COMFENALCO Antioquia

New Belén Library and Park

A place for rest, entertainment, reading, artistic expression and meeting people.

The Belén Library and Park was inaugurated on March 15. This space is the result of collaboration between the Medellín Mayor’s Office and COMFENALCO Antioquia, and is a component of the Medellin Network of Public Libraries.
This public space covers 9,768 square meters that will be dedicated to have and active impact upon the strengthening of social and cultural processes that seek the construction of a citizen conscience typified by dialogue, creativity and respect for difference. It was designed by Japanese architect Hiroshi Naito and his group of collaborators from the University of Tokyo and is a citizen’s gathering place with different environments: green plaza, water plaza and people’s plaza, where the community will have access reading materials and will enjoy educational, recreational and cultural programs.

Spaces and services

The following are some of the services COMFENALCO Antioquia will offer in the Belén Library and Park:

Library: the Park will offer research and guidance services for users seeking information, loans of bibliographical material both inside and outside the library, academic and cultural events, actions for encouraging reading, artistic and literary training workshops, training and assistance in using the library, vitual navigation room with computers and support from qualified personnel for guiding and training in the use of programs and technological tools.
Mi Barrio (My Neighborhood) Hall with Local Information Services: this hall collects, stores and organizes the information generated by the Belen and Guayabal communities, for later dissemination through participatory actions with inhabitants, actors and social organizations.
Japanese Culture Hall: a space designed for dialogue and intercultural relations between Colombia and Japan, from both a contemporary and a historical perspective, with workshops, films, presentations and talks about the aesthetic and culture of this wonderful country.
Theater: with capacity for 315 people.
Artistic Exhibition Hall: a space for disseminating the talent of local artists, and for getting to know other artists from the city and the country.

Besides these services, the Library and Park will have spaces jointly managed with the Medellín Mayor’s office, including:

Games Library
Center for Corporate Development -Cedezo-: The Zonal Corporate Development Centers (Cedezo) are articulating institutions that seek the strengthening of the territorial economy by generating employement, entrepreneurship, development and consolidation of micro and family businesses around the city’s seven strategic clusters: electrical energy, textile manufacturing, fashion and design, construction, specialized health services, event and business tourism, forestry products, food.
Music School
Cafeterias
Shops
Public parking