Biblioteca del Centenario, Public library in El Peñón district, Cali, Colombia

The Biblioteca del Centenario is Cali's first public library, founded in 1910. It began in the Casa Municipal on Carrera 4 at Calle 12, sharing the building with the mayor's office and the council, and later moved after the Casa Municipal was demolished to build the Palacio Nacional.

The library was officially created on 20 July 1910 by public deed No. 410, and inaugurated on 28 November 1910 through agreement 14, in the recently restored Casa Municipal on Carrera 4 with Calle 12, today the Palacio Nacional. Its founding collection came from the Instituto Literario de Cali, which donated 800 volumes through Samuel Benítez, and Blas Scarpetta became its first librarian. In 1929 Francisco Llanos took over and had to relocate the library after the Casa Municipal was demolished to build the Palacio Nacional.

The name reflects Colombia's independence celebration, marking an important moment in the nation's history. Today, local artists and students gather here to work together on creative and academic projects.

The library opened in the Casa Municipal on the Plaza de Cayzedo, sharing the building with the Alcaldía and the Concejo; in 1929 it had to move when that house was demolished for the Palacio Nacional. Its first director, Blas Scarpetta, kept it open mainly in the evening, when at least 20 people a day used its services.

Until 1914 the library received watercolours, paintings and objects belonging to independence heroes, and it considered opening a historical museum. The short budget made that impossible, so most pieces were exchanged with the Museo Nacional de Colombia for books, shown only during patriotic holidays.