Cultural Exchange 2024 – El Salvador: BINAES (National Library of El Salvador)

IBS returns to El Salvador for a Cultural Exchange centered on literature! Instituto Brasil Solidário returned to El Salvador for another Cultural Exchange initiative, carrying out a series of activities at BINAES – the National Library of El Salvador, the largest in Latin America. The initiative included everything from donating collections by Brazilian authors to open reading workshops for the public. Arriving in the region for the second consecutive year, the team was also accompanied by a Brazilian writer, with the aim of sharing experiences and cultural perspectives. This time, the exchange featured the award-winning author André Neves, known for his significant contribution to children’s and young adult literature, with several of his books included in the IBS literary collection. During the initiative, 200 books in Portuguese were donated, adding to the 300 previously delivered in 2023 and totaling 500 books that will further connect Salvadoran readers with Brazilian literature. At BINAES, there is a dedicated area featuring works by award-winning children’s authors. Among the titles and authors was “Los Inventos de Malvina” by André Neves, which was widely discussed during his talk. Built just one year ago, BINAES is part of the revitalization project of San Salvador’s historic city center. With seven floors spanning 24,000 square meters, the library is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It features two auditoriums, serves audiences of all ages, is 100% accessible to people with disabilities, and offers thematic spaces, meeting rooms, coworking areas, gaming spaces, robotics labs, prototyping facilities, and virtual reality experiences.