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Reading and culture • Updated guide

Libraries in Rio de Janeiro: 17 places to read, study and visit

From historic halls known around the world to libraries neighborhood public spaces, children's spaces and specialized collections: find a free place to study, research, discover new books or take a cultural tour.

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Facade of the National Library in the center of Rio de Janeiro
The National Library occupies a monumental building in Avenida Rio Branco, in front of Cinelândia. Photo: André Melo/Ministry of Culture — Wikimedia Commons . License CC BY 2.0 . Image not modified.

Rio de Janeiro has libraries for different types of public. Some are historical and architectural attractions; others function as community spaces with loan books, reading tables, educational activities, workshops, storytelling and cultural programming.

Among the best known are the National Library, the Royal Portuguese Reading Cabinet and the State Park Library. Outside the tourist axis, the municipal network maintains units in neighborhoods such as Tijuca, Irajá, Campo Grande, Santa Teresa, Gamboa, Jacarepaguá, Maré, Rio Comprido, Barra da Tijuca and Governador Island.

This guide to libraries in Rio de Janeiro organizes spaces by location, collection profile, opening days operation and type of visit, helping students, researchers, families, residents and tourists to choose the most suitable unit.

Entry to the libraries in this guide is free to read, common consultation or visitation. Loans, research in collections Specials and guided tours may require registration, scheduling or documentation.

Libraries may change opening hours during holidays, recess, inventories, works and events. Confirm operation on official channel before crossing the city.

Quick Answer: Which Library to Choose

These are some of the best choices according to the objective of the visit.

More monumental National Library

Architecture, exhibitions, visits and historical research.

More photogenic Royal Cabinet

Neo-Manueline hall and collection dedicated to Lusophone culture.

Best for studying Park Library

Reading spaces, collection, children's and multimedia areas.

Best with children Ziraldo Library

Children's literature, comics and educational activities.

Brazilian music Lúcio Rangel

Books, memory and research on Brazilian popular music.

Open on Sunday José de Alencar

Library integrated into the Santa Teresa cultural center.

West Zone Manuel Ignacio

General collection and emphasis on Afro-Brazilian literature.

Governor Island Euclides da Cunha

Extended hours and support for school and academic research.

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Libraries in Rio de Janeiro: complete table

The times below are references published by the institutions. Check changes to holidays and special dates.

Public, historical and specialized libraries in Rio
Library Neighborhood Usual operation Profile Weekend
National Library Center Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm Heritage, research and exhibitions No
Royal Portuguese Reading Cabinet Center Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm Lusophone architecture and culture No
State Park Library Center Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 7pm Reading, study and cultural programming Saturday
Ziraldo Municipal Library Barra da Tijuca Monday to Friday, 10am to 7pm; Saturday and Sunday, 12pm to 7pm Children's, youth, arts and comics Saturday and Sunday
Lúcio Rangel Municipal Library Tijuca Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm Brazilian popular music Saturday and Sunday
Marques Rebelo Municipal Library Tijuca Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Rio literature and research Temporarily closed on Saturdays
José Bonifácio Municipal Library Gamboa Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm General, children's and IT collection Saturday
José de Alencar Municipal Library Santa Teresa Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm Integrated literature and arts Saturday and Sunday
João do Rio Municipal Library Irajá Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm; Saturday, 9am to 1pm Children's, young adult and chronicle literature Saturday
Annita Porto Martins Library Long River Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm; Saturday, 9am to 1pm Reading, workshops and coexistence Saturday
Manuel Ignacio Library Campo Grande Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Afro-Brazilian and indigenous literature No
Milton Santos Municipal Library Bargain Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm Brazilian and peripheral literature Saturday
Euclides da Cunha Library Cocotá Tuesday to Friday, 9am to 8pm; Saturdays and holidays, 9am to 6pm Study, research and Brazilian literature Saturday and holidays
Jorge Amado Municipal Library Tide Monday to Friday, 1pm to 6pm; Saturdays with programming, 1pm to 5pm Reading and community formation As per schedule
Alfredo Machado Reading Space Copacabana Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 5pm Local reading space No
Manguinhos Library — Fiocruz Manguinhos Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm Health Sciences and Research No
João do Rio Municipal Library Irajá Monday to Saturday General collection and school support Saturday

Libraries that every carioca should know

Some libraries stand out not only for their collection, but also architecture, history and cultural programming.

01

National Library

Free entry Cinelândia Search

The National Library Foundation is responsible for preserving and disseminate a fundamental part of the bibliographic and Brazilian documentary.

The building on Avenida Rio Branco has monumental rooms, exhibitions and sectors dedicated to general works, periodicals, cartography, iconography, reference and rare works.

The guided visit is free, but needs to be scheduled. Researchers must check the rules of consultation and times for requesting materials.

Consult the National Library
02

Royal Portuguese Reading Cabinet

Free visitation Center Architecture

The Royal Cabinet is one of the most recognized libraries visually of Rio. Its reading room has bookshelves monuments, skylight, chandelier and neo-Manueline decoration.

Common visits are free during weekdays. There are also optional guided tours, with schedules, own vacancies and billing.

