The National Library offers its visitors a permanent, free, cultural programme open to the general public, with exhibitions, conferences and debates, monthly book, poetry and film cycles, and various publications and catalogues which can be purchased at the Bookshop.
The cultural hall, situated on the ground floor of the building, gives access to all the cultural areas of the library: Events hall, Exhibition halls, Library museum and Bookshop. Various information points are also located here.
The cultural area is open to the public Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm and on Sundays, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. For further information, please consult the yearly calendar.
Exhibitions
Photo of the main façade of the National Library
Except when assembling showcases, the National Library normally offers two exhibitions: one in the Sala Recoletos and the other in the Sala Hipóstila.
The showcases vary in subject matter, but mainly endeavour to disseminate the assets and collections of the National Library, paying special attention on the exhibition of works on paper: books, engravings, drawings, posters, photographs, maps and periodic publications and monographs.
For further information on exhibitions: e-mail.
Cultural activities
Image of the showcase of the National Library Museum with the facsimile of Beatus of Liébana
The extensive programme of cultural events can be consulted in the agenda of activities which gives monthly information. The National Library publishes and distributes a Cultural Activities Newsletter with an electronic edition which can be subscribed to on-line.
The cultural activities programmed by the National Library are centred around three objectives:
- To raise awareness of the importance of libraries, the work of librarians and in particular the function of the National Library as a depository of the cultural, historical, scientific and artistic memory of Spain.
- To disseminate the assets of the National Library which are housed in our own facilities or in museums, exhibition halls and libraries throughout Spain and abroad.
- To convert the National Library into a centre of permanent cultural activity focussed on art and culture, a forum for initiatives and debates which in addition to protecting the legacy of our past also depicts the library as a central and vibrant institution of modern Spanish culture.
For further information on cultural events: e-mail.
Museum
The Library Museum increases the National Library's cultural offer and allows the visitor to learn about the functions and most valuable assets of the library. It is also responsible for programming cultural events, school activities, and workshops for the family and general public.
For further information on the National Library Museum activities: e-mail.