Mapusa: After a prolonged wait, the iconic Athaide Municipal Library in Mapusa is finally set to reopen on April 23, bringing joy to thousands of readers who have awaited its return since its closure in 2019. The reconstruction and restoration of the historic municipal building, which houses the library, has been completed, and the inauguration will be held at the hands of Urban Development Minister Vishwajit Rane.
Established on November 12, 1883, under the Portuguese regime by a committee formed by Dr Joaquim B Azavedo, the library was later named Athaide Bibliotheca in honour of Fr Francis Athaide, who dedicated his life to educating the youth of Bardez. On April 9, 1897, the library was handed over to Camara de Bardez and was subsequently brought under the jurisdiction of the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) after the Municipality Act came into force in 1968.
Considered one of Goa’s oldest public libraries and among the 25 oldest in India, the Athaide Library is a literary treasure trove with over 25,000 books in English, Konkani, Marathi, Hindi, Portuguese, French, and other languages. Of these, more than 5,000 are in Portuguese alone. The library also boasts dailies and newspapers in 24 languages, 56 magazines and journals, and official gazettes dating back to 1857. It currently has a membership of 6,525 readers.
The library was shut down in 2019 due to the dilapidated condition of the building. Although work began in 2022 with an initial six-month completion timeline, it faced several delays. The Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) undertook the
Rs 3.8 crore project to give the over 100-year-old structure a new lease of life. The restoration is now complete.
In addition to the reopening, the MMC is also considering a proposal from the Department of Art and Culture to set up children’s and adolescents’ sections, for which funds have already been sanctioned. A council resolution for establishing a digital library is also awaited.
Deputy Speaker and Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza confirmed that the new library premises will be one of the best facilities available for reading enthusiasts in Mapusa and Bardez.