The space works best as a historical tour and architectural than as a conventional library daily study.

Consult the Royal Cabinet
03

State Park Library

Free access Center Study and coexistence

The State Park Library is one of the most complete for those looking for reading, studying and programming culture at the same address.

The space has a general collection, a children's library, comics, multimedia areas, exhibition spaces, auditorium and environments designed for different profiles of readers.

The location on Avenida Presidente Vargas facilitates Access by subway, train, VLT and bus.

Consult the Parque Library
04

Ziraldo Municipal Library

Free City of Arts Children and youth

Opened in the City of Arts, the library pays homage Ziraldo and brings together children's, youth and Brazilian literature and foreign.

The collection includes comic books, biographies, books on photography, architecture, design, theater, plastic arts and titles accessible in Braille or enlarged font.

Opening on Saturdays and Sundays makes the unit one of the best options for families during the weekend.

Consult the Ziraldo Library
Interior of the Royal Portuguese Reading Cabinet in the center of Rio
Interior of the Royal Portuguese Reading Cabinet. Photo: Marinelson Almeida Silva/Wikimedia Commons . License CC BY 2.0 . Image not modified.
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Best libraries to study in Rio

To study or work, prioritize libraries with opening hours spacious, reading tables and simple access by public transport. Before leaving, confirm whether using the space requires registration.

State Park Library

It is one of the most complete options in the Center, with different environments, wide collection and open until 7pm on Tuesday to Saturday.

Euclides da Cunha Library

The Cocotá unit is open until 8pm from Tuesday to Friday and also opens on Saturdays and holidays, favoring those who You need to study outside of business hours.

João do Rio Library

In Irajá, it offers a diverse collection and training support of readers, students and schools in the region.

Marques Rebelo Library

Traditional Tijuca library, with children's collection, juvenile, adult and research materials.

Manuel Ignacio Library

In Campo Grande, it has a large collection and highlights African, Afro-Brazilian, indigenous and regional literature.

Annita Porto Martins Library

In Rio Comprido, it offers reading environments, workshops, educational activities and accessible structure.

Public library is not automatically coworking

  • Confirm the availability of sockets and internet.
  • Keep calls and meetings out of quiet rooms.
  • Do not occupy several chairs with personal objects.
  • Check food and drink rules.
  • During exam periods, arrive early to guarantee a place.

Libraries to visit with children

Children's libraries don't just offer books. Many receive storytelling, workshops, reading mediations, activities schools and meetings with authors.

Ziraldo Municipal Library

It is the main choice for families in the West Zone, with children's literature, comics, arts and functioning throughout the weekend.

State Park Library

Maintains children's area and cultural programming in one space spacious and easily accessible in the Center.

João do Rio Library

It has been focused on reading development since childhood and maintains close relationships with schools in Irajá.

José Bonifácio Library

In Gamboa, it has a children's area, study tables, diverse collection and reading activities.

Annita Porto Martins Library

It offers areas for storytelling, workshops and sociocultural activities in Rio Comprido.

Milton Santos Library

Integrated into Areninha Cultural Jacob do Bandolim, she works with children's and youth literature and peripheral productions.

See also the children's programming in Rio de Janeiro to find workshops, storytelling and meetings literary works with confirmed date.

Specialized libraries and collections

Anyone searching for a specific subject can find units dedicated to music, arts, health, Afro-Brazilian culture or Portuguese-speaking literature.

01

Lúcio Rangel Municipal Library

Tijuca Brazilian music

Installed at the Artur da Távola Carioca Music Center, brings together an important part of the researcher's collection and music critic Lúcio Rangel.

The space is suitable for research on popular music Brazilian, music criticism, biographies, memory, composers and cultural identity.

Consult the Lúcio Rangel Library
02

Manguinhos Library — Fiocruz

Manguinhos health sciences

The Fiocruz library is mainly aimed at health research, biological sciences, history of science and related areas.

The institution also maintains a section of rare works in the Pavilhão Mourisco, with its own rules of attendance.

Consult the Manguinhos Library
03

Manuel Ignacio Library

Campo Grande Afro-Brazilian literature

The library has a strong vocation for African literature, Afro-Brazilian, indigenous and regional collection, in addition to a general collection for children, young people and adults.

Consult the Manuel Ignacio Library
04

Royal Portuguese Reading Cabinet

Center Portuguese culture

The collection and institutional activity are references for research linked to the Portuguese language, literature and cultural relations between Brazil and Portugal.

Consult the Royal Cabinet
Interior of the State Park Library in the center of Rio de Janeiro
State Park Library, in the center of Rio. Photo: Agência Brasil/Wikimedia Commons . License CC BY 3.0 Brazil . Image not modified.

Libraries by region of Rio de Janeiro

Center

National Library, Royal Portuguese Reading Cabinet and Biblioteca Parque Estadual are the main references. The region allows you to combine reading, architecture, museums and cultural centers on the same day.

Tijuca and Rio Comprido

Marques Rebelo Library, Lúcio Rangel Library and Biblioteca Annita Porto Martins serves different profiles, from general study to musical research.

