Biblioteca Santiago Severín, Public library and Historical Monument in Valparaíso, Chile.
Biblioteca Santiago Severín is a three-story building with neoclassical and renaissance features, stretching about 58 meters and displaying high ceilings, columns, and pilasters throughout. The collection holds roughly 80,000 volumes and provides reading rooms where visitors can search for books and read in a focused setting.
The building was constructed between 1912 and 1919 with funding from businessman Santiago Severín Espina, shortly after the institution was founded in 1873 as Chile's first government-approved public library. The location and collection have since grown to support the educational needs of the expanding port and trading city.
The library is named after its founder Santiago Severín Espina and serves as a gathering place for readings, exhibitions, and lectures that bring together the Valparaíso community. This role as a cultural hub has remained central to the city's public life for generations.
Visitors can search for books, obtain membership cards, and participate in guided tours during operating hours. The reading rooms provide a quiet place to study or explore the collection in the heart of the city.
After the 2010 earthquake, the building underwent major reconstruction with support from Universidad Católica de Valparaíso and the National Council of Culture and Arts. This restoration preserved the historic exterior while installing modern safety and preservation systems inside.
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