CORDIS Archive

Extracts from Country Studies: Portugal

Policy and Organisational Framework
Notable changes to traditional public library services
New services in Public Libraries
Inspiring examples of Public Libraries
Main barriers to development
Professional development of public librarians
Regional co-operation

Policy and Organisational Framework:

The political intention of improving the public library as national information resource lead to the creation of the Conselho Superior das Bibliotecas Protuguesas, a consultative body to support the national information policy, which gives the same importance to the public libraries and the National Library and the Instituto da Biblioteca National e do Livro, whose role is to optimise the existing resources of the Public Libraries Sector.

The Ministry of Culture presented in March 1996 a state-of-the-art study of public libraries which identified the major problems to lie in the educational, telecommunications, structural and administrative sectors. The Ministry of Culture is also currently preparing a report on the impact of the information society on the activities of the cultural institutions.

Since 1987, the Public Libraries Network Project (R.L.P.) has provided 125 municipalities with libraires, conforming to certain standards regarding buildings, resources, services etc. However, 62 municipalities have not yet been supported by the R.L.P. and 89 are without a public library altogether.

Back to beginning

Notable changes to traditional public library services:

The progressive integration of the new technologies started in 1985 with the automation of the Portuguese bibliography and the development of the national bibliographical database PROBASE. Automation of catalogues was based on micro CDS/ISIS. The use of PROBASE broadened the search capabilities of public libraries beyond their local holdings. Larger libraries acquired an integrated system with communications protocols, allowing record downloading and transfer, other libraries receive diskettes of national bibliographic records. This has by 1995 developed into on-line import of bibliographic records, file transfer, e-mail , up-loading of local data.

Incentives for new services are provided by the R.I.L.P., Public Library Computer Network , a consortium that supports the introduction of Information Technology including matching funding, staff training, publishing of technical documentation including definition of standards etc.

Back to beginning

New services in Public Libraries :

Primary investment presently concentrates on the introduction of CD-ROM and interactive multi-media systems. New services include automated search in PROBASE and in ADVANCE and access to the Internet in four libraries.

The report by the Ministry of Culture recommends a higher funding level for library automation, the creation of cyberlibraries, the improvement of (more user-friendly) interfaces, remote access to resources and services from work, home or school, and the creation of IT areas in the public library.

Back to beginning

Inspiring examples of Public Libraries:

The following libraries are pioneering new functions of the public library:

• the Biblioteca Municipal Marquesa do Cadaval of Almeirim has participated dynamically in the R.I.L.P. through OPAC development and records enhancement. A local network offers an on-line catalogue, automated circulation, access to CD-ROM and national and international databases, including the Internet. The integrated system also manages acquisitions, periodicals and statistics.
• the Biblioteca Municipal Florbela Espanca in Matosinhos has developed an OPAC, Internet access and CD-ROM search services
• the Biblioteca Municipal de Aveiro was the first Portuguese public library to offer access to the Internet to users
• the Biblioteca Municipal do Seixal introduced customised targeted information services in conjunction with a supporting PC based service for individual works by users
• the Biblioteca Municipal de Setubal has had an important role in the basic notions of librarianship for school libraires, particularly before the emergence of the co-operation between the public and school libraries in Portugal.

Back to beginning

Main barriers to development:

The main difficulties experienced by Portuguese libraries are:

• insufficient human resources
• insufficient and obsolete computer equipment
• insufficient financial autonomy
• the management styles including a weak decentralisation of responsibilities
• the organisational culture of the Town Halls, resulting in bureaucratic barriers
• technical factors e.g. telecommunications, e.g. too few local access points

and lead to the isolation and structural suffocation of the majority of Portuguese libraries.

Back to beginning

Professional development of public librarians:

The basic knowledge of traditional library functions is still a central matter in the training of librarians, but the knowledge of the range of available databases is going to be a specialised field in future, together with contents analysis and form of access. There is a general discussion on the integration of subjects such as Management, Administrative Law, Communication, Architectural and Artistic Project Management, Telematics and English for Librarians. In 1991 an adaptation of librarian's careers was formally accepted to include training of new skills necessary for the use of the information technologies, e.g. microcomputers, electronic transmission of documents, electronic publishing and data storage. As from October 1996 there will be a Masters Course in Statistics and Information Management, with strong emphasis on new technologies.

Training needs by staff are felt in the use of the various modules of the integrated system, UNIMARC cataloguing, use of the Internet and networks in general. Participation by public librarians in the professional development seminars organised by the library association has been minimal, less than 5%. This is due to understaffing, bureaucratic barriers and lack of interest.

Back to beginning

Regional co-operation:

Traditionally, libraries do not co-operate with each other. There is neither an efficient network of co-operation nor an inter-library-loan or subject specialisation scheme:

• nine R.I.L.P. libraries have access to electronic mail and all its communicative possibilities, the remaining seven will have access in 1996;
• Bibliomedia is a Library Association of the North of Portugal, with 6 effective and 7 honorary members, co-operating in cultural promotion, marketing of services, professional development and developing co-operation with other appropriate institutions;
• Liberpolis comprises the association of metropolitan libraries.

Back to beginning