Library_park_(Colombia)
Library park (Colombia)
Library building with surrounding green space
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.[1]
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."[2]
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.