The history of the almost 100-year-old José Martí National Library, the depository of the history and patrimony of a nation with a rich culture and history is shrouded by many years of trials and tribulations.

This institution began its work on October 18, 1901 in one of the halls of the Real Fuerza Fortress with a collection of 3,150 volumes donated by its first director, don Domingo Figarola Caneda. Just a few months later, it moved to the Department of Public Education and later on to the Artillery Arsenal in the Cuban capital, where it remained until 1925.

Four years later, the library’s collection was divided: one part was sent to the National Capitol building and the other to the basement of Havana’s former prison, which was later destroyed by a fire. This institution’s years of deterioration and official abandonment promoted the campaigns led by Emilio Roig de Leuchsenring, who in 1936 founded the Association of Friends of the National Library.

Through this group the Cuban historian denounced the educational and cultural chaos prevailing in Cuba and especially in this cultural entity. Writer José Antonio Ramos was named technical adviser of the Library in the late 1930s and he began to catalogue and classify the existing books.

A Board of Employers was created at that time and it began receiving financing from a tax of half a centavo imposed on every 325-pound sack of sugar produced during the harvest. After deciding that the new building that would house the Library would be called José Martí, the Board paid 300,000 pesos for the plot of land where it would stand and placed the first stone on January 28, 1952.

Five years later the new installation was inaugurated at its definite venue situated around 100 meters away from Revolution Square, in City of Havana. The country’s life changed with the triumph of the Revolution in January 1959. From that moment on a process of reanimation began for this cultural institution, whose empty bookshelves and sumptuous halls took on a new life.

At present the National Library treasures more than two million volumes, between books, magazines, dailies, photos, slides, microfilms, maps, engravings and other documents. A specialized staff caters to users’ information needs and requests according to the library’s stock, and lets out books. The installation is the venue for conferences, exhibits, drawing contests, book launchings and children’s activities.(February/2004)

(Taken from: Cubasí)