Library park (Colombia)

Bethlehem Library Park, designed by Japanese architect Hiroshi Naito.

A Library Park (Spanish: Parque biblioteca) is a term first used in Colombia for an urban complex formed by a combination of a library building with ample surrounding green space for public use. These library parks are strategically located in the periphery of Medellín, a major Colombian city, to address the need for more cultural and education space and public services in less affluent neighborhoods.

According to the Mayor of Medellín, "The library parks are cultural centers for social development that encourage citizen encounters, educational and recreational activities, building groups, the approach to the new challenges in digital culture. And they are also spaces for cultural services that allow cultural creation and strengthening of existing neighborhood organizations."

The popularity of library parks in Colombia and their success in improving the conditions of outer city neighborhoods has helped spread the idea to other countries in Latin America. Notably, Rio de Janeiro's Manguinhos Library Park was inspired by the library parks of Colombia.

Library parks in Colombia

2005-2008 Original Five

The initial proposal was for five library parks:

• Spain Library Park
• La Ladera Library Park
• San Javier Library Park
• Bethlehem Library Park
• La Quintana Library Park

2009-2011 Additional Five

Five new library parks have been built, benefiting around 784,000 people from all corners of the city. They join the Public Library System of Medellin and came into use in 2011.

The five new libraries include Library Park Doce de Octubre, Las Estancias Library Park, Guayabal Library Park, San Cristobal Library Park, and Library Park San Antonio de Prado.

Architecture

Spain Library Park

Architects from around the world left their mark on this project, among them Giancarlo Mazzanti, Ricardo La Rotta Caballero, and Hiroshi Naito. The architects designed initially five library parks already operating in different strategic points of the city (another five are under development).

The special architecture of the Spain library, added to the visit of King Juan Carlos and his wife Queen Sofia, has become a kind of symbol of all library parks. It is a colossal construction sui generis in every way that resembles three fallen rocks or meteorites from space and have become icons that can be recognized from a distance, as well as serving as a fantastic viewpoint of the city. At night, the three "rocks" or buildings that make installation light up brightly.