Ponce Municipal Library
Encyclopedia
The Ponce Municipal Library, formally, Biblioteca Municipal e Infantil Mariana Suárez de Longo y Archivo Histórico de Ponce (English: Mariana Suárez de Longo Municipal and Children’s Library and Ponce Historical Archive), and also known as Bibliteca Publica de Ponce (English: Ponce Public Library), is the library system of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico
. Founded in 1870, it is the oldest public library in Puerto Rico. The system has its main library on Miguel Pou Boulevard
, in barrio San Antón
, in the city of Ponce, and seven “satellite” library branches, three in the city proper and four elsewhere in the municipality of Ponce.
. The Gabinete de Lectura was the first educational, cultural, and scientific center in Ponce. The Gabinete was established in 1870 by Federico Perez, Antonio Molina, Jr., Diego Vicente Texeira, Rafael Rodriguez, Luis R. Velazquez, Angel Aguerrevera, and Eduardo Neumann Gandía
, and was located on Calle Sol. The central government in San Juan closed it down in 1874 out of fear that the common people would become educated and rebel against the government. However, it was reopened in 1876 by a group of people that included some of its original founders plus Dr. Rafael Pujals
, Oscar Schuck, Alfredo Casals, Antonio Molina, Ramon Rivera, Jacobo Tur, Sergio Cuevas Zequeira, Juan Cuevas Aboy, Oriol Pasarell, Fancisco Oliver, Manuel Mayoral Barnes, and Manuel Yordan.
building, on what is now Calle Plaza Degetau
, but at the time was considered part of Calle Villa. It contained 1,500 volumes that came from the "Gabinete de Lectura", the private collection of Manuel Rosich, a prominent local educator, and donations from citizens at large. The first librarian was Joaquin Figueroa. The library started with 809 books and 669 pamphlets. By 1913, the total number of volumes was over 4,754, including 2,818 books and 1,936 periodicals. The library later relocated to Isabel street in what is now the Ponce Historic Zone
. In 1940, mayor Jose Tormos Diego
reconditioned the northern annex of Teatro La Perla to be used as the headquarters of the Ponce municipal library.
Originally a non-circulating library, in 1945 the Ponce Public Library instituted a home loan system guaranteed by deposits. The majority of its readers were school children. By 1946 the Ponce Public Library collection had increased to 9,648 volumes, mostly of general character, but completely catalogued according to the Dewey system
. In 1946 the library was mostly supported by the Ponce Lions Club
and the Asociacion Bibliotecaria de Puerto Rico, a sort of "friends of the library" organization.
During the administration of mayor Juan H. Cintron
(1968), the library moved to new facilities next to Teatro La Perla, where it remained until 2007.
and cost $14 million to build. The new building is located at the site of the old Tribunal de Ponce (English: Ponce Judicial Center), which was demolished to give way for the library.
she committed almost 40 years of her life to the education of the island’s youth. In 1946, she became the first Puerto Rican woman to be designated School Superintendent, commanding the Ponce area from 1950 to 1962. Later on, she directed the Department of Education
’s southern region, comprising fourteen municipalities
. The devoted educator retired in 1972 and passed away in Ponce on 1995.
(Guillermo Jackson Library), Jaime L. Drew
(Jose Rodriguez Ayala), and Playa
(Rafaela Prieto Library). The four satellite libraries located outside the urban area of the city are at: Llanos del Sur
in barrio Coto Laurel
, one at the Old Head Start building in barrio Guaraguao
, one at the Corral Viejo sector of barrio Magueyes
at the Escuela Segunda Unidad Rosario Latorre, and one at barrio Quebrada Limón
.
.
Also within the main building is the Ponce Historical Archive, with collections of newspapers published in the city from the 18th through the 20th century, including La Gaceta de Puerto Rico, El Aguila de Puerto Rico, El Universal, and El Diario de Puerto Rico among others. Facilities also include an exhibition hall for art expositions and other similar public events of cultural and civic nature. The library’s court yard provides unrestricted wireless Internet access per the library’s hotspot policy and provides an environment suitable for book presentations, storytelling activities, lectures and cocktails.
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
. Founded in 1870, it is the oldest public library in Puerto Rico. The system has its main library on Miguel Pou Boulevard
Miguel Pou
Miguel Pou y Becerra was a Puerto Rican oil canvas painter. He was a painter, draftsman, and professor. Together with José Campeche and Francisco Oller, he has been called "one of Puerto Rico's greatest masters." He was an exposer of the impressionist movement. During his life he carried out...
, in barrio San Antón
San Antón
San Antón is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Canas Urbano, Machuelo Abajo, Magueyes Urbano, and Portugués Urbano, San Antón is one of the municipality's five originally rural barrios that are now also part of the urban zone of the city of Ponce. It is...
, in the city of Ponce, and seven “satellite” library branches, three in the city proper and four elsewhere in the municipality of Ponce.
Gabinete de Lectura
The origins of the Ponce Municipal Library date to the establishment in Ponce of the "Gabinete de Lectura" in 1870, founded by Alejandro Tapia y RiveraAlejandro Tapia y Rivera
Alejandro Tapia y Rivera was a Puerto Rican poet, dramaturg, essayist and writer. Tapia is considered to be the father of Puerto Rican literature and as the person who has contributed the most to the cultural advancement of Puerto Rico's literature...
