Premises:

The JOÃO JOSÉ DA GRAÇA PUBLIC LIBRARY AND REGIONAL ARCHIVE dates back to the MUNICIPAL LIBRARY created in 1886 at the initiative of João José da Graça, an illustrious native of Faial Island who was then the mayor of Horta.  This library, whose initial book collection consisted of 1379 volumes, had its first regulation approved on November 3, 1886 and was installed in the lower floors of the Horta City Hall building until 1940. It was then transferred to Rua D. Pedro IV nº 25, where it opened to public on June 13 of the same year. In 1965, the District Archive of Horta was created under the Decree-Law no. 46,350 of May 22, which took a few years to be applied.

In 1977, according to Ordinance no.2/77 of May 4, a Public Library was created within this District Archive under the designation of Horta Public Library and District Archive. On October 10 of the same year, through the respective Assignment Notice, the Horta City Council handed over to this new institution, as deposit, the book collections of the former Municipal Library as well as the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation's Fixed Library no.80.

In February 2005, due to the advanced state of degradation of its headquarters on Rua D. Pedro IV, the library was provisionally transferred to the building of the former branch office of the Bank of Portugal in Horta, while awaiting the completion of the adaptation and remodelling works of the "Casa Bensaúde."

On April 23, 2008, His Excellency the President of the Regional Government of the Azores opened the new premises of this institution, which was renamed João José da Graça Public Library and Regional Archive.