Maracay Virtual Library, revolutionary in another era

I think we all remember that moment when we had our first contact with the internet, a technology that we heard existed, but that seemed to be quite far from our reach, one that allowed us to connect with other places in the world and to know historical, new and last minute information. I remember that a friend of mine had a Motorola phone that was the latest generation and through it we could access internet pages that showed us information and images that were impossible for our minds, that was more or less in the year 2000, at that time we were still far away from being connected to the world as we are now, at least in this country.

One day, the news spread that in my city a place had been built that was quite advanced regarding the Internet world, one that would allow several people at the same time to connect to the mysterious Net and that in that sense we would become a revolutionary and advanced country in the matter. So, sooner rather than later I visited the wonderful Virtual Library of Maracay, a structure built between Sucre Avenue and Las Delicias Avenue that even at the first glance conveyed an air of vanguard and development.

Maybe in this post you will see the pictures and you will think that I am exaggerating, but believe me that by the time this library was built, there was nothing that came close in form and function, it was something never seen before and even though now it may look like something crude, it was something that impressed the citizens in general. Right now I do not remember what was the first search I made on the internet, but what I do remember is that I could not believe I would have access to so much information, it was incredible.

What you have just seen in the photos correspond to a general view of the library and more specifically to the administrative office, a rectangular and cylindrical structure that right now seems to need maintenance, but that has a fundamental role in the functioning of the institution. It consists of 4 floors and is the first space we see when we enter the library. It has a figure painted on it that seems to be related to the world of sports, perhaps this figure was painted when the city of Maracay hosted a sporting event.

Now, the Virtual Library of Maracay is composed of 4 rectangular structures, 3 painted in red and 1 in blue. It has a large central patio in which lies the statue of Simon Bolivar, the greatest historical leader of the nation and Liberator of 5 countries in America, statues of this hero are usually seen in many squares and spaces in Venezuela. But speaking of the most striking, each structure has two floors, a first floor that serves as a distribution area, and a 1st floor that is fully operational, that is, there lie the computers for those who need them.

I think that the most striking thing about this place, are the rounds that are in the rectangles of the structures, visually generate a great impact and make this a unique structure, one that is architecturally difficult to find in other places in the world. I think that whoever was in charge of the design of this library, had a vision well ahead of its time taking into account the purpose it would have, even today, I still like it very much.

It was a pleasure to share with you the spaces of this place that made my childhood and adolescence have a different flavor. I can't stop thinking that there I developed curiosity for the digital world that is so important in our lives. Nowadays it does not function as a virtual library, other state institutions have taken over a space, but it still keeps its essence. See you soon, a big hug to all of you!