The Ortigueira Municipal Library has received the prestigious 'Inspiring Libraries' award from the Xunta de Galicia, recognising its efforts in preserving and promoting the local bibliographic and documentary heritage. The award was presented during the II International Congress of Public Libraries Galicia-North of Portugal.
Culture Minister José López Campos handed the certificate to Ortigueira's Mayor, Valentín Calvín, who was joined at the ceremony by municipal librarians María José Vilasánchez Fuciños and Mónica Pérez Armada. This accolade acknowledges the library's role in rescuing, preserving, and making accessible essential documents and publications that contribute to the collective history and memory of Ortigueira.
The 'Objective: local memory' initiative arose from the need to recover documentary materials that had become scattered across private homes, collections, and at risk of being lost. The project is based on the premise that Ortigueira's history is not only found in catalogued books but also in photographs, postcards, festival programmes, and memorabilia preserved in local homes.
After receiving the award, Mayor Calvín expressed that this recognition represents "a collective pride for the entire municipality" and institutional support for "the quiet, daily work of the municipal library". He stated that preserving Ortigueira's memory is "the best way to build its future", thanking the collaborative efforts of technicians and residents that have made this initiative a benchmark in Galicia.
To implement the project, the library developed a structured methodology involving identification, conservation, cataloguing, classification, and dissemination of the recovered materials. Citizen participation was central to the project's success, allowing active involvement from families, cultural associations, the neighbourhood, and members of the reading club. Thanks to this community support, from 1 January 2024 to 5 August 2026, the local collection added 867 new documents, with 802 coming from private donations, accounting for 92.5% of total additions. Notable contributions included those from Federico Maciñeira Teijeiro and the family of Luis Alonso Santiago.
Ana Cartelle, the municipal councillor for Culture, highlighted the "social value and future projection" of the awarded project. She stated that 'Objective: local memory' demonstrates that culture in Ortigueira is "participatory and vibrant", turning local residents into custodians of their history. Cartelle also noted that winning this award will encourage "new actions aimed at bringing these historical resources closer to schools and younger generations", promoting exhibitions and educational activities.
In addition to expanding the documentary collection and establishing a dedicated space for proper treatment and physical preservation, the project maintains close collaboration with the Biblioteca de Galicia for the digitisation of valuable resources. Currently, the Galician digital repository offers access to 126 items from 17 press cabinets and 47 monographs and brochures related to Ortigueira, with plans to add more documents throughout 2026.
