Those who have a weakness for good stories and want to pass that taste on to new generations have a date marked on the calendar in front of the Central Library of University CityThat iconic UNAM building will be the setting for a very special day in which prizes will be distributed. Free books at the Central Library of CU as part of a continental initiative to promote reading.
The proposal stems from the joint work between the Fondo de Cultura Económica (FCE) and National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), who have joined together in the project “25 for the Twenty-Fifth: So that young people can read!The objective is clear: to bring Latin American literature to teenagers and young adults free of chargeand offer digital resources such as sites to download free ebooks, using as a meeting point one of the busiest and most symbolic spaces of the University City, in Mexico City.
A massive distribution of free books in front of the Central Library of CU
The delivery of Free books at the Central Library of CU It is part of a publishing operation that the director of the FCE himself, Paco Ignacio Taibo II, has described it as one of the most ambitious universal level in the promotion of readingDuring one of President Claudia Sheinbaum's morning press conferences, Taibo II explained that the plan includes the distribution of 2,5 million copies aimed at young people throughout Latin America, in addition to digital options such as Ebrolis to access free books.
This initiative, integrated into the program “25 for the Twenty-Fifth: So that young people can read!"" is not limited to Mexico: countries such as Colombia, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina and VenezuelaThe project has the financial support of Institute to Return to the People What Was Stolen (INDEP)This allows the titles to be delivered free of charge to those who approach the various distribution points.
Since the end of 2025The book collections have been traveling through various cities and public spaces, and now it's the turn of the Central Library of the UNAM in University CityThe chosen location is not accidental: it is one of the most recognizable buildings on campus, right in the heart of the city. Av. Universidad 3004, Copilco Universidad, Coyoacán, CDMXthrough which thousands of students and visitors circulate daily; and, for those seeking digital alternatives, there are guides for Get free ebooks with Calibre.
In front of the Central Library, they will be installed distribution tables where the university community and anyone interested in reading will be able to take a book home without paying anythingThe idea is that the space will become, for a few hours, a meeting point for readers, authors, and publishers, reinforcing the university's cultural life; a dynamic reminiscent of initiatives such as the small free bookstore.
Date, time, and who will participate in the book delivery
The day Free books at the Central Library of CU is scheduled for Thursday 26 of February of 2026, starting at 17:00h. It is a outdoor and completely free activityOpen to anyone who comes to the esplanade in front of the iconic UNAM building, in the heart of University City. Those who prefer a digital format can use apps for reading ebooks on Android.
The event will be attended by university authorities and representatives of the Fondo de Cultura EconómicaAmong the confirmed figures are the Mr. Joaquín Narro Lobo, Director General of Community Outreach (DGACO) at UNAM; the Dr. Elsa Margarita Ramírez Leyva, responsible for the Library and Digital Information Services; as well as Francisco Pérez Arce, founding editor of the FCE, and Luis Arturo Salmerón, Deputy Manager of Editorial Content of the Fund itself.
The priority age group for receiving the specimens is between 15 and the 30 years, since the program is specifically designed for youth and young adult audienceHowever, those over that age will also be able to receive a book, provided they are accompanied by someone within the age range specified by the campaign, as established by the organization. In addition, the organization offers resources for Use your Kindle as a tablet and facilitate reading on devices.
Being a delivery with limited availabilityIt is recommended to arrive with plenty of time. anticipationPrevious experiences, such as the distribution carried out in the Zócalo of Mexico City on December 17, 2025They have shown a great public response, with long lines and many titles selling out quickly. A similar situation is expected here, given the constant flow of students at University City.
What kind of books will be given away at the CU Central Library
The focus of the campaign is on the contemporary and classic Latin American literaturewith a selection designed to engage young readers who may not have regular access to these works. Although the final list of titles for the CU event has not been officially announced, a preview has been released. collection of possible works which could reach the esplanade of the Central Library, and resources such as Free books on Telegram to expand access.
Among the authors included in the general initiative are such renowned names as Gabriel García Márquez, Eduardo Galeano and Mario Benedettias well as a wide variety of Latin American voices encompassing poetry, short fiction, essays, and chronicles. The goal is to offer a diverse panorama of literary creation in the regionmoving away from the same old titles and giving visibility to less widely known works.
