A new library arrives in Naranjo

Naranjo de Alajuela is a scenic hillside town famous for its coffee farms and easygoing pace. And on Oct. 4, Naranjo received a most remarkable gift: a new public library.

Commissioned in 2011, the $200,000 facility is already a community touchstone. While Costa Rica boasts a very high literacy rate, libraries are generally scattered and small, and the masterfully designed structure is a prime showcase for the National Library System.

Tico Times correspondent Robert Isenberg recently headed to Naranjo to see the new venue for himself. While the biblioteca isn’t easy to find – it’s a long and confusing walk from Naranjo’s bustling center – bibliophiles will appreciate a glance at its stacks.