New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell has officially reversed course on plans to close the Casa da Saudade Library, confirming that the culturally significant branch will remain open with a renewed focus on its Portuguese-language collection and community services.
“We’ve heard the voices of the community,” said Mayor Mitchell. “Casa da Saudade will remain open, with an emphasis on maintaining access to its valuable Portuguese-language collection.”
However, according to the City of New Bedford’s official website, the branch will now remain open for 24 hours a week. This reversal was confirmed by the City’s official announcement and the mayor’s X‑post today.
The announcement follows weeks of public outcry and organized efforts by local leaders and Portuguese-speaking residents to preserve the South End institution, which had been targeted for closure as part of a broader set of fiscal austerity measures. i
Originally, on July 11, the Mayor included the branch’s full closure in his “austerity measures,” after the City Council cut $10.2 million from the FY2026 budget.
Meanwhile, in the days following the announcement of Casa da Saudade’s proposed closure, an online community petition gained nationwide attention. Supporters mobilized, calling for the preservation of the library. The petition, which quickly gathered hundreds of signatures, became a rallying point for civic engagement and media attention.
Organized by local advocates and supported by Portuguese-speaking families, educators, and elected officials, the petition emphasized Casa da Saudade’s unique cultural and linguistic value and the disproportionate impact its closure would have on immigrant and bilingual communities.
“This library is more than a building. It’s where my children learned to read in both English and Portuguese,” wrote one petitioner.
The petition was formally submitted to the Mayor’s Office and the City Council, accompanied by public letters from community leaders. Its success was amplified by coverage from The New Bedford Light, WBSM, and other regional media, drawing attention as far as Fall River, Providence, and the Portuguese-American diaspora networks nationwide.
The voices captured in the petition — along with public testimony and civic pressure — played a decisive role in the administration’s decision to reverse course on July 22.
“The Casa da Saudade Library is more than just a branch — it is a cultural institution and a vital resource for the Portuguese-speaking community in New Bedford,” said State Representative Antonio (Tony) Cabral. “Closing it would have been a disservice to the multicultural fabric of our city.”
Council President Shane Burgo and others questioned the necessity of closure, terming it politically motivated rather than budget-driven.
“To close Casa da Saudade—uniquely serving Portuguese and Cape Verdean residents—was not just shortsighted. It sent the wrong message,” Council President Shane Burgo said.
City officials are now working to finalize an updated operating schedule, expected to include limited hours and a continued focus on Portuguese-language materials and programming.
Although cautiously optimistic, community leaders are pleased that, for the time being, Casa da Saudade will remain a hub for language access, education, and community heritage in New Bedford’s South End.’
About the symbolic decision to reverse course on plans to close the Casa da Saudade Library, sociologist Dr. Glória de Sá remarked, “I’m happy that it will remain open, but reducing the number of hours to 24 a week is like condemning it to a slow death.”
Yet, unhappy with the outcome, she added, “Unless the community shows that Casa da Saudade really matters by attending its events and taking out books and other materials, it will be very difficult to save it from the next round of budget cuts,” she told the Portuguese American Journal.
Their united front—which included local lawmakers, media voices, and longtime patrons—helped prompt today’s decision. Still, details on operations and long-term funding remain pending.
Official Announcement @ City of New Bedford
Carolina Matos/Editor & PAJ/Staff/Updated
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Community | Casa da Saudade Library closing amid public outcry – New Bedford, MA
About
Casa da Saudade is located at the South End of the city of New Bedford, 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.
Following a strong reaction from the public, including elected officials and longtime library users, prompted today’s reversal as the community will keep fighting to preserve its cultural and linguistic heritage, now awaiting specifics on schedules, staffing, and funding in the coming weeks.
The library, named for the Portuguese word “saudade,” expressing nostalgic longing, serves as a cornerstone for the city’s sizable Portuguese and Cape Verdean communities.
