Considering Argentina’s intellectual heart, the Biblioteca Nacional Mariano Moreno awaits. Founded in 1810 it has born witness to the country’s history. Today we explore its story.
The Biblioteca Nacional started as the Public Library of Buenos Aires. The First Assembly created it during the May Revolution. Mariano Moreno championed this project. He sought to transform society through knowledge. The library’s creation was about public education. It was about building an autonomous country. Its initial collection came from Bishop Orellana’s expropriated collection. Donations also came from patriotic citizens.
Initially, the Biblioteca Nacional resided within the historic Manzana de las Luces. It stood on the corner of Moreno Street and Peru Street. In 1884, the institution became the National Library. Paul Groussac became its director.
Groussac improved the library significantly. He created a methodical classification system. He cataloged the manuscript collection. Groussac also published two prestigious journals. The Biblioteca became a literary reference.
A new building opened on Mexico Street in 1901. The National Lottery originally designed it. Visitors were surprised by the lottery ornaments adorning the staircase. Groussac’s forty-year administration enriched the library’s patrimony. Ángel Justiniano Carranza made a donation. Amancio Alcorta and Martín García Merou also donated.
Jorge Luis Borges became director. He managed the Biblioteca Nacional from 1955 through 1973. Borges was informed he needed to give up reading. This was because of his weakened vision.
The Biblioteca Nacional needed a new building. The Unzué Palace was selected. It was the former residence of Juan Perón and Evita. The palace was demolished in 1958. The new library’s construction began in 1971.
Clorindo Testa, Francisco Bullrich, and Alicia Cazzaniga designed the brutalist structure. The new Biblioteca Nacional finally opened on April 10, 1992. The building has six stories and three basements. Here books are stored.
The Biblioteca Nacional has close to a million items. These include manuscripts, books, documents and photos. It also houses maps, scores and recordings. The library also has the biggest newspaper archive in Latin America. Its treasury contains 11000 volumes. These are mostly from the 16th and 17th centuries. It also includes 21 incunables and a page from the Gutenberg Bible.
Today, the Biblioteca Nacional stands as a testament to Argentina’s culture. Its reading rooms offer a chance to consider the country’s collective culture. From the fifth floor reading room, there is an excellent view of the city. The Biblioteca Nacional Mariano Moreno is more than a library. It is a cornerstone of Argentinian identity.