The new Gabriel García Márquez Library is Barcelona’s third largest after the ones in Gràcia and Sant Andreu. It specializes in Latin American literature and is named after García Márquez, the Colombian writer who lived in the city for nearly a decade. In addition to its focus on Latin American literature, the new amenity includes a space dedicated to Francisco Ibáñez, a resident of the Sant Martí district and author of comic books such as Mortadelo y Filemón.

Much of the appeal of this new amenity with its holdings of 40,000 books are the open spaces and large windows that let in natural light. The library also has areas for more relaxed reading, with loungers and ergonomic armchairs. It has a radio studio, which is the community radio station for the Municipal Library Network of the Barcelona Provincial Council. It is called Ràdio Macondo in honour of the fictional town created by García Márquez.

The new building has four floors and is designed like a pile of books. It is a light-filled, open-plan space with wood and glass finishes. The geometry of the floors and the fragmentation of the spaces are conducive to the creation of various ambiences.