Some spaces are dedicated to culture and knowledge and are the lifeblood of the community they serve. This is precisely the case with Alcoutim Municipal Library, which is widely known as the "Counts' House". The name derives from bygone days when this former mansion house was home to the Counts of Alcoutim.

Today it attracts the attention not only of visitors to the town centre but also of the locals who have become accustomed to the highly dynamic programme of exhibitions organised at the gallery, which is booked out a year in advance and serves as a stage for a variety of artistic trends. Interestingly, neighbours from the Spanish town of Sanlúcar del Guadiana, just across the River Guadiana, are quite regular visitors to the venue, as are the foreigners who live on boats on the river.

In addition to its literary collection, the library also has a video collection and internet access points and every month hosts an event called "Palavra sexta à noite" (Friday night words"), which is a literary get-together focusing on a variety of themes.