Most Barcelona libraries and museums rule out opening on Monday

Although Barcelona and its metropolitan area will be entering an enhanced lockdown de-escalation Phase 0 on May 18 that will see and a number of restrictions relaxed, including those concerning libraries and museums, most of these centers have chosen not to open on Monday.

As of Monday, libraries would technically be able to resume their loan services, but the Barcelona municipal library network has issued the recommendation to postpone opening "until it can be done in a completely safe manner."

Indeed, even the very few Barcelona metropolitan area libraries that will be entering Phase 1 - those in Alt Penedès and Garraf counties - are unlikely to open, although a very limited number of them may. Those that do, however, will only be letting people check out books without browsing through them or using any of the computers.  

Similarly, while museums will be able to open at a third of their usual capacity come May 18, many are still adapting to current health and safety regulations, and Barcelona's main public art museums are likely to only open their doors in early to mid-June.

Carles Vicente, who heads the Barcelona council's Memory, History, and Heritage Directorate, says their first priority is to "ensure workers can return" to work safely before then guaranteeing that health and safety measures are in place to be able open to the general public. 

A number of Barcelona's private museums, including CaixaForum or Cosmocaixa, will not be open for visitors on Monday either.