Biblioteca de Santiago, Public library in downtown Santiago, Chile

The Biblioteca de Santiago is a public library in downtown Santiago that occupies an entire city block. It has several reading and work areas spread across multiple floors, making it one of the largest public reading spaces in the country.

The building was constructed between 1928 and 1945 and served as a warehouse for the Dirección de Aprovisionamiento del Estado until 2000. In 2001 it was handed to the Dirección de Bibliotecas, Archivos y Museos for remodeling, and that same year its facade was declared a Historic Monument. The Ministerio de Obras Públicas assigned the remodeling to the architecture firm Cox y Ugarte, and the library opened on November 11, 2005.

The library functions as a community gathering place where people engage in different activities across dedicated spaces. It serves as an important resource that extends public access to reading and learning beyond what municipal branches offer.

The library sits in central Santiago and is within walking distance of several metro stations. It is worth checking the opening hours before your visit, as they can vary depending on the day of the week.

In its first year after opening, the library welcomed over a million visitors, which was an exceptional figure for a newly opened public institution in Chile. The building was designed to be open without barriers, meaning anyone can walk in without registering and use the spaces freely.