Many people don’t know this, but there are 106 libraries in São Paulo, all part of the Municipal Library System. At these libraries, residents can read, conduct research, borrow books, and enjoy a wide range of cultural programs.
In addition, the state government is also responsible for other collections. In other words, the number of public libraries in the capital far exceeds one hundred. Check out some of them below!
Founded in 1925 as the São Paulo Municipal Library, the Mário de Andrade Library is the city’s largest public library and the second-largest public library in the country, surpassed only by the National Library.
And the fact that it bears the name of one of the greatest figures of literary modernism is no coincidence. This is because Mário de Andrade was the first director of the São Paulo Department of Culture (later the Municipal Secretariat of Culture). Thus, the library’s name pays tribute to the writer’s ideas and his vision for the city, including his desire to create the metropolis’s first public library.
São Paulo Library
Opened in February 2010, the São Paulo Library (BSP) is located in Parque da Juventude, on the site where the detention center known as Carandiru once stood.
According to the São Paulo government’s plan, it was designed to be a bold, multimedia space that is fully accessible, featuring an innovative project for social inclusion through reading.
In addition to books, the Villa-Lobos Park Library is known as a recreational space for families. After all, located within the park of the same name, it was inaugurated in 2015 with the aim of revitalizing the urban space.
The library hosts free activities such as storytelling, literary gatherings, workshops, musical performances, meetings with writers, and much more.
The Monteiro Lobato Children’s and Youth Library houses a significant collection of Brazilian literature for children and young adults, as well as a bibliographic and museological collection dedicated to Monteiro Lobato. In addition, it offers a database of theatrical texts and operates the Monteiro Lobato Children’s Theater (Timol).
The Affonso Taunay Library is located right in downtown São Paulo, in the heart of the Mooca neighborhood. With a focus on the humanities, its collection includes more than 30,000 items, consisting of books, encyclopedias, newspapers, and multimedia archives.
Alceu Amoroso Lima Library
Next up is a tip especially for poetry lovers. Since 2006, the Alceu Amoroso Lima Library has focused on this genre, featuring classics of Brazilian and world poetry.
The CCSP is one of São Paulo’s main cultural venues, combining a movie theater, a library, and a variety of activities. It is located near the Vergueiro station and offers spaces for reading and cultural events.
As its name suggests, the MIS library focuses on publications by and about photography. It houses more than 30,000 items related to the “8th art” and its manifestations in other cultural fields, such as fashion and cinema.
Considered one of the most beautiful libraries in São Paulo, it houses more than 3,500 books, including rare editions, manuscripts, and 15th-century engravings. The architecture is inspired by King Frederick II’s private library at Sanssouci Palace in Germany and features a circular layout with ivory-wood bookshelves reminiscent of Parisian design.
Finally, a must-see tip for lovers of Japanese culture. The Japan Foundation brings together a wide range of materials on the country’s culture, language, and history, such as textbooks, literature, magazines, newspapers, and audiovisual materials. You can even find manga to read for free there!
