La Caixa

Local authors. History and literature:
THE FIRST LIBRARY IN SA POBLA, THE ONE IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH 1956-1994.

It was owned by La Caixa, at that time a savings bank well rooted in the Balearic Islands and with a strong connection and links with Catalonia, where it had its head office.

In Sa Pobla, offices and library were next to each other, in Asalto street, just in front of the church. On one side of the street they gave "food" to the soul and spirit, on the other side of the street to the brain and the wings that were used to fly and grow.

On the 6th of January 1956, the Three Wise Men opened their doors and 932 books came down from camels and horses. It was the first time that Sa Pobla had a library of such dimensions. No one could ever remember having seen so many books in the same space, some 80 square metres. The official capacity was 40 people at the time, it did not specify whether they were children or adults, it said people.

Madò Maria Sureda, married to Corme des Magatzem, was appointed librarian and it must be said that she left a good mark on the generations of children who passed through the house of books "poblers". She had an innate air and wisdom for handling and knowing books, but above all she knew how to open the curiosity of the children who were not yet seated at the tables. It must also be said that he enjoyed the privilege of patience.

The library grew and in 1977 the stock reached 2900 books and subscribed to 15 magazines.

There were Zipi y Zape, Aquiles Taló, Camús, the Smurfs, Felip Marlot, the Beaver patrol and many others.

Every time I pass the library, I intuitively turn towards it. To see if I see "madò" Maria or a child in short trousers or pleated skirts down to the knees. Come to think of it, we were the generation of Gorilla shoes and balls.

Facebook page: Local Police of sa Pobla: Old photos. Written by Pere Perellóialfàs 1958-2008. By Isabel Crespí Font and Joan Miquel Caldès Cerdà. Historians from the UIB.