They say that man is the only living being that stumbles twice over the same stone, which in fact means that we are, on the one hand, extremely stubborn, and on the other, that we have a hard time do a lot of self-criticism and, consequently, learn from mistakes. For this reason, and for no other reason, we tend to stumble over the same obstacles.
There was a time when, in the 60s of the last century (20th century), there was only one private library in Albaida: the library of Segrelles. The library was on the second floor of the museum. It was a specialized library, mainly in children's readings.
The city council came up with the idea of a cultural promotion campaign around the recently created secondary school and they thought that the creation of a "public library" more central and for all types of readers; which couldwake up” the desire for wisdom and knowledge.
Searching in the municipal archive (1) we found an incomplete file that was opened to request the creation of a municipal public library in the town of Albaida and that was never carried out.
*photo record"
(1) With Signature 147/4 and coded 2.8.2. AMA (Municipal Archive of Albaida)
The data begins on November 24, 1964 when by means of a plenary agreement (2) it is agreed to apply to the General Directorate of Archives and Libraries of the Ministry of National Education for the creation of a public library. They were based on the decree of September 4, 1952 (3). The venue chosen was the ground floor of the municipal building on Calle Elias Tormo, nº 1, where the city council would carry out the adaptation and furnishing works.
*In the photo you can see, as a curiosity, the model of tables and furniture to be used*
The capacity of the premises was for 38 readers and they would start with an initial fund of 3,310 volumes. The technical project of the work plus the budget for the acquisition of the furniture was a total of 110,800 pesetas (4) . But time passes inexorably and the library still did not open. For what reason? "… the oppressive multiple attentions that weigh on this town hall make it difficult, despite their fervent desires, to conceive this amount of their own resources, before indefinitely delaying this very important cultural work…”
In a few words: they didn't have, even in those days, money for culture.
Between 1965 and 1966 they only had 30 thousand pesetas and tried to seek help from the Caja de Ahorros de Valencia in the form of a subsidy or lost fund (5) . Time continues to pass and the Library Coordinating Center of the Provincial Council of Valencia sends a letter dated November 20 asking the Lord Mayor to complete the missing documentation from the instance presented a year ago; since they only have the municipal agreement and the same instance in the Provincial Council. The project for the premises, the budget for the works and the budget item are still missing.
On January 27, 1966, Albaida City Council agreed to cede to the State a plot of land to build a new building for the Municipal Library located on Carrer Sant Francesc with a last attempt to create of a library.
(2) Being mayor José Luis Boixader Pastor
(3) National Reading Service. Article 13, where the conditions and requirements are explained
(4) 39,700 pts. of work and 71,100 pts. of furniture
(5) On October 19, 1965, they asked for aid of 71,100 pts. for the furniture
*ground photo*
The last date we find is September 20, 1966 where the Diputació de Valencia sends a letter again saying that the same documents are missing. 6 years later, in a Book of Acts of the Plenum, dated November 21, 1972, it was agreed to transfer a plot of 2,200 square meters to the Ministry of Education and Science for a House of Culture and Library Centre. where? in the "Vitxitos" neighborhood on Carrer Olleria (6).
We have to wait 16 years to hear again: plenary agreement of 29 March 1988 (7) where the Ministry of Culture is requested to join the agreement for the creation of a municipal public library on the ground floor (120 m²) of the new municipal building (under construction) located at Plaça Major, 7, all d in accordance with Order 532 of June 29, 1984 (8). We come to the year 1991 (9) when the is definitely created first Municipal Public Library of Albaida. yesopen to the public in the summer of 1992
(6) This project is not carried out either
(7) Former Mayor Pepe Bellver Julià
(8) During those years (1989-1991) the "room" was used as: exhibition hall, courses for the associations, collection of the contribution
(9) Being mayor Joan Antoni Bodí i Quilis
counter photo*
