Home & everyday life
Where can I get free wifi, a computer and a quiet place to study?
A public library card is free, and it gets you wifi, a computer with free internet, and somewhere quiet to sit. One warning has to come before that promise, though: an indefinite strike has been running since Tuesday 26 May 2026, and the council’s own notice says that because of it there is no guarantee the libraries can open or run the usual services. It affects every day of the week, not only Saturdays. Check the branch page or phone the branch before you travel.
Does this apply to me
Yes. The library card asks nothing about your immigration status. It is free, personal and non-transferable, and it works in every public library in Barcelona and in the rest of Catalonia.
For a child under 14, you also need:
- A parent’s or guardian’s authorisation.
- The child’s Spanish national identity card or foreigner identity number, if they have one — “if they have one” is the council’s own wording, so a missing number is not a barrier.
What it costs
Free. The card is free, borrowing is free, the wifi is free and the computers are free. A replacement card, if you lose it, costs €1.
What to bring
Apply online first, then collect the card at the branch you chose. What an adult must show at collection: not stated. The council does not publish this, so take an identity document to be safe — the only collection rule it does publish is the under-14 rule above.
Where to go, and how to book
Apply at ajuntament.barcelona.cat/biblioteques, under services and procedures, library cards. Fill in the form, say which library you want to collect from, and send it. There is no appointment. Find your nearest branch and its hours on the same site, under libraries.
One branch, so you know what you are looking for:
- Biblioteca Jaume Fuster — Plaça de Lesseps 20, Gràcia. Phone 933 684 564.
Two things to check on the branch page before you set off:
- The strike notice above.
- Summer hours, which run from 24 Jun to 24 Sep 2026 and are in force today.
How long it takes
The online form takes minutes. You collect the card at the branch you named, and once you have it you can be online the same day.
What happens next — what the card actually gets you
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Wifi | In every Barcelona library — log in with your card number and PIN. |
| Bookable computer | 50 internet sessions a month, up to 3 in a row. Sessions are 30 or 60 minutes and start on the hour. |
| Aules Digitals computer | Where the branch has it: 32 more sessions a month, up to 2 in a row, 60 minutes each. |
| Ten-minute computer | No booking needed, and it does not use up any of your sessions — good for printing a form or checking an appointment. |
| Everything else | Borrowing books, music and films; specialist collections; reading clubs; courses in the multimedia rooms; discounts at bookshops, museums, theatres and cinemas. |
What goes wrong
- A booked computer is released 10 minutes after the start time, so turn up on the hour or you lose the slot.
- The card expires after 5 years without being used, so borrow something occasionally and it stays alive.
- The strike is the thing that will waste a journey. The council says it cannot guarantee opening or normal services, so a phone call before you travel is worth more than any of the advice above.
Useful words
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Biblioteca | library |
| Carnet de biblioteques | library card |
| Préstec | borrowing |
| Espai multimèdia, Aules Digitals | the computer rooms |
| Reserva d’ordinadors | computer booking |
| Horari | opening hours |
| Gratuït | free |
| Vaga | strike |
Read next
- Where can I learn Spanish for free in Barcelona? — the free adult schools, and a library is where you do the homework.
- How do I get idCAT Mòbil? Can I get it with only a passport? — the digital identity most online procedures want, and a library computer is a fine place to set it up.
- What is 010, and what can it actually do for me? — the free council line for hours and addresses.
Official source
Biblioteques de Barcelona, “Library cards”, at ajuntament.barcelona.cat/biblioteques, for the card being free, what it covers, the €1 duplicate, the 5-year expiry and the under-14 rule. The internet and wifi allowances are on the same site under connecting to the internet, and the strike notice is on its news index.
Sources & checks
Biblioteques de Barcelona · library cards ↗
Fact-checked against the official source shown above. Not yet reviewed by a community admin. For procedures, confirm current requirements with the relevant official service.