. The Gabinete de Lectura was the first educational, cultural, and scientific center in Ponce. The Gabinete was established in 1870 by Federico Perez, Antonio Molina, Jr., Diego Vicente Texeira, Rafael Rodriguez, Luis R. Velazquez, Angel Aguerrevera, and Eduardo Neumann Gandía
Eduardo Neumann Gandía
Eduardo Neumann Gandía , was one of Puerto Rico's most accomplished historians. He is particularly best known for his 19th century "History of Ponce." He was born in San Juan, but died in Ponce, his "beloved city."...
, and was located on Calle Sol. The central government in San Juan closed it down in 1874 out of fear that the common people would become educated and rebel against the government. However, it was reopened in 1876 by a group of people that included some of its original founders plus Dr. Rafael Pujals
Rafael Pujals
Dr. Rafael Pujals Cárdenas was a late 19th century Puerto Rican physician practicing in Ponce, Puerto Rico that excelled as a civic leader.-Physician:...
, Oscar Schuck, Alfredo Casals, Antonio Molina, Ramon Rivera, Jacobo Tur, Sergio Cuevas Zequeira, Juan Cuevas Aboy, Oriol Pasarell, Fancisco Oliver, Manuel Mayoral Barnes, and Manuel Yordan.
The first library
The Ponce Municipal Library was formally founded in 1890 and re-organized in 1894. This first library was located on the first floor of Casa AlcaldiaPonce City Hall
The Ponce City Hall is located on Calle Degetau, across from Plaza Las Delicias in the Ponce Historic Zone in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The building serves as the seat of the executive branch of government of the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce, including the office of the Mayor of Ponce. It is the...
building, on what is now Calle Plaza Degetau
Plaza Degetau
Plaza Degetau, formally Plaza Federico Degetau, is the larger of two plazas at Plaza Las Delicias, the main city square in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. The other plaza is named Plaza Muñoz Rivera and is located north of Plaza Degetau. The square is notable for its fountains and for the various...
, but at the time was considered part of Calle Villa. It contained 1,500 volumes that came from the "Gabinete de Lectura", the private collection of Manuel Rosich, a prominent local educator, and donations from citizens at large. The first librarian was Joaquin Figueroa. The library started with 809 books and 669 pamphlets. By 1913, the total number of volumes was over 4,754, including 2,818 books and 1,936 periodicals. The library later relocated to Isabel street in what is now the Ponce Historic Zone
Ponce Historic Zone
The Ponce Historic Zone is a historic district in downtown Ponce, Puerto Rico with construction that dates to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The zone was originally designated in 1962, and then it only included the center core of the city, but it has since been expanded to...
. In 1940, mayor Jose Tormos Diego
José Tormos Diego
José Tormos Diego was a Puerto Rican politician and Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico, from 1937 to 1941. He is best remembered for rebuilding the historic Teatro La Perla in 1940.-Mayoral selection:...
reconditioned the northern annex of Teatro La Perla to be used as the headquarters of the Ponce municipal library.
Originally a non-circulating library, in 1945 the Ponce Public Library instituted a home loan system guaranteed by deposits. The majority of its readers were school children. By 1946 the Ponce Public Library collection had increased to 9,648 volumes, mostly of general character, but completely catalogued according to the Dewey system
Dewey Decimal Classification
Dewey Decimal Classification, is a proprietary system of library classification developed by Melvil Dewey in 1876.It has been greatly modified and expanded through 23 major revisions, the most recent in 2011...
. In 1946 the library was mostly supported by the Ponce Lions Club
Lions Clubs International
Lions Clubs International is a secular service organization with over 44,500 clubs and more than 1,368,683 members in 191 countries around the world founded by Melvin Jones Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, United States, the organization aims to meet the needs of communities on a local and...
and the Asociacion Bibliotecaria de Puerto Rico, a sort of "friends of the library" organization.
During the administration of mayor Juan H. Cintron
Juan H. Cintrón García
Juan Herminio Cintrón García was a Puerto Rican politician and Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico from 1968 to 1972.-Career:Cintron served as mayor Ponce from 1969 to 1973...
(1968), the library moved to new facilities next to Teatro La Perla, where it remained until 2007.
Current facility
The city moved its central library to a new facility in August 2007. The modern facility opened over three years after the untimely death of its proud mastermind and instigator, "the beloved Ponce Mayor Rafael Churumba Cordero".Main library building
The main library is located in a new building on Miguel Pou Boulevard, barrio San Anton, Ponce, at 18° 0' 44" N, 66° 36' 12" W. The new structure opened in August 2007 under the administration of Mayor Francisco Zayas SeijoFrancisco Zayas Seijo
Dr. Francisco R. Zayas Seijo, D.V.M., also known as Ico , is a former member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives and mayor of the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico...
and cost $14 million to build. The new building is located at the site of the old Tribunal de Ponce (English: Ponce Judicial Center), which was demolished to give way for the library.