North Zone

João do Rio in Irajá, Jorge Amado in Maré, Euclides da Cunha in Cocotá and the Manguinhos Library expand the access to reading outside the Center.

West Zone

Ziraldo Library in Barra, Manuel Ignacio in Campo Grande and Milton Santos at Pechincha are the main options municipalities in this selection.

Santa Teresa and Gamboa

The José de Alencar Library is part of the cultural circuit of Santa Teresa. José Bonifácio works in the same MUHCAB address, in Little Africa.

Copacabana

The Alfredo Machado Reading Space offers an option public neighborhood near Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana.

Libraries open on Saturday and Sunday

Most historic libraries are closed on the weekend, but some municipal units maintain service on Saturdays or Sundays.

Options for the weekend

  • Ziraldo Library: Saturday and Sunday, from 12pm to 7pm.
  • Lúcio Rangel Library: Saturday and Sunday, from 10am to 5pm.
  • José de Alencar Library: Saturday and Sunday, from 10am to 6pm.
  • State Park Library: Saturday, from 11am to 7pm.
  • José Bonifácio Library: Saturday, from 10am to 5pm.
  • João do Rio Library: Saturday, from 9am to 1pm.
  • Annita Porto Martins Library: Saturday, from 9am to 1pm.
  • Milton Santos Library: Saturday, from 10am to 5pm.
  • Euclides da Cunha Library: Saturdays and holidays, from 9am to 6pm.
  • Jorge Amado Library: opens on some Saturdays with confirmed schedule.

To complete the tour, consult the guide events in Rio this weekend .

Four cultural itineraries with libraries

Route 1 • Historic center

Libraries and architecture

  1. Start at the National Library in Cinelândia.
  2. Head to the Real Conselho Português de Leitura.
  3. Finish at CCBB, Paço Imperial or Casa Brasil.
Itinerary 2 • Study at the Center

Library Park and culture

  1. Set aside a few hours for reading or studying.
  2. Check out library exhibits and activities.
  3. Combine with Campo de Santana or cultural centers.
Itinerary 3 • Family in Barra

Ziraldo Library and City of Arts

  1. Check out the library's children's programming.
  2. Explore the collection of literature and comics.
  3. Complete the day with an activity in Cidade das Artes.
Itinerary 4 • Music in Tijuca

Lúcio Rangel and Rio culture

  1. Visit the Carioca Music Center.
  2. Discover the library's specialized collection.
  3. Check if there will be a show, workshop or exhibition.

How to use a public library in Rio

Checklist before the visit

  1. Confirm the time: consult the unit's official portal or telephone number.
  2. Bring document: loans and registrations may require identification and proof of residence.
  3. Check the type of access: tourist visitation, reading and research can follow different rules.
  4. Search the collection: confirm that the desired book or collection is available.
  5. Book visits: National Library and special collections may require scheduling.
  6. Respect the environment: use headphones and keep your cell phone on silent.
  7. Observe the photography rules: flash, tripods and professional rehearsals may be prohibited.
  8. Check the schedule: Workshops and events may require advance registration.
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Frequently asked questions about libraries in Rio

What is the most beautiful library in Rio de Janeiro

The Royal Portuguese Reading Cabinet is the most sought after for the interior architecture. The National Library also stands out for its monumental rooms, staircases e obras de arte.

It is free to enter the National Library

Yes. Entrance, exhibitions and guided tour are free. The guided tour must be scheduled and Research sectors have their own rules.

The Royal Portuguese Reading Cabinet is free

Common visits are free on weekdays, from 10am at 5pm. The optional guided tour is chargeable and separate scheduling.

Where to study for free in the center of Rio

The State Park Library is one of the most complete for study and reading. The National Library It is best suited for consultation and collection research.

Which library is open on Sunday in Rio

Ziraldo Municipal Library, Municipal Library Lúcio Rangel and José de Alencar Library are among units that normally open on Sundays.

What is the best library for children

The Ziraldo Municipal Library is one of the best options for bringing together children's and youth literature, comics, art books and educational programming. The Parque Library also has a children's area.

Can I borrow books for free

Many public libraries offer loan free upon registration. The required documents, Deadlines and quantities vary depending on the institution.

Can I work with a laptop in libraries

In several units, yes. However, sockets, internet, tables and times may be limited. Confirm the structure of the chosen library.

Which library has books about Brazilian music

The Lúcio Rangel Municipal Library, in the center of Carioca Music Artur da Távola, has a collection specialized in Brazilian popular music, musical criticism and cultural memory.

What to do in Rio on a rainy day

Libraries, museums, cultural centers, cinemas and Theaters are good alternatives. Consult the guide places to visit in Rio in the rain .

Continue exploring Rio's culture

Free museums by day of the week What to do in Rio in the rain Free events in Rio Children's programming in Rio Exhibitions on display What to do this weekend

Editorial note: the Rio de Janeiro Cultural Agenda is an independent guide. Schedules, services, loans, events, activities, accessibility and consultation conditions can be changed without prior notice.

Image rights: photographs are reused under Creative licenses Commons indicated in each caption. Credits, sources and links of licenses must remain published.