An old abandoned phone booth in Belmonte was transformed into a street library called "cabine das histórias" (story booth). The space, which belonged to the former Portugal Telecom and was deteriorating next to the public garden, was refurbished last Sunday, the 30th, by volunteer young people from the Association Belmonte em Movimento (ABM), in a joint project with the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ) and the Parish Council.
The project came from one of the five applications approved this year by IPDJ and has as main objectives sustainability, the reuse of spaces, and the promotion of reading and book sharing. The ABM, led by João Santos, also hopes to give new life to the public garden, planning to promote activities such as Story Time to contribute to the preservation of the location.
The booth currently has about 200 to 300 books, resulting from approximately 20 donations, and is open so that anyone can read, return, take, or donate literary works. João Santos hopes that the population will preserve this space dedicated to books and the sharing of memories.
However, the president of ABM acknowledges that Belmonte faces significant problems of gratuitous vandalism with recurring destruction of public spaces. The association ensures that it will be vigilant, in collaboration with the Parish Council and the Municipal Council, and intends to promote activities, including at the bandstand in the garden, so that the continuous use of the space contributes to its preservation.