Mariana Suárez de Longo
The Main Library was named after Mariana Suárez de Longo, a much admired “Teacher of Teachers”. Born in 1906 in Aibonito, Puerto RicoAibonito, Puerto Rico
Aibonito is a small mountain town in Puerto Rico located in the Mountain range of Cayey, north of Salinas; south of Barranquitas and Comerio; east of Coamo; and west of Cidra, and Cayey. Aibonito is spread over 8 wards and Aibonito Pueblo...
she committed almost 40 years of her life to the education of the island’s youth. In 1946, she became the first Puerto Rican woman to be designated School Superintendent, commanding the Ponce area from 1950 to 1962. Later on, she directed the Department of Education
Puerto Rico Department of Education
The Puerto Rico Department of Education is the department of Puerto Rico's government which manages state-operated schools in the United States commonwealth. The department is the equivalent of a state department of education and only one of two composed of a single school district...
’s southern region, comprising fourteen municipalities
Municipalities of Puerto Rico
The Municipalities of Puerto Rico number 78 and they make up the smallest electoral division of the Commonwealth. Each municipality is divided into barrios, though the latter are not vested with political authority.-Administrative divisions:...
. The devoted educator retired in 1972 and passed away in Ponce on 1995.
Satellite libraries
The other seven satellite libraries are distributed throughout the municipality, three within the urban area of the city of Ponce and four outside. The three satellite libraries located in the city proper are at: ClausellsSegundo (Ponce)
Segundo is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Primero, Tercero, Cuarto, Quinto, and Sexto, Segundo is one the municipality's six core urban barrios.-Location:...
(Guillermo Jackson Library), Jaime L. Drew
Sexto (Ponce)
Sexto is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Primero, Segundo, Tercero, Cuarto, and Quinto, Sexto is one the municipality's six core urban barrios.-Location:...
(Jose Rodriguez Ayala), and Playa
Playa (Ponce)
La Playa de Ponce, Ponce Playa, La Playa, or simply Playa, is one of the thirty-one barrios that comprise the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Bucaná, Canas, Vayas, and Capitanejo, Playa is one of the municipality's five coastal barrios...
(Rafaela Prieto Library). The four satellite libraries located outside the urban area of the city are at: Llanos del Sur
Coto Laurel
Coto Laurel is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Anón, Marueño, Guaraguao, Quebrada Limon, Real, and San Patricio, and the coastal barrios of Canas and Capitanejo, Coto Laurel is one of the municipality's nine bordering barrios...
in barrio Coto Laurel
Coto Laurel
Coto Laurel is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Anón, Marueño, Guaraguao, Quebrada Limon, Real, and San Patricio, and the coastal barrios of Canas and Capitanejo, Coto Laurel is one of the municipality's nine bordering barrios...
, one at the Old Head Start building in barrio Guaraguao
Guaraguao
Guaraguao is one of the 31 barrios in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Anón, Coto Laurel, Marueño, Quebrada Limón, Real, and San Patricio, and the coastal barrios of Canas and Capitanejo, Guaraguao is one of the municipality's nine bordering barrios. It borders the...
, one at the Corral Viejo sector of barrio Magueyes
Magueyes
Magueyes is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Together with Cerrillos, Machuelo Arriba, Maragüez, Monte Llano, Portugues, Sabanetas, and Tibes, Magueyes is one of the municipality's eight interior barrios. The name of this barrio is of native Indian...
at the Escuela Segunda Unidad Rosario Latorre, and one at barrio Quebrada Limón
Quebrada Limón
Quebrada Limón is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Anón, Coto Laurel, Guaraguao, Marueño, Real, and San Patricio, and the coastal barrios of Canas and Capitanejo, Quebrada Limón is one of the municipality's nine bordering barrios...
.
Research branch
The Archivo Histórico is a library research tool and is currently located on Calle Marina and Plaza Degetau in the Ponce Historic ZonePonce Historic Zone
The Ponce Historic Zone is a historic district in downtown Ponce, Puerto Rico with construction that dates to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The zone was originally designated in 1962, and then it only included the center core of the city, but it has since been expanded to...
.
Services
The Ponce Municipal Library offers among its services a nearly half-million dollars virtual education center with access to over 30 digital services covering subjects from Auto Repair to Health and Medicine to Literature to encyclopedias and dictionaries with a fleet of some 150 computers. There is a Mi Rincón de Lectura (English: Children’s Reading Corner) providing a setting for parents who want to read to their kids. The two-story main library structure also has a youth library, sponsored by the known as PIALI, Programa Internacional de Acercamiento a la Literatura Infantil (English: International Children’s Literature Introductory Program).Also within the main building is the Ponce Historical Archive, with collections of newspapers published in the city from the 18th through the 20th century, including La Gaceta de Puerto Rico, El Aguila de Puerto Rico, El Universal, and El Diario de Puerto Rico among others. Facilities also include an exhibition hall for art expositions and other similar public events of cultural and civic nature. The library’s court yard provides unrestricted wireless Internet access per the library’s hotspot policy and provides an environment suitable for book presentations, storytelling activities, lectures and cocktails.