The councilor Joana Rodrigues has called for the swift implementation of measures outlined in the “Plan for Reinforcement and Modernization of Municipal Library Services and Mitigation of the Temporary Closure Effects of the Porto Municipal Public Library,” with a detailed schedule for the execution of each of the 15 measures announced in 2023.
The Porto Municipal Public Library closed to the public on April 1, 2024, for rehabilitation and expansion works, which are set to be undertaken by architect Eduardo Souto de Moura.
Among the proposed measures are the extended hours at the Almeida Garrett Municipal Library, the availability of Porto’s periodicals collection in other locations, and the regular operation of the “Bibliocarro” across 20 neighborhoods each month.
Despite some measures being announced to minimize inconveniences caused by this extended closure, ongoing access to the BPMP’s bibliographic collection is still not fully secured, according to the sole CDU councilor. She emphasizes that the library’s collection is a crucial resource for researchers, teachers, and students without equal in the region.
Joana Rodrigues noted an increasing number of complaints from researchers needing comprehensive access to BPMP’s documents, stating that the measures have either not been implemented or are insufficient.
Last Monday, a group of researchers voiced their discontent to TSF, citing significant disadvantages and obstacles for Northern academics due to the closure, indicating that only a fifth of the archives are currently accessible.
In April, Porto City Council launched a new public tender for the BPMP’s rehabilitation, raising the base cost to 34.5 million euros with completion extended to 2028.
The project includes a complete remodel of the building, which has housed the Porto Municipal Public Library since 1842. The intervention aims to requalify the 18th-century space and address the shortage of archive space for books and other materials.
The Porto Municipal Public Library hosts approximately one million documents, equivalent to 20 kilometers of books and periodicals. About 70,000 of these documents will be housed at the Almeida Garrett Municipal Library during the renovation, while others will remain under custody arrangements.
