Residents of Cala de Bou are still waiting for a new public library, more than four years after Sant Josep Town Hall approved the rental of premises intended to house the expanded facility. Although the executive project is now complete and the proposed design has been detailed, construction has yet to begin and no confirmed start date has been announced.

The new library is planned for a premises at number 28 Carrer des Caló, where the council intends to replace the current, smaller facility with a modern cultural and study space. The renovation has an announced budget of approximately €679,000 and is designed to accommodate up to 84 people.

The project represents a significant planned improvement to library services in Cala de Bou and the wider Sant Agustí area. However, the completion of the technical plans has not yet translated into building work.

A Four-Year Wait for the New Library

The project dates back to 2022, when Sant Josep Town Hall approved the rental of a larger premises to relocate the municipal library. In October of that year, the council ratified a 20-year rental agreement, with a total expenditure of approximately €901,000.

The intention was to provide the area with a larger and better-equipped library, offering more room for reading, studying and cultural activities. The existing library is located at number 127 Carrer des Caló.

Despite the rental agreement, the new premises remained unused while the project to adapt the building was developed. In September 2026, local reporting highlighted that the council had continued paying rent while the premises had not yet opened as a library.

The Town Hall explained that the original renovation project did not meet the required urban-planning parameters and that a new project had therefore been necessary. The revised design also had to address technical requirements involving air conditioning, sound insulation and lighting.

In August 2026, the municipality confirmed that the executive project for the renovation was available. The technical documentation was subsequently modified in June and reportedly received professional approval in September.

A 226-Square-Metre Library for 84 People

The revised design provides for 226.68 square metres of built area, all on the ground floor. The premises have an internal height of approximately 5.95 metres, which the architectural proposal uses to create an open interior with distinct areas for different activities.

The planned capacity is 84 people.

The layout includes a reception area and media library, reading and study rooms, a press and reading area, and a dedicated children's section. Staff will also have an office and working area, while the building will include technical facilities, storage and two toilets, one of which will be accessible.

The entrance, reception and media library will occupy 48.84 square metres. The reading room is planned to cover 36.82 square metres, with a separate study area of 34.94 square metres. A further 12.85 square metres will be allocated to the press and reading room, while the children's area will occupy 26.58 square metres.

The design aims to provide different environments for library users, including children, students and people looking for a quiet place to read or work.

Timber Structures and a New Interior Design

One of the main architectural features will be the use of cross-laminated timber, commonly known as CLT, to organise the interior spaces.

The design incorporates timber structures and large shelving units that will help divide the different areas without relying entirely on conventional partition walls. The shelving will also include seating and spaces for consultation and reading.

A decorative arrangement of wooden beams, positioned approximately four metres above floor level, is planned above these structures. It will help preserve the sense of height inside the premises while allowing some building services to be concealed above it.

Acoustic comfort is also considered in the design, with sound-absorbing elements intended to reduce reverberation in the reading and study areas.

The proposed finishes include exposed pine wood, white surfaces and selected terracotta and yellow details. The design also makes use of the premises' south-facing windows, with motorised vertical blinds planned to regulate natural light.

€679,000 Budget but No Confirmed Construction Date

The renovation has an announced budget of approximately €679,000. According to the project information reported by La Voz de Ibiza, the works specification sets a maximum execution period of six months from the start of construction.

That period should not be confused with a confirmed opening date. The six-month timetable would only begin once the works commence.

As of 10 November 2026, the available information confirms that the executive project has been prepared, but does not establish that the renovation contract has been awarded, that construction has started or that a date has been fixed for the library to open.

For residents, the outstanding question is therefore no longer simply what the new library will look like, but when the project will finally move from the planning stage to construction.

Until the renovation is carried out, the existing library at Carrer des Caló 127 remains the municipal facility serving Cala de Bou.