The Ayuntamiento de Madrid is set to celebrate Libraries Day tomorrow, honouring these spaces as vital centres for community engagement, knowledge, and social transformation. The event encourages reflection on the essential role of public libraries in promoting free access to culture, creativity, and coexistence.
In recognition of this celebration, the Municipal Public Libraries Network has organised a special programme that includes the release of a reading guide titled Lo raro, improbable y extraordinario, which invites readers to view the world differently through a selection of stories that defy logic and imagine unusual worlds. The guide offers recommendations for various age groups.
A highlight of the special programme is the presentation of the 18th Micro-story Prize, with this year's theme being 'Eclipse: when light is hidden'. The award ceremony will take place this afternoon at the Iván de Vargas Municipal Library, where winning micro-stories will be read and diplomas awarded. The event will conclude with a storytelling session for adults titled 'La luz de la oscuridad', narrated by Margalida Alberdi.
The programme will continue over the weekend and into the following week with workshops, book presentations, musical performances, exhibitions, and more storytelling sessions. For instance, the San Fermín Library will host the presentation of Joaquín Fernández de Silva's book Xanthos tomorrow, accompanied by the poetic-musical performance 'La gran trazada'. On Sunday, Leticia Ruifernández will present her book Correspondencias at the Eugenio Trías Library, while the José Hierro Library will welcome the Urban Sketchers group for an exhibition focused on this municipal space.
Specialised municipal spaces will also participate in the celebration. The Hemeroteca Municipal will offer a workshop on the Lyceum Club Femenino de Madrid, Spain's first women's cultural centre, on 27 and 29 October and 5 November. Additionally, the Víctor Espinós Music Library will host a concert this afternoon featuring 'La sonrisa de Cibeles', a project led by Mexican violinist Santiago Vokram that blends jazz, classical music, folk, and pop-rock.
Furthermore, the Hemeroteca Municipal will commemorate the press works of Leopoldo Alas 'Clarín' with a selection of his 'paliques' articles, coinciding with the 125th anniversary of the author's death.
The Municipal Public Libraries Network in Madrid comprises 36 libraries spread across the city's districts. In recent years, new facilities have been established to bring reading, study, and cultural activities closer to neighbourhoods, including the Benjamín Palencia Library in Villa de Vallecas and the Victoria Prego Library in Carabanchel. This expansion is set to continue with the upcoming opening of the new Montecarmelo Library, named after writer Carmen Martín Gaite.
Municipal libraries are highly valued by Madrid residents. According to the 2025 Quality of Life and Satisfaction Survey conducted by the Ayuntamiento de Madrid, libraries received a score of 7.3 out of 10, placing them among the most highly regarded municipal services.
