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Panama’s national library was founded in 1942 and has been at its current five story building in Parque Omar in San Francisco, Panama City, Panama since 1987. The library is the base library for all of Panama and has a primarily Spanish collection of books although other languages are represented. The Biblioteca Nacional Panamá (with the accent over the a), or BINAL, has an on line card catalog on its web site.

The complete name of Panama’s national library is La Biblioteca Nacional Ernesto J. Castillero R., named after its first director. Although the library was officially founded in 1941 it owes its start to the library in Colon, started in 1892, and the more than 10,000 books in its collection.

The Panama National Library not only has a nice online catalog but also books on line. And, by the way, a search for “Harry Potter” does show the first five books in the series in English.

Enter “Colombia” and you will get a nice selection of books on Panama’s history, origins in “Gran Colombia” and its independence a hundred years ago.

Enter “United States” in the Biblioteca Nacional Panama on line card catalog and you will get 170 English language books on US involvement in Latin America, a book on American slang, and a road atlas of North America.

Internet Access at the Panama National Library

The Panama National Library has a set of computer for internet access. You will need to sign in, pay 25 cents for half an hour, and record your passport number or residency card number. The computer access is in a section of old computer books all in English.

Location of the Panama National Library

The Panama National Library sits on the grounds of Parque Omar, named after general and strong man Omar Torrijos. The park is roughly the same area as New York’s Central Park but with a more imaginative shape due to the configuration of bordering streets. Library entry is off of Via Porras. There is plenty of parking and taxi access is easy.

Biblioteca Nacional Panama Programs

Drop by to check out the Panama National Library. Besides lots of books, even some in English, there are displays on cultural and historic subjects as well as programs on a regular basis. Maybe instead of checking the internet for your email at one of many internet sites in el Centro you might want to visit the Panama National Library and check the news from back home in air conditioned comfort and quiet. Check for card catalog for books of interest. Afterwards take a stroll around Parque Omar or sit on one of the park benches and watch the kids play soccer (futbol).