Flooding of the Sado River has affected the Dr. Henrique Bicha Castelo Municipal Library in Alcácer do Sal, damaging the ground floor. The campaign supports the restoration of the building, returning a space for culture and reading to the community.
The Municipal Library is housed in a historic building in Alcácer do Sal, built in 1525, which suffered severe damage from the flooding of the Sado River. The ground floor was flooded, with the water reaching approximately 1.80m, destroying furniture, equipment, technical installations, including children's areas, reading and multimedia rooms, storage, auditorium, exhibition hall and pantry, making it impossible for the library to function and for the population to access books, educational materials and cultural activities.
The current library is the result of the evolution of public reading in the municipality, which began in 1963 with the Fixed Library No. 21 of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
In 1986, part of the building was adapted into a municipal library, and in the 1990s it underwent conservation and adaptation works, becoming the full-fledged library, inaugurated on June 24, 1995, as part of the National Network of Public Libraries. In 2025, the facility was named the Professor Doctor Henrique Bicha Castelo Municipal Library, marking 30 years since its installation in the manor house, remaining active in promoting reading in the municipality since 1963.
Currently, it serves approximately 5,716 registered readers, including children, young people, and adults.
The planned intervention will allow for the full recovery of the areas affected by the floods, preserving the historical heritage and returning to the community a safe, functional space capable of welcoming all citizens. It includes structural repairs, replacement of flooring, doors and window frames, renovation of the elevator and electrical installations, adaptation of access points and restrooms, creation of a new entrance and a glazed gallery.
The library is a cultural and educational pillar of the community, promoting reading, literacy, pedagogical and cultural activities, and reinforcing social and intergenerational cohesion. This campaign aims to mobilize support to restore this vital facility, returning to the population a space for memory, knowledge and sharing, where experiences are cultivated and community ties are strengthened.
Alcácer needs support to return the library to the community and its readers.
