Step into Mexico City’s top 10 libraries—where art, history, and literature come alive in some of the most breathtaking spaces in Latin America.
Bursting with charm and libraries around every corner, Mexico City is where every literary exploration of Latin America begins.
Whether you want to grab a book, catch up on work, or marvel at their wonderful architecture, take a moment to step inside one of these fabulous libraries in CDMX while you’re there.
Biblioteca de México “Jose Vasconcelos”
First up on our list of libraries is a local hideout right in the heart of El Centro: the Biblioteca de México “José Vasconcelos.” Popular among local students and history buffs alike, the library was originally established in 1946 with about 40,000 volumes, but it didn’t actually open until 1947 due to a staffing shortage.
Even if your Spanish isn’t fully up to scratch, you’ll still love exploring the different reading rooms; each one is dedicated to specific types of books or notable figures. Not to mention the refined wooden features, expansive shelves, and incredibly detailed murals. Plus, they regularly host astonishing art exhibits, and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a live music performance.
Biblioteca Vasconcelos
While sharing the name of Mexico’s revered cultural visionary, a dramatically different kind of library rises in the north of the city. Opened in 2006, the Biblioteca Vasconcelos in Mexico City, often referred to as the “Megabiblioteca”, is a modern architectural marvel that fuses futuristic design with natural elements. Designed to evoke a sense of wonder, its interior resembles an inverted city: towering steel bookshelves hang seemingly in mid-air, while glass-floored catwalks, bridges, and floating staircases create the illusion of a gravity-defying, cubic metropolis. Surrounded by botanical gardens, the library is not just a place for reading, but a surreal journey through a space where culture, nature, and architecture converge.
Miguel Lerdo de Tejada Library
The psychedelic frescoes showcasing images of Mexico’s revolutionary past in Miguel Lerdo de Tejada Library have become a cultural landmark in their own right. At its center, towering bookshelves are surrounded by vivid artworks that capture the spirit of the sexual and musical rebellions.
Housed within a Baroque church from the 18th century, the library holds 114,852 volumes, mostly centered around economics, as it’s under the management of the Federal Ministry of Finance. Feel free to use the facilities, but don’t forget to register beforehand.
Hemeroteca Nacional de México
Serving as the main library of Ciudad Universitaria, Hemeroteca Nacional de México is more than just a reading room for college students. This secure archive houses digitized versions of Mexico’s published newspapers over the years, some of which date as far back as the 17th century.
Beyond its extraordinary collection of newspapers and magazines, visitors are often blown away by the stunning stained glass designs and the huge tunnel they can walk through. Grab a table downstairs if you’re looking for a place to read, and don’t miss the café for a quick coffee break.
Library BS – IBBY
Traveling with some younger readers? Library BS-IBBY is the largest children’s library in all of Mexico. Found in the Mixcoac district, the three reading rooms are carefully arranged to cater to different age groups, including young people who are blind, and various audiobooks and resources are also available for those who are deaf.
Across the halls of this old 1900s-era mansion, you’ll come across a lovely café with an outdoor seating area and a separate bookstore filled with white shelves where young readers can find their next favorite book.
Biblioteca de la Cámara de Diputados del Congreso de la Unión
This next CDMX library is for the history buffs. The Biblioteca de la Cámara de Diputados del Congreso de la Unión functions quite differently from a traditional lending library. It houses a series of records related to Mexico’s legislative sessions since the country gained independence.
Formerly the Church of Santa Clara, the structure has been beautifully maintained and preserved. The details are striking, to say the least, from the delicate exterior to the chapel-inspired interior, complete with black flooring and shelves stocked with legal texts.
Jose Maria LAFRAGUA Library
The famed writer and politician José María Lafragua has a library built to commemorate him at the Plaza de las Tres Culturas. Hosting an impressive 125,000 volumes, much of the material at José María Lafragua Library centers around diplomatic and political topics.
Step outside, and you’ll find a green oasis complete with serene fountains, lush fruit trees, and shady corners perfect for a quiet reading session. All around, the charm of the colonial architecture sets a captivating scene.
UNAM Central Library
No true bibliophile can visit Mexico City without stopping by UNAM’s Central Library. The massive mosaic that wraps the building’s exterior has become Insta-famous in recent years, thanks to its colorful design, and each side tells a different part of Mexico’s history.
The library itself is packed with around 1.5 million volumes, stretching across ten floors with a design that screams Latin American modernism through its eye-catching murals and glasswork. Whether you enjoy flipping through first editions or digging into research papers, you could easily spend hours here.
The Anglo Library
It can be a bummer to visit a library in a country where you don’t speak the language, but in CDMX, the Anglo Library has you covered. This British-owned public library is the most extensive English-language library in Mexico, featuring around 30,000 volumes. It was established in 1983 and has since evolved into an exceptional facility with computer areas, a kids’ room, digital libraries, and more.
The long halls are lined with alphabetically labeled shelves, so you won’t struggle to find the books you want. From science to history and everything in between, the collection offers a wide range of titles to suit every interest.
Vicente Guerrero Library
Vicente Guerrero Library is nicely positioned in the southern part of CDMX in Coyoacán. You might recognize this place because it’s where the grand Postal Communication mural by Jesús Álvarez Amaya lies, which miraculously survived the 1985 earthquake. Though it wasn’t originally housed here, it’s now an important feature of the library.
What was once an elementary school, the Vicente Guerrero Library has been transformed into a public reading zone with many of its books donated by locals. It’s much quieter than most libraries in CDMX due to its open layout, which keeps it from feeling cramped. You’ll find a nice mix of books for both children and adults, plus they host workshops to help local kids with their homework from time to time.
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Adam Ryan
Adam is a distinguished content writer, bookworm, and full-time adventurer with a constant craving for coffee. When he's not working, he loves exploring remote corners of the world, immersing himself in different cultures, and writing about his experiences.
