Fundació Llibreria Les Voltes

A Catalan-language bookstore and nonprofit

Fundació Llibreria Les Voltes is a nonprofit organization declared to be of public benefit, based in Girona. It combines a bookstore with programs promoting Catalan language, culture, and identity. It is listed in the Government of Catalonia's register of organizations promoting the Catalan language and is covered by the special tax regime under Law 49/2002.

History

The bookstore was established in 1962 at the initiative of Joan Bosch i Agustí, Joan Boladeres i Roca, Joan Gelada i Casellas, and Antoni Domènech i Roca, with the goal of selling books exclusively in Catalan. In May 1963, it was formally incorporated as a limited company with 43 founding members. Feliu Matamala i Teixidor served as president for more than 40 years. In 2013, the organization became a nonprofit foundation.

Programs and activities

The foundation has two main areas: the bookstore and the Les Voltes Educa educational program. Its ongoing activities include:

• Encouraging children and young people to read in Catalan, including Saturday-morning activities.
• Training for parents, teachers, instructors, and youth-program leaders on the importance of educating in Catalan.
• Courses, workshops, and seminars.
• Book presentations.
• Organizing Girona's Fira del Dibuix i la Pintura every year since 1965.
• Organizing the Fira del Llibre Infantil i Juvenil de Girona since 2016.

The bookstore describes itself as the first children's and young-adult bookstore and the first bookstore serving the school community to carry publications exclusively in Catalan.

Membership and patron support

The foundation offers several individual membership levels, with tax incentives under Law 49/2002 and an additional 15% deduction from the Government of Catalonia for membership in the register of organizations promoting Catalan:

• Member: €120 per year; stated net cost after deductions, €6; includes a 5% discount on book purchases.
• Preferred member: €250 per year; stated net cost, €12.50; includes a 5% discount and free home delivery.
• Family member: €400; stated net cost, €80; includes a 5% discount, free delivery, and priority for dinners at the “Reservat de Les Voltes.”
• Supporting member: €1,200; stated net cost, €440; includes the same benefits.

Payments can be made in 12 monthly installments, four quarterly installments, or one annual payment.

Contact

Phone: 972 201 969. Email: llibreria@lesvoltes.cat. Website: lesvoltes.cat. Social media: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and X under the handle lesvolteseduca.