Central Library (UNAM)
Central Library exterior
|
|
| Established | April 6, 1956 |
|---|---|
| Location | Coyoacán, Mexico City, Mexico |
| Collection | |
| Size | 1'445,109 volumes distributed in: • 589,418 books • 323,452 magazines and journals • 2,687 brochures • 8,616 CDs • 520,936 theses |
| Other information | |
| Director | Dra. Veronica Soria Ramirez |
| Website | http://bibliotecacentral.unam.mx/ |
The Central Library of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), is the main library in the Ciudad Universitaria Campus. It holds one of the largest collections in Mexico, with a multidisciplinary approach for all the university courses from the adjacent faculties.
The building it's covered with the mural Historical Representation of Culture, created by the Mexican artist Juan O'Gorman.His unique masterpiece has become the most iconic building from the UNAM and from Mexican culture. In July 2007 the UNESCO proclaimed the Central Library, along with the Central Campus of the University City as World Heritage.
The Central Library hosts some of the administrative offices of the General Libraries Directorate of the UNAM.
In 1948 the architect and artist Juan O'Gorman, in collaboration with architects Gustavo Saavedra and Juan Martinez de Velasco designed the building with a functionalist approach, as part of the greater project of the construction of the University City on the grounds of the Pedregal de San Angel in Mexico City. Originally the building was planned to host the National Library and National Newspaper Library of Mexico. The library opened its doors for the first time on April 5, 1956.
After 25 years underwent on its first remodelation (1981-1983), with the purpose of changing from a closed to open shelfes, in order to give the users a more direct access to the collections. On 1986 extendend its service hours and begun an automatization process of the services.
In 2017 the Central Library holds 1'445,109 volumes, distributed in: 589,418 books; 323,452 journal and magazine issues; 9 suscriptions to Mexican newspapers; 2,687 brochures and 8,616 multimedia CDs. It also has 520,936 thesis, and 299,057 of them are available for full-text access online.
The Central Library offers the following services:
The service hours are Monday to Sunday, from 8:30 to 21:30 hours, including holidays.
The Central Library encompasses an area of 16 thousand square meters and is built on a platform three meter above the terrain, Two basalt fountains and decorative reliefs inspired bu pre-Hispanic art were placed at the base of the building. The color of the stone in these elements is in plain view, done to take advantage of the stone's texture as an aesthetic and expressive element, and to give a sense of continuity to the external pavement.
...
Wikipedia