More than five decades of history serving the culture, knowledge and community development of the Poás canton.
In September 1971, on the occasion of the seventieth anniversary of the canton's founding, a group of community youths known as the Poás Youth Movement (Movimiento Juvenil Poaseño) took the initiative to program, as the central cultural event, the inauguration of a public library for Poás.
Among the driving forces behind this dream were Pedro Rojas Castro, Mario Murillo Chaves, María Eugenia Ugalde, Ricardo Arroyo and Claudio Arrollo, who began collecting books throughout the community to form the initial collection.
On Sunday, October 17, 1971, the President of the Republic, José Figueres Ferrer, officially inaugurated the library, giving the Poás canton an unprecedented cultural space.
In ordinary session No. 42, article 5, held on November 6, 1971, the Pro-Installation Committee proposed naming the library "Eliécer Murillo Esquivel", in tribute to one of the canton's most distinguished sons.
At the time, however, it was not possible to make it official, as Mr. Murillo was still alive. The library would formally receive that name decades later, in accordance with regulations and as a well-deserved recognition of his legacy.
The library opened its doors to the public in January 1972, housed on the second floor of the Municipality, in the council chamber, specially adapted for the purpose. An Administrative Board was then formed, made up of prominent members of the canton.
The initial book collection grew from a parish donation campaign of books, which the community left in front of the church. With the funds raised —five hundred thousand colones— Mr. Pedro Rojas and Mrs. Zoila Vargas traveled to Librería Universal to acquire more titles, including works by the Costa Rican writer José León Sánchez.
That same year, the library was made official and became part of the General Directorate of Libraries of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, ensuring its institutional continuity.
The Prof. Gerardo Vega Gómez was the first librarian paid by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. He held the position for ten years under the coordination of Vera Violeta Acuña, national supervisor of public libraries.
Neighbor Francisco Murillo M. of El Carmen neighborhood led the collection of residents' signatures to endorse the donation of two properties in the BoniMur development. The project was processed through Law 8099 of March 22, 2001 and Municipal Agreement No. 19, ordinary session No. 10 of July 3, 2003.
In 2007, Director Olga Martha Chaves Chaves prepared the pro-construction project that would drive the new building forward.
The company in charge of the work was Industria Constructora del Poás S.A., under the responsibility of Eng. Henry Rodríguez.
The dream of an own headquarters came true on May 9, 2012, when the modern 660 m² building was inaugurated with an investment of ₡165,000,000.
In 2011, construction of the Poás Public Library building began with state funding, during the administration of President Laura Chinchilla Miranda, with the support of the Minister of Culture and Youth Manuel Obregón López and the essential efforts of the SINABI Director, Olga Rodríguez Chaves.
On May 9, 2012, the new headquarters was inaugurated in a moving ceremony attended by national and municipal authorities, educational institutions, relatives of Prof. Eliécer Murillo Esquivel and the community at large.
That same year, through Agreement No. 7057-10-2012 of the Poás Culture Commission —chaired by Yolanda Alvarado Chaves— the full name was made official: "Municipal Public Library Prof. Eliécer Murillo Esquivel", thereby honoring the original 1971 proposal.
The history of the library is, above all, the history of the people who believed in it.
Other librarians who served the community
"Faith and hope were never lost. A dream come true. Thank God for so many blessings." — Olga Martha Chaves Chaves, Director · Historical Account, 2018