The list of books linked to the program “25 for Twenty-Five: For young people to read” includes, among others, the following titles and authors:
- Water | José María Arguedas
- Villain song | Blanca Varela
- How to shoot against death | Juan Gelman
- Tales | Guadalupe Dueñas
- Tales | Juan Carlos Onetti
- Shots in the dark | Fabrizio Mejía Madrid
- Candle sleeper | Adela Fernández
- The crossed one | Andrés Caicedo
- The glass of milk and other stories Manuel Rojas
- The Fox | Sergio Ramírez
- Geographies | Mario Benedetti
- War in Paradise | Carlos Montemayor
- Speak word | Luis Britto García
- The Wondrous Brief Life of Ernesto Guevara | Eduardo Galeano
- The death of Tyrone Power | Miguel Donoso Pareja
- Tom Thumb's Forbidden Stories | Roque Dalton
- The expropriating anarchists Osvaldo Bayer
- The privileges of oblivion | Piedad Bonnett
- Tomorrow is far away | Eduardo Rosenzvaig
- Concrete music | Amparo Dávila
- Operation Carlota | Gabriel García Márquez
- poems | Raúl Zurita
- poems | Roberto Fernández Retamar
- Requiem for Teresa | Dante Liano
- Space Invaders | Nona Fernández
- Spring winds | Alaíde Foppa
- Weekend in Guatemala | Miguel Ángel Asturias
The presence of these works allows attendees to glimpse different Latin American literary traditionsFrom the starkest realism to poetic experimentation. However, it is important to emphasize that the Exact availability of each title at the CU Central Library may varySince the distribution adapts to the shipments and the logistical organization at each delivery point, the organizers also mention tools such as open source applications to manage personal readings.
An event designed for young people, but open to the entire community
The core of the campaign is aimed at those who have between 15 and 30 yearsThis group includes high school students, university students, and young professionals. The intention is that young people can approach reading without economic barriersand find in these books a companion for their academic, personal and social life.
Even so, the dynamics projected in CU do not completely exclude other age groups. People over 30 years old They can request their copy if they come with someone between the ages of 15 and 30.This, in practice, encourages entire families to come to the esplanade of the Central Library and share the experience.
In practical terms, this means that those who want to secure a book should arrange your arrival in advanceespecially if they plan to go in a group. The start time is at 17:00h It allows both those who study in the morning shift and those who attend classes in the afternoon to find a space to pick up their submission.
The organizers insist that this is not just a one-off distribution, but a reading promotion activity with the intention of continuityThe “25 for the Twenty-Fifth” campaign has already visited other parts of the country and the capital, and it is expected to continue adding locations in the coming months, always under the idea that books should circulate and not remain locked up in warehouses.
A continental effort to promote reading with the Central Library of CU as the protagonist
The delivery of Free books at the Central Library of CU It is just one piece of a project that covers a large part of Latin America, but it has significant symbolic weight: UNAM is one of the largest public universities in the region and its campus in University City is an academic and cultural benchmark.
With this event, the FCE and UNAM not only put [something] in the hands of young people copies of works by key authors from the continentRather, they reinforce the idea that access to culture should be broad, free whenever possible, and linked to public spaces. INDEP's financial support is precisely aimed in that direction. convert recovered goods into cultural assets available to all.
Those who cannot come to the Central Library that day have the option of following the social media and the official website of the Fondo de Cultura Económica To learn about the next stops on the “25 for the Twenty-Fifth: So that young people read” initiative. The experience of the distribution in the Zócalo and in other parts of the country suggests that the delivery network will continue to expand.
Overall, the event at University City is shaping up to be a good opportunity to join the reading communityDiscover Latin American authors, talk with editors and librarians, and, incidentally, take a book home without breaking the bank. For those who frequent UNAM and for those who simply want to visit the Central Library, the date of February 26 at 17:00 p.m. It remains marked as an attractive moment to drop by the esplanade and leave with new pages to read.
