The strike at Barcelona's libraries threatens the Selectividad

Barcelona's municipal libraries are facing an indefinite strike from 26 May. The walkout coincides with the Selectividad and affects thousands of students. The dispute puts work-life balance and opening hours during a key period at risk.

The closure of municipal libraries in Barcelona threatens to disrupt the routines of those who rely on these spaces to study or unwind. From 26 May, workers from the Consorci de Biblioteques and the provincial network of the Diputació have decided to begin an indefinite strike, right in the days leading up to the Selectividad. The action, supported by the Intersindical and the CGT, adds to the Saturday strikes that have already been affecting the city since April.

The protest arises from a lack of progress on work-life balance and the precarious conditions reported by employees, a workforce that is mostly female and not very visible. The works council holds the Ayuntamiento de Barcelona and the Consorci responsible for the closure of facilities during the exam period, leaving thousands of students without access to study rooms at a crucial moment.

This Saturday, the mobilisation will move to the streets: workers from Bibliotecas de Barcelona and the provincial network of the Diputació will demonstrate at 11:00 in Plaça de Sants. The route will pass by emblematic libraries such as Vapor Vell y Miquel Llongueras in the city, and Josep Janés y Tecla Sala in L'Hospitalet, highlighting the scale of the dispute across the metropolitan area.

Barcelona's public libraries offer more than just books and digital resources; they are meeting points, places to study, and cultural hubs for residents of all ages. Their network, managed by the Consorci de Biblioteques and the Diputació, has played a key role in democratising access to knowledge in the city. During exam periods, these spaces become a refuge for students seeking focus and support, especially in neighbourhoods where access to quiet environments is limited.

Key facts that complete the context: the Selectividad will take place on 9, 10, and 11 June, meaning the indefinite strike from 26 May will fall exactly two weeks before the exams, right in the most intense study period. In the partial Saturday strikes held since 20 April, workers have managed to close 37 out of 40 libraries, giving an idea of the level of participation the daily strike could reach.

The main demands are a reduction of the working week to 35 hours with a more balanced rotating shift, and adherence to the new agreement of the Ayuntamiento de Barcelona, which is different from the Diputació agreement that currently governs the sector's conditions. The Consorci, for its part, says that negotiations are still ongoing, that it is already working towards the 35-hour week, and that the workforce has grown by more than 70 people in the most recent period.