The self-baptized Green StreetRua da Silva, better known on maps as Rua da Silva, now has a community bookstoreA bookshelf where everyone can leave books and where everyone can collect books to read at home, in a garden, or on the street. The project is not unique in the capital, but the multiplication of initiatives of this kind illustrates how in a big city it is possible to maintain a spirit of community, sharing, and respect for the common good.
The bookshelf can be found right at the beginning of the street, coming from the Largo do Conde Barão (currently under construction). It's easy to miss it because it's against a building, in a small corner, and usually covered up. But those who pass by with time and an alert eye will perhaps be curious about what is behind a small wooden curtain.
There are fiction books there, more technical books, and even entire collections. In fact, there could be anything. D'The Lusiads at Little womenFrom our Constitution to a Portuguese grammar, this community bookstore lives off what the community leaves there and picks up there. On the Instagram account @livrariagreenstreet it is possible to get to know the Green Street bookshelf catalog. "A book turns out to be more topics for the table, more conversation to have with neighbors, more smiles on the children. We want to promote the sharing of books and knowledge."says Nuno Alóvia de Almeida, who decided to start this project in Rua Verde, where he owns a store.
The Green Street (Green Street) was born and is maintained by the will of those who live or work there. Little by little, the narrow street located in the Santos area was filled with pots and plants, became greenIt is a cooler street and a point of interest for tourists' cameras. Last year, Rua da Silva, or Green Street, was covered by the municipal program The Street Is Yourswhich, in the pandemic context, sought to expand the pedestrian space and the terrace areas in some strategic parts of the city.
Traffic was only cut off during the summer weekends, but Nuno says that the pedestrianization of Green Street is now permanent. "The noise pollution from cars and motorcycles passing by in this street was a problem, but the residents and shopkeepers with the support of the Misericórdia Parish Council have already managed to put an end to this reality. We now have all the conditions to bring together lovers or those curious about literature in this small green neighborhood".
Nuno tells us that the bookcase filled up with books as soon as he left it empty on the street. "It was very rewarding to see the community sharing and connecting with each other using books as a link"he says, venting his desire to see more community bookstores of this kind in more neighborhoods and throughout more cities.
