
The Library of Contemporary Cultures confirms its position as a new cultural benchmark with nearly 36,000 users in its first year
The municipal facility, which occupies eight floors of the Mirador del Carmen building, has hosted more than 200 events since its opening and has registered 4,000 book loans.
The official anniversary event will take place on December 19th, with the participation of writer Elvira Lindo, actor Pepón Nieto and singer Alondra Bentley, who will close the event with an acoustic concert.
The Estepona Library of Contemporary Cultures, located on eight floors of the Mirador del Carmen Sociocultural Center, is celebrating its first anniversary, confirming its position as a new cultural landmark in the city. This is evidenced by the activity figures recorded in its first year. In total, nearly 36,000 people have visited this municipal facility, designed as a comprehensive, dynamic cultural center focused on the future and the needs of its users.
Having become a national landmark due to its unique nature, the center is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and resources, offering a comprehensive range of activities for all ages. This facility has particularly captured the attention of younger users, who represent nearly 40% of those who have visited the center in its first year.
The official event to celebrate the first anniversary will take place on December 19th at 8:00 p.m., with a special program featuring writer Elvira Lindo, actor Pepón Nieto, and singer Alondra Bentley, who will close the event with an acoustic concert. Admission is free until the concert hall at the cultural center reaches capacity.
The library is designed to offer users a unique experience each day, making it feel like an extension of their home, a space where they can immerse themselves in culture and technology. Furthermore, the city's commitment to this space has been accompanied by a comprehensive program of activities that have kept the facility vibrant throughout the year.
Thus, it has hosted nearly 200 activities, including children's workshops, adult workshops, conferences, seminars, dialogues (21), presentations (20), guided tours for children (46), guided tours for adults (18), storytelling sessions (2), adult reading clubs (13), a children's reading club (3), concerts (12), film screenings (5), and exhibitions (Coco Dávez and Manuel Moreno, on Terraza Street). Furthermore, the facilities hosted the awards ceremonies for the last two editions of the International Poetry Prize, with a meeting with the winners.
This municipal facility has not only revitalized local culture but has also boosted the city's national presence in cultural circles. Its regular programming has brought together thousands of people who have had the opportunity to meet key figures in Spanish-language creative work, such as Cervantes Prize winner Sergio Ramírez, filmmaker Oliver Laxe, writers Andrés Trapiello, David Uclés, Mara Torres, Jorge Bustos, and Megan Maxwell, artists like Soleá Morente, Anni B Sweet, Coco Dávez, and Manuel León, and poets like Elvira Sastre and Luis García Montero.
The Estepona Literary Festival (FLEST) is another key event for art and literature lovers; a festival that breaks down the barriers between genres and disciplines in a cross-cutting and community-oriented way. The festival brings together leading figures in international culture with the general public, while also involving local social organizations such as the Aprona Foundation and the Brotherhood of San Isidro, both committed to solidarity and the local community. In its first two editions, FLEST has established itself as one of the most attractive literary events in Spain, attracting more than 8,000 people, engaging bookstores throughout the province, and bringing the reading experience closer to the public.
The Library of Contemporary Cultures also boasts an extensive catalog of bibliographic references. In its first year, it has loaned 4,000 books. To use the lending service, users must have a membership card from the Public Library Network of Andalusia, which can be requested at any time either in person at the Mirador del Carmen library or online at www.bibliotecasdeandalucia.es.
The library maintains a wide-ranging program of events throughout the year. To stay up-to-date on activities, those interested can join the Friends of the Library of Contemporary Cultures Club by sending an email to bcc@estepona.es to receive the newsletter with all the information.