New Bedford’s Casa da Saudade Library Saved from Closure

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — Despite previous suggestions that the Casa da Saudade library in New Bedford would close due to Mayor Jon Mitchell’s proposed “austerity measures” following the city council’s budget cuts, Mitchell announced today that the library will remain open to the public.

Following the council’s $10.2 million cuts during its “Cut Night” on June 17, Mitchell said austerity measures would have to be taken, including the closure of Casa da Saudade, the only Portuguese library in the United States, and the cutting of hours at the Wilks and Lawler branches.

READ MORE: Mitchell, Burgo Clash Over $10M Budget Cuts in New Bedford

“I take no delight in closing a library for sure. Even though it is significantly by far the least-attended library branch with the lowest circulation, people still value it,” Mitchell said in his weekly appearance on WBSM Tuesday. “So we heard from people, and I want to be responsive to that, so we went back to the drawing board and found another way to do it.”

How Much Was Cut from the Library Budget?

According to a City of New Bedford press release, the council cut $114,215 from the budget “that the library sought to use to pay for staff and utility bills.”

In his weekly appearance on WBSM following “Cut Night,” City Council President Shane Burgo pushed back on the decision to close Casa da Saudade and limit hours at other library branches, stating that the council’s cuts to the library were intended to defund six staff positions – five full-time positions and one part-time position – that have “remained open for years and years,” according to Burgo.

READ MORE: New Bedford Casa da Saudade Library Closure Sparks Political Showdown

“(Mitchell is) trying to pad up the budget with positions,” he said in his July 14 appearance. “You have all these positions that remain open for years and years and years, and you never fill them, and it doesn’t look like you’re going to. I know people that have applied and never heard back, never had an interview.”

What Will Happen at Casa da Saudade Library?

The library’s hours will be cut from 32 a week to 24, and its new operating hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“We are going to shift some staff around from other branches, which means a reduction in hours from the other branches (Howland-Green, Wilks and Lawler),” Mitchell said on WBSM today. “But at least we can keep Casa open during the busiest hours.”

What Makes Casa da Saudade Unique

The City release stated that “moving forward, Casa da Saudade will focus primarily on its Portuguese collection of materials. Part of this new focus includes cataloging the special collection and preparing it for digitization so it can be accessible worldwide. The Library Department will also work on developing stronger partnerships with other Portuguese cultural organizations and institutions.”

Patrons will still be able to find Portuguese fiction and nonfiction books, reference materials, magazines, newspapers and videos. The library houses more than 34,000 volumes related to the Portuguese-speaking world in English, Portuguese and Cape Verdean Crioulo.

Library Director Olivia Melo said the library branch will “enter a new chapter.”

“Casa da Saudade has always been more than just a library to many in New Bedford – myself included,” Melo said. “It’s where I first learned to read English as a child. The decision to close it was not made lightly, but was driven by budget cuts, consistently low attendance and circulation compared to other branches in the City’s library system.”

“Thanks to Mayor Mitchell’s leadership and the passionate advocacy from so many residents who voiced how much Casa means to them, it will now enter a new chapter,” she said. “Not only remaining a library, but also serving as a center for research and archival work focused on the Portuguese-American experience in New Bedford.”

Reactions to Today’s Announcement

Upon the news that Casa da Saudade would remain open, Burgo called it “a step in the right direction.”

“I’m glad the mayor has come around and realized there’s no need to close Casa da Saudade. It’s clear that public pressure and the council’s pushback made a difference,” Burgo told WBSM. “While this is a step in the right direction, I’ll continue working to ensure all of our library branches have their full hours fully restored. Our community deserves stability, not scare tactics.”

READ MORE: Burgo Won't Run Again for New Bedford City Council President

State Representative Antonio Cabral of New Bedford had advocated for the library to remain open, and worked with Mayor Mitchell and Melo to help craft a plan for the future.

“After raising serious concerns about the future of Casa da Saudade, I’m pleased that an alternative solution has been reached and the library will remain open,” Cabral said. “In my conversation with Mayor Mitchell, I made clear how Casa da Saudade is both a cultural institution for the city and critical to Portuguese-American identity. I thank the mayor for listening and prioritizing finding an alternative solution.”

Cabral also said he wants it to return to its regular 32-hour-per-week schedule.

“This library is a national treasure. It reflects who we are as a community, and I will continue fighting for the library to remain open and to return to regular operating hours. Casa deserves our attention and investment,” he said.