Casa da Saudade
| Casa da Saudade | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 41°37′18″N 70°55′37″W / 41.6216°N 70.927°W | |
| Location | 58 Crapo Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts, US |
| Scope | Portuguese-language material |
| Established | April 25, 1971 |
| Branch of | New Bedford Free Public Library |
| Other information | |
| Website | www |
Casa da Saudade (lit. 'House of Saudade'), or simply Casa, is a public library located at 58 Crapo Street in New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States. Casa da Saudade is the only Portuguese-centered public library in the United States. The library avoided closure in 2025 amidst city budget cuts and is currently operating at reduced hours.
History
[edit]Casa da Saudade was inaugurated on 25 April 1971 at a storefront on Rivet Street in New Bedford with a collection of 3,000 titles and support from a federal grant.[1][2] In 1975, Casa moved to its current location at the Sister Aurora Avelar Community Center on 58 Crapo Street.[1][3] Casa is a branch of the New Bedford Free Public Library.[2]
In 2000, senator Ted Kennedy presented New Bedford with a $500,000 grant to establish a Portuguese cultural center at the Casa da Saudade. While mayor Frederick Kalisz's administration intended to use the money to relocate and expand Casa to create a Portuguese-American Cultural Center, mayor Scott W. Lang instead used the funds to remodel the community center that the library is housed in.[4]
In 2025, Casa da Saudade was faced with potential closure due to budget cuts.[3] The announcement drew strong pushback back from the region's lusophone community, including Massachusetts representative Antonio Cabral.[3][4] Prior to 2025, Casa da Saudade's hours were reduced from 40 to 32 hours a week as it was the lowest visited public library in New Bedford.[4] Rather than closure, the library's hours were reduced to 24 hours a week.[5][6]
Community impact
[edit]Casa da Saudade has been the only Portuguese-language centered public library in the United States since its opening in 1971.[3] Aside from a library, Casa has served as a cultural institution and community center for the Portuguese community in New Bedford[a].[2][5] The library has hosted events with Portuguese writers, artists, and politicians,[4] such as former president of the Azores Carlos Cesar.[8]
Following the prospect of closing in 2025, Casa committed to focusing on Portuguese material and serving as a research center for Portuguese American history in New Bedford.[5][6]
Collections
[edit]As of 2025, the library had 34,000 items and 92 newspaper subscriptions related to the Lusosphere in English, Portuguese, and Cape Verdean Creole.[1][3] The library also provides newspapers, magazines, and videos.[1] Around half of the collection is in Portuguese or Cape Verdean Creole.[5][6] The library also holds archives of Portuguese American history in New Bedford.[5]
As of 2023, the library has started offering material in Spanish to serve the growing Hispanic community in the region.[1]
Notes
[edit]- ↑ In 2025, Portuguese Americans made up 34% and Cape Verdean Americans made up 8.8% of New Bedford's population.[7]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 da Silva, Lurdes C. (25 January 2023). "Embarking on a new chapter: Irene de Amaral to lead Casa da Saudade library". Fall River Herald News. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
- 1 2 3 Carvalho, Maria José Paiva Fernandes (28 July 2017). "Casa da Saudade is much more than a Branch Library". Fall River Herald News. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Andrade, Kevin G.; Hogan, Colin (14 July 2025). "'A nossa terra' ('Our land'): Portuguese-speaking community decries New Bedford library closure". The New Bedford Light. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
- 1 2 3 4 da Silva, Lurdes C. (14 July 2025). "Outrage over potential closure of the only Portuguese public library in the U.S." Fall River Herald News. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Mohammed, Omar (28 July 2025). "New Bedford MA Portuguese library facing closure, now remains open". The Boston Globe. ISSN 0743-1791. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
- 1 2 3 Andrade, Kevin G. (22 July 2025). "After public outcry, New Bedford's Casa da Saudade to remain open". The New Bedford Light. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
- ↑ Anderson, Scott Edward (17 July 2025). "Opinion: Don't let New Bedford erase its Portuguese soul". The New Bedford Light. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
- ↑ Ferreira, João (2 June 2001). "President Carlos Cesar to celebrate here". South Coast Today. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
Further reading
[edit]- Carvalho, Maria José Paiva Fernandes (2018). "In or Out: A Biblioteca Casa da Saudade em New Bedford, Massachusetts, Estados Unidos da América do Norte". Boletim da Biblioteca Geral da Universidade de Coimbra (in Portuguese). 48: 91–121. doi:10.14195/2184-7681_48_3. ISSN 2184-7681.