This weekend, those responsible for the city’s Popular Libraries traveled to the Buenos Aires Book Fair to update their bibliography and remain current in a situation that questions their importance in the fabric of each of the communities.
However, this year they face different difficulties that hinder the acquisition of new material: although the budget they have is higher than last year –close to $700 thousand–, the increases in bibliographic material and in components and raw materials They mean that in 2024 half of what has been purchased over the last few seasons can be purchased.
The issue of publication costs is not something new: The Argentine Book Chamber had indicated that in March sales had fallen by 40%, while the inputs for the preparation of the works increased considerably.
In fact, from the entity, they indicated that 55% of the production cost corresponds to paper expenses. In our country, only two companies, Ledesma and Celulosa, manufacture this raw material.
Along these lines, the increase in plain paper was 150%, and that of illustrated paper was 300%. This means that on average books are worth $18,000, while best-sellers are worth $30,000, or even more.
Conabip still present
One of the income that the four Popular Libraries of the city have is through the subsidies that come from the National State through the National Commission of Popular Libraries (CONABIP). In addition, within the entity there are other lines of help for this type of institutions, such as the “Book %” program.
Through this subsidy, “Popular Libraries throughout the country are enabled to acquire bibliographic material, according to the needs of their communities, at 50% of its market value.”
It is important to add that, in parallel with this discount, a fund is deposited with each of these institutions to be able to make the purchase of new material effective every year at the Book Fair held in Buenos Aires.
In this framework, only three of the four Popular Libraries in the city received this aid: the “Rodolfo García”, the “Sarmiento” and the “Olegario V. Andrade”. For its part, “López Jordán” was left out of the program and will travel to the Book Fair with its own limited resources to update its bibliography.
When consulted, the “López Jordán” librarian stated that she did not receive a response as to the reasons why the funds were not assigned to them. However, with the money from the membership fee they hope to acquire around 30 new copies, four of those acquired last year.
Buy as far as you can
In 2023, the Popular Libraries of Gualeguaychú were able to obtain approximately 130 new books to increase their offer and respond to the demands of members. However, during this edition, the librarians who will travel this weekend to the International Book Fair will only be able to buy half as many books as last year.
The subsidy that only three of the city’s public establishments received is around $700,000, an amount that is enough to purchase, depending on the costs of the works, around 60 or 70 copies.
Throughout the year, those responsible for serving each of the libraries listened to the requests of their members and monitored which genres readers searched for most.
In this regard, from the “Rodolfo García” Library they stated “we are putting together a list of what those who come ask us for and based on the most voted ones we decide which books we are going to buy and on the other hand, the purchasing capacity that we have.”
For their part, those responsible for “Sarmiento” said that they try to buy “the latest” on all the best-sellers for young readers with the aim of “making a staff of youth novels, which is what they ask for the most” and “ then, textbooks that they require in secondary school and the literature that they ask for in schools.” Meanwhile, they highlighted that without Conabip’s contributions they would not be able to keep their bibliography updated.
In this regard, Ines Heller, from the “Olegario V. Andrade” Library, which operates within the Magnasco Institute, said that “the librarian makes the list of books and makes the purchases. Taking into account that they are the ones who best know the needs and tastes of the public and according to the books we are missing, she brings. We try to look for material that is worthy of the library. Fiction is purchased, but also essays, romantic and historical novels. It’s not so much money, but we try to cover a fairly wide range for our readers.”
Finally, Janet, librarian at “López Jordán,” said that they did not receive the subsidy to renew their offer of literary works, but they will travel anyway and hope to be able to buy 30 new works.
“We make a list and try to please all the members a little, we are going to bring a little because it is not enough. We are finding that we can only buy 31 books. Furthermore, unfortunately we do not receive the National subsidy, so we use our own funds. We do not know why they were not assigned, we know that other libraries, not from Gualeguaychú but from the Province, were also left out,” he noted in this sense.
The value of Popular Libraries
Each of the city’s four bibliophile institutions makes a special contribution to the city’s reading community. And contrary to popular belief, they are spaces that remain current thanks to the great rotation and renewal of material they have.
The available offering ranges from the complete saga of Harry Potter, the Lord of the Rings, Little Women, or the complete bibliography of authors Julio Cortázar, Mariana Enríquez or Eduardo Sacheri, also including local works. The wealth and variety that Gualeguaychuenses have at their fingertips, or paying in some cases fees of $400 per month, is infinite.
Among the particularities for which each Popular Library stands out are, in the case of the “Rodolfo García”, books in Braille and four tablets with audiobooks so that people with visual disabilities have access to literature. It is important to highlight that it is the only one that has a haptic plan (relative or based on the sense of touch) of the facilities so that Gualeguaychuenses whose vision is limited can navigate independently within the place. The building is located at Corrientes 223 and the fee is $800 per month.
For its part, the “López Jordán” Popular Library has the presence of a private teacher who helps the children who come to do their homework and has a moderate collection of manga, a genre that derives from anime, a type of reading which is popular among teenagers. Its location is on 25 de Mayo and Gualeguay and the membership fee is $400.
Meanwhile, the “Biblioteca Sarmiento” has computers with internet connection available, as well as free Wi-Fi service, like the other three establishments of these characteristics, and has a news table at the entrance, where novels are displayed. that have been made into movies or turned into series and therefore, are usually the most sought after by readers. The membership fee costs $800 and is located at San Martín 899, right on the corner of Alberdi.
Finally, the “Olegario V. Andrade” has a newspaper library, a room dedicated entirely to Gualeguaychú, a historical archive and a space for special books of invaluable value that contains material from first editions and incunabula books. It has several floors and operates within the Magnasco Institute. The membership fee is worth $800.
The low costs to join, added to the wealth offered by each of these institutions, become one of the most valuable assets that the city has. Added to the fact that they allow democratic access to books because anyone can access the bibliography available within the place, even if they do not have the financial resources to be a member, since the works can be read in each one’s facilities. from city libraries free of charge. The only significant benefit that members have is being able to pick up and take the samples home. And, of course, the honor of contributing to the maintenance of these places.
However, it is important to clarify that the support of these institutions is only possible through the combination of national, provincial, and municipal subsidies and the contributions of partners. Without some of these legs, which make their operation sustainable, the Popular Libraries, given the costs in fees and salaries, would not be able to remain open. Hence the importance of continuing to incorporate partners and defending the non-repeal of Conabip as a financing entity.
