More libraries with women’s names
Six Barcelona libraries will be changing their names this year to include important women figures from the world of books, culture and local communities, such as Ana María Moix and Maria Àngels Rivas. Most libraries in the city currently bear men’s names, which is why the intention has been to promote the names of women born in Barcelona or with a strong connection to the city and assign them to libraries which only bear the name of the neighbourhood.
The six libraries to update their names are:
- Biblioteca Fort Pienc – Ana María Moix, in L’Eixample
Ana María Moix Meseguer (Barcelona, 12 April 1947 – Barcelona, 28 February 2014) was an editor, writer and poet. She was regarded as one of the main literary voices in the so-called Gauche Divine in Barcelona in the 60s and 70s.
Rosa Maria Arquimbau Cardil (Barcelona, 27 March 1909 – Barcelona, 28 February 1992), Catalan narrator, comedy playwright and journalist who published, for instance, Tres contes breus (1928), and various works performed at the Teatre Romea.
- Biblioteca Vilapicina i la Torre Llobeta – Carmen Laforet, in Nou Barris
Carmen Laforet Díaz (Barcelona, 6 September 1921 – Majadahonda, 28 February 2004) was a novelist. She gained international recognition with her first novel, Nada (1944), which also won the Nadal award.
- Biblioteca Nou Barris – Aurora Díaz Plaja, in Nou Barris
Aurora Díaz Plaja Contestí (Barcelona, 7 August 1913 – Barcelona, 8 December 2003) was a librarian and writer, known for her literature for children and young people. During the Spanish Civil War she organised the Bibliobús.
- Biblioteca Canyelles – M. Àngels Rivas, in Nou Barris
Maria Àngels Rivas Ureña (Targuist, Morocco, 1935 – Barcelona, 1994) was a local activist who fought for the construction of housing and a decent neighbourhood for working people. In 2004 the District of Les Corts launched the Les Corts Equality Award: M. Àngels Rivas Ureña, and in 2010 the City Council named a street after her.
- Biblioteca Zona Nord – Mària Sánchez, in Nou Barris
Mària Sánchez Ledesma (1964 – Barcelona, 16 March 2023), journalist with RTVE Catalunya Information Services and a leading figure in local journalism. Her career was linked to social and municipal information relating to Barcelona.
The name changes bring the number of libraries with women’s names in the Biblioteques de Barcelona network to thirteen:
- Ciutat Vella: Biblioteca Francesca Bonnemaison
- L’Eixample: Biblioteca Fort Pienc – Ana María Moix
- Les Corts: Biblioteca Montserrat Abelló
- Gràcia: Biblioteca Vallcarca i els Penitents – M. Antonieta Cot, Biblioteca Vila de Gràcia – Rosa M. Arquimbau
- Horta-Guinardó: Biblioteca Guinardó – Mercè Rodoreda
- Nou Barris: Biblioteca Vilapicina i la Torre Llobeta – Carmen Laforet, Biblioteca Nou Barris – Aurora Díaz Plaja, Biblioteca Canyelles – M. Àngels Rivas, Biblioteca Zona Nord – Mària Sánchez
- Sant Andreu: Biblioteca La Sagrera – Marina Clotet
- Sant Martí: Biblioteca Camp de l’Arpa – Caterina Albert
