Libraries

[Charles]

I just heard that the Madrid British Council library is closing down! What a loss!! Does anyone know any details?

When I lived in Madrid I was a member and found it to be a great resource. I belong to the Barcelona B.C. library and would be devestated if it closed. Fortunately, it seems to be going strong. I just received an email from them the other day listing new books that English teachers might be interested in.

Can anyone suggest other good library resources for English teachers in Madrid?

I know in Barcelona the public libraries have small English language learning sections, which are really geared towards students. They also have small English fiction sections. However, they have great DVD, video and CD sections, which may be more useful personally than professionally.

Barcelona's North American Institute also has a library that sells memberships to the public. While it's a good library, it is smaller and doesn't have the wide variety of materials the British Council library does -- well, at least that was true the last time I checked it out, which was a few years ago.

[RebeccaG]

Hello Charles!

Thanks for sharing that tid-bit of information. I had no idea that they BC library was going to close. Granted, I have never used their services but am still surprised all the same.

As far as other libraries in Madrid, I don't know of any specifically for English teachers. However, I am sure that the library at the facultad de filología (I imagine that they have one) at the Universidad Complutense would have a good selection of English text books.

Also, for English teachers in Madrid who are working on a budget (who isn't?!) I can recommend J and J Books.It's a second hand bookstore in the center of Madrid specializing in books in English. Apart from the used books that they buy and import, they also buy books from expats returning to their home countries. Many English teachers who no longer have a need for their English text books offload them at J and J's. Visitors are more then welcome to browse while having a cup of coffee and the owners are very nice.    

[SRedw]

There's always the library at the International Institute on Calle Miguel Angel, 8 [Metro stops - Rubén Darío (line 5) or Gregorio Marañón (lines 7 & 10)]. There is a fee to join in order to check out books.  The information about the institute and library are found HERE.  To just go in and use it is also free.

I've never been to the BC library either, but always wondered about it when I would pass by it to go to work at the Fulbright Commission.  I guess I'll never know what I gem I had in my old hood.

Shawn

[Charles]

That International Institute looks interesting.

I spoke with the manager of the Barcelona British Council library and the good news is that she told me that the Barcelona library is not going to close. She said that Britsh Council libraries all over the world that were funded through the Study UK funding stream are closing down, but that the Barcelona library is funded as part of the English school and so is safe from this cutback. Phew!

The not so good news is that they are going to reduce the library's physical space and get rid of items that are not used frequently enough. She would not be specific about what items would be eliminated, although she did say that the English teaching/learning materials and the cinema/televison DVDs are popular, so would be remaining. That leads me to guess that the videos and perhaps some of non-English teaching/learning related books (e.g., novels)  are at risk. (By the way, the library had the new Harry Potter book right when it was released!)

Oh, well, at least there will still be a BC library in Barcelona. If you live in Barcelona and have not visited the library, I suggest yo do so when it re-opens after vacation. (It re-opens on Monday 3 Sept, but will not have Saturday hours again until 22 Sept.) You can use materials in the library for free, but if you want to check things out you need to pay an annual fee. I believe this year I paid 52 euros. Here's a link to information about the library: http://www.britishcouncil.org/spain-inform...e-barcelona.htm

Regarding Madrid, she told me that the British Council there has two other libraries there that are currently available only to Bristish Council students, but that the school was looking into combining them in the future and making the new one available to the public for a 100 euro annual fee. That's about double the former library's fee!

[SRedw]

Thanks for such detailed information.  It really does help to know this.

Shawn