Dominican Republic public libraries face crisis amid closures

Public libraries in the Dominican Republic are facing a deep crisis, with approximately 60 public libraries having closed since 2009. Julio César Morel, head of the National Network of Public Libraries, stated that this averages to one closure every three months across various municipalities.

Morel attributed the closures to a lack of interest and awareness among mayors regarding the importance of cultural spaces and Law 502-08, which mandates the establishment of municipal libraries. He noted that local leaders often prioritize other issues, particularly during reelection periods.

Official records from a 2009 census list 1,478 libraries in the country, including 284 public institutions. However, these figures are considered outdated as no new census has been conducted since then. A new census is estimated to cost between 100 and 150 million pesos, a sum for which current funds are unavailable.