Villena presented the Schubart Library, a distinguished component of Villena Museum MUVI, during the VII Museum Libraries Conference held at El Prado Museum in Madrid. The event drew attention from more than twenty-one government agencies, and library technician Ana Valdez together with Culture council member María Server showcased how this space integrates multiple roles. The presentation highlighted the transfer of 5,000 documents from a German archaeologist, a collection that the University of Alicante facilitated for the municipality at the researcher’s specific request.
What was shared is more than a donation; it is a curated compilation of bibliographic and documentary materials, along with catalogs amassed by the professor over a long academic career. Valdez outlined the Schubart Library’s origins, its day-to-day documentation tasks, and how the German researcher’s complete legacy now resides within MUVI. Server noted that museum libraries transform from storehouses of artifacts into dynamic information centers that serve researchers and the public alike. The conference edition was designed to stress the crucial role museum libraries play in preserving cultural heritage and enabling ongoing knowledge discovery.
The Undersecretary of Culture underscored the vital function of museums, describing them as not merely places to safeguard objects but as leading actors in defense, promotion, and development efforts. The preservation of cultural heritage rests on curating materials that help people understand who they are, where they come from, and the challenges that still shape our collective knowledge. The dialogue suggested that MUVI and the Schubart Library demonstrate how archaeological research conducted by the Schubart and UA teams reveals discoveries that still lie beyond current understanding. In this sense, MUVI and the Schubart Library are envisioned as a key meeting point for researchers, scholars, and experts working in the field.
Nearby, library technician Ana Valdés met with El Prado staff, including María Luisa Cuenca, the head of documentation, library, and archives, and they engaged in conversations about shared workflows and institutional collaborations that strengthen cultural heritage initiatives across institutions.