Premià de Dalt is Premià de Mar’s slightly posher sister, just up the hill from here. It has an older town centre, with a church dating from the 10th century, and tantalising views of the sea far below. And a population of only 10,000.
I went to explore by myself on Friday. Malcolm wasn’t feeling so good, and that very night, Emily and I were due to fall victim to a thoroughly nasty sickness bug. It’s been that sort of holiday. Weather (i), transport limitations (ii) and ill- health (iii) have all been conspiring against us. (i) is about to hit again, (ii) are still with us, and (iii) is still afflicting Malcolm.
One of my discoveries was the town’s library. I was impressed. It’s situated by a local park, and there’s a large balcony with tables and chairs so you can read or study there in the fresh air.
It’s well-stocked.
Here are the books available if you’re studying English:
… or just reading in English. There were about 100 books to choose from – the old classics and up-to-the-minute reading choices.
I couldn’t take photos of the study area or the children’s library without expressly seeking permission from those using the spaces. So here’s a display from the chidren’s area.
The feel is very different from a British community library. When I’m ‘on duty’ in our local one, we talk about our tasks together in normal speaking voices, chat with friends who come to exchange their books, and take little notice as the children in the Junior Library enjoy a noisy morning music session or listen to stories on certain mornings of the week. Here in Spain are notices encouraging silence, in the way I remember from my childhood. I’m happy with both.
But in case it all sounds a bit serious to you. Here’s the fellow who welcomes you into the library, then shepherds you out.
Meanwhile, on her way home from work, Emily had popped into their local library to get books for the children.
Who knew that Winnie the Witch would be called Brunhilda in Catalan? Or that she would be so popular for so long? My children, all parents themselves, enjoyed her books decades ago.
I’ll hold over my own reading choices. They’ll keep.
For Rebecca’s Love your Library.
From Pyrenees to Pennines 
What a wonderful library. Some tough reading for those learning English but for a friend of mine she loves the really long Victorian English novels. She encouraged me to read in Spanish some of theirs. Am afraid I find the flow too archaic and not helpful to my spoken Spanish that needs all the help it can get! Our small town’s public library has never been threatened with closure. And the Tavira one is my favourite as the cafe there has great lunches!
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A library with lunch sounds just the ticket! I’ve been so impressed with every Spanish library I’ve seen. So many books, periodicals – everthing the reading person of every age and level of education requires! My Spanish is not up to novel reading, and even in French, my far better language, I was lazy about reading whole novels. Must Try Harder!
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I’m off to our library, when it brightens up a bit, Margaret. Another hit and miss showery day. I didn’t know about the lunches- thought they just did cakes and pastries. I’ll have to look. I stopped using it for a long while and am just getting back into the habit. We do have a nice little outside space though.
The village name de Dalt is an odd one- a family name, perhaps? I hope you and Malcolm are both well again now, and the rest of the family too xx
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Dalt is simply Catalan for ‘above’ or ‘on high’. Quite a lot of towns round here are actually one of two – one down by the sea, one up in the hills. Your local library sounds good. Does it have enough English stock to keep you going, or are you good, and trying to read in Portuguese? Everyone here is now fair to middling and on the way up thanks! xx
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Hmm, I might manage children’s books in Portuguese. The English section isn’t huge but I haven’t been for ages so I have a good choice. Compromise, Margaret- I’m reading a Portuguese author, in English (Eca de Queiroz) xx
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Sounds like a good start to me! xx
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Libraries are magnificent places for all
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I’d hate to be without them, for sure.
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Impressive stock of titles in English. Wishing you a speedy recovery and a better what’s left of your holiday.
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Limbering up for the long journey home through largely poor conditions. Ah well. It’s been lovely to spend time with the family, anyway.
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I’m glad it was all worth it.
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I still think of libraries as quiet spaces but really there’s no need for that in most community libraries. Sorry to hear of the challenges of this trip in general. Hope things start looking up soon!
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I’m glad we came, but we’ve never had a more challenging stay!
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The library looks very attractive, but despite growing up with the ‘silence’ rule in libraries I’m not an advocate of it other than in serious research/study spaces. I’d rather hear people enjoying themselves!
I’m sorry to hear about the weather and transport challenges you’ve faced on this trip, though I guess that’s not so unusual in January. And I’m sorry too to hear about the ill health that’s dogged you all. I hope Malcolm is feeling a little better now? When do you need to drive home?
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We’re coming home later this week, having abandoned our onward travel plans because of the poor weather forecasts for the relevant parts of Spain and France. We’ve been ‘doing’ Spain in January for several years now, and this has never happened before! I’d say we’re both somewhat Walking Wounded at the moment. And the local train service is just plain Wounded which is causing disruption all round! Frustrating. But we’ve had a good time anyway.
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A nice library indeed. I hope you and your family have recovered from the bug going around.
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More or less, thank you. One way or another though, Catalonia is not jogging on as smoothly as it usually does!
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I’d be happy with that selection of English-language books! I do appreciate a quiet library, but they provide many services to many different groups of people, and if that sometimes involves a bit of noise that’s okay, too.
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