Reading rooms
Broad and bright.
DAR7 e Eloy Olindo Setti — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Luis Dantas — Public domain · Public domain · Monica Kaneko from Sao Paulo, Brasil — CC BY-SA 2.0 · DAR7 e Eloy Olindo Setti — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Paraná Public Library is a cultural institution in central Curitiba run by the state government, one of the oldest and most important public libraries in Brazil and the largest in the south of the country. It was founded on 7 March 1857 by José Antônio Vaz de Carvalhaes, vice-president of the province of Paraná, and first worked inside the Lyceu de Coritiba, its aim to gather a small collection of books to support the school's lessons. Over time the library widened its role to become an important centre of culture, reading and knowledge, went through many reorganisations and occupied twelve homes before its present building opened on 19 December 1954. To set up the new library the state brought in the librarian Lydia Sambaquy, one of the country's leading authorities on library science. The present building is a piece of 1950s Curitiba modernism, with broad, bright reading rooms, and the library hosts exhibitions and cultural events. Entry is free; check times. It is close to the Largo da Ordem fair and the Museu Paranaense.
Broad and bright.
Curitiba modernism.
Cultural events.
Rua Cândido Lopes, central Curitiba
Largo da Ordem Sunday FairThe Feira do Largo da Ordem, officially the Garibaldi Art and Crafts Fair, fills4 minutes walk4.7
Museu ParanaenseThe Museu Paranaense, founded on 25 September 1876, is described as the third-ol6 minutes walk4.6
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque, CuritibaThe Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque in the São Francisco district of Curitiba's hi7 minutes walk4.7
Teatro GuaíraThe Teatro Guaíra Cultural Centre, run by the Paraná state government, is one of11 minutes walk4.7
Passeio PúblicoThe Passeio Público is Curitiba's oldest park, opened in the city centre on 2 Ma11 minutes walk4.5On 7 March 1857; its present building opened on 19 December 1954.