Virgilio Barco Library

{{Short description|Public library in Bogotá, Colombia}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}{{Infobox library

| name = Virgilio Barco Public Library

| image = Lateral Virgilio Barco día.jpg

| image_size = 300px

| type = public

| country = {{COL}}

| coordinates = {{coord|4.6571|-74.0885|type:landmark_region:CO|display=title,inline}}

| collection_size = 150.000 items

| service_area = 36.812 m²

| architect = Rogelio Salmona

}}

Virgilio Barco Public Library is a Public library in the western sector of Bogotá, Colombia, is part of BibloRed, the District's Public Library Network.{{cite web |access-date=2024-01-24 |language=es |title=Biblioteca Pública Virgilio Barco {{!}} BibloRed |url=https://www.biblored.gov.co/bibliotecas/biblioteca-virgilio |website=www.biblored.gov.co}}{{cite web |access-date=2024-01-24 |first=Red Distrital de Bibliotecas Públicas BibloRed (Bogotá |language=es |last=CO) |title=Brochure Biblioteca Pública Virgilio Barco |url=https://www.bibliotecadigitaldebogota.gov.co/resources/2870622/ |website=www.bibliotecadigitaldebogota.gov.co}} The building was designed by architect Rogelio Salmona, and forms part of the Simón Bolívar Metropolitan Park. Its inauguration took place on December 21, 2001, named after former President Virgilio Barco Vargas.{{cite web |access-date=2024-02-21 |language=es |title=Historia y memoria documental de las bibliotecas en Bogotá |url=https://www.bibliotecadigitaldebogota.gov.co/expositions/historia-memoria-bibliotecas-en-bogota/ |website=www.bibliotecadigitaldebogota.gov.co}}

The design of the building is notable for its emphasis of water management,{{Cite journal |last1=P. V. |first1=Vijesh |last2=Chopade |first2=Varsha |last3=Joy |first3=Varghese |last4=M. K. |first4=Joseph |date=January 2024 |title=Designing a Green Library in Alignment with the UN's Sustainable Development Goal: a Case Study of Rajagiri Business School Library, Kerala, India |url=https://dx.doi.org/10.5070/G314960177 |journal=Electronic Green Journal |volume=1 |issue=49 |pages=1–17 |doi=10.5070/G314960177 |via=EBSCOhost}} with water pools on the outside.{{Cite news |last=Schmalbruch |first=Sarah |date=8 August 2015 |title=27 libraries to visit in your lifetime |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/libraries-to-visit-in-your-lifetime-2015-8#the-virgilio-barco-library-in-bogot-colombia-was-designed-by-well-known-architect-rogelio-salmona-and-completed-in-2001-the-library-has-an-open-floor-plan-on-the-inside-and-red-brick-water-pools-and-lawns-on-the-outside-5 |access-date=2025-01-19 |work=Business Insider}} The library and its surrounding park together form one of seven sites which make up the serial property "The architectural legacy of Rogelio Salmona: an ethical, political, social and poetic manifesto." Colombia's permanent delegation to UNESCO submitted the site to the country's Tentative List for the World Heritage List in 2022.{{Cite web |last=UNESCO |date=2022-02-01 |title=The architectural legacy of Rogelio Salmona: an ethical, political, social and poetic manifesto |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6600/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Convention}}