Mayor Jon Mitchell of New Bedford has announced the impending closure of Casa da Saudade, the city’s Portuguese-language library branch, as part of sweeping austerity measures following a $10.2 million reduction in the city’s FY2025–26 budget enacted by the New Bedford City Council.
Founded in 1971 with federal funds to serve the city’s Portuguese and Cape Verdean populations, Casa da Saudade has long been a cultural and linguistic anchor in New Bedford.
The branch houses approximately 34,000 volumes, many in Portuguese and Cape Verdean Creole, and has provided multilingual programming, literacy support, and community gathering space for over five decades.
The library was named after the Portuguese word “saudade”, meaning a deep nostalgic longing. It developed one of the largest public collections of Portuguese-language books, periodicals, and cultural materials in the US. It served as a cultural anchor, hosting bilingual story hours, language classes, and heritage celebrations.
In a statement released by the Mayor’s Office on July 11, Mayor Mitchell (D) cited the City Council’s decision to significantly reduce his proposed budget as the direct cause of the branch’s closure. He framed the closure strictly as a response to City Council budget cuts, not as an ideological move.
“These cuts force us to scale back on non-mandated services. Unfortunately, this includes the Casa da Saudade library branch,” the mayor said. “While this decision is painful, it is necessary to ensure the continuation of critical services that are legally required.”
City Council members, however, have pushed back on the administration’s response, characterizing the mayor’s measures as punitive and politically motivated. Local observers have also criticized the move, warning that it will erode access to culturally relevant resources for minority and immigrant populations.
“The mayor is using fear tactics to punish the residents of New Bedford,” said City Council President Shane Burgo. “This closure is unnecessary and avoidable. The Council acted responsibly to curb overspending while protecting essential services.”
The closure has also prompted fears of cultural erasure, with some viewing it as a signal that multilingual and ethnic-specific services are not a priority. The closure includes reassigning staff and materials to other branches, but there are no plans to maintain a Portuguese-language dedicated space elsewhere.
The decision to shutter Casa da Saudade has prompted concern from cultural advocates, educators, and residents of Portuguese descent, who make up nearly 34% of the city’s population. Cape Verdean Americans account for an additional 8.8%, making New Bedford one of the most Lusophone cities in the United States.
No formal petition has yet emerged opposing the closure, but many community leaders and cultural organizations are expected to respond in the coming days.
The city’s library system plans to redistribute Casa da Saudade’s staff and materials to other branches, though no alternative space has been proposed to continue its culturally specific programming.
The New Bedford City Council is scheduled to review a supplemental budget request at its next meeting on July 17, 2025, which could allow for the restoration of funding to some affected services. Advocates for Casa da Saudade are urging the public to attend the session and voice their concerns.
“This isn’t just a library—it’s a symbol of identity, language, and pride for generations of Portuguese and Cape Verdean families,” said one longtime patron who declined to be named. “To close it now, without a fight, is unthinkable.”
Casa da Saudade is located at the south end of the city in the Sister Aurora Avelar Community Center. Originally funded by a federal grant, it opened in 1971 in a small storefront on Rivet Street with a collection of 3,000. In 1975, it moved to its present location.
The collection is in English, Portuguese, and Crioulo. There are approximately 34,000 volumes, 92 subscriptions for newspapers and magazines, DVDs, videos, and audio cassettes and a special collection of materials relevant to the Portuguese community.
Ongoing programs are held to commemorate significant events such as the Day of Portugal, the Cape Verdean Independence Day, and book releases by Portuguese authors or about Portuguese-speaking people.
For more information, residents may contact the New Bedford Free Public Library at (508) 991‑6218 or visit www.newbedford-ma.gov
Carolina Matos/Editor
