Biblioteca Nacional Rubén Darío

Overview

The Biblioteca Nacional "Rubén Darío" de Nicaragua is Nicaragua's national library, located on the second floor of the Palacio Nacional de la Cultura in Managua. It is the country's principal library institution, tasked with rescuing, preserving, promoting, and disseminating Nicaragua's bibliographic and periodical production.

History

The library was established by a presidential decree signed in March 1871 by President Vicente Cuadra (also rendered Quadra), which set out the library's initial function to serve the "Supreme Powers of the Republic," the composition of its collection, and its regulations. Its detailed regulations were published in the Gaceta Oficial in 1880 (the source of an alternate founding year sometimes cited). The library officially opened to the public on June 1, 1882, in a ceremony led by President Joaquín Zavala; the young poet Rubén Darío was present at the inauguration and later worked as a library employee, an experience biographers say was decisive in his literary formation, exposing him to the Biblioteca de Autores Españoles and French literature. The library was later renamed in his honor. Its collection and premises were affected by Nicaragua's 1931 earthquake, though its bibliographic holdings reportedly survived; a further earthquake in 1972 caused additional damage and looting. By 1962-1969 the library had recovered a significant place in Nicaraguan cultural life, with about 80,000 volumes and a new building. Decree 28-2000 provides part of the library's current legal foundation.

Collections, Holdings, and Publications

The library holds more than 200,000 printed volumes, including some 5,000 books related to Rubén Darío and copies of his personal documents. Total library stock has also been cited at around 120,000 volumes in other summaries.

Access and Usage

The library is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with free public access.