Libraries in Lisbon

      by Becky Chen

I am providing info on all the libraries that I have “used” before in Lisbon. However there are many other libraries available and perhaps you could find info from elsewhere.  

Whenever there is an English version of the library info is available, I have given you the webpage in English.

This is a list of catologues:

http://www.fl.ul.pt/biblioteca/pesquisas.htm

To be more precise, I am giving you the name of the library, the internet link is for you to do your catologue search, then furnished by the second web address below it with the information of how to get there and the opening hours. 

1. Biblioteca da Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa

SIBUL Catologue Search (SIBUL = a system integrating all the libraries of the University of Lisbon) http://194.117.1.194/F/?func=file&file_name=find-b

Opening Hours http://www.fl.ul.pt/biblioteca/horario.htm

2. ICS- O Instituto de Ciências Sociais (belongs to Universidade de Lisboa)

Catologue Search http://www.ics.ul.pt/biblio/en/pesquisa.asp

How to reach there https://www.ics.ul.pt/rd/rdweb/institutelocation.do?idgenericpage=7&menu=institution

Opening Hours http://www.ics.ul.pt/biblio/en/informacaogeral.asp

3. ISCTE - Instituto Superior de Ciências do Trabalho e da Empresa

Catologue Search http://biblioteca.iscte.pt/bibliopac.htm

Further info http://biblioteca.iscte.pt/Conheca-nos.htm

4. Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal 

Catologue Search  http://www.porbase.org/english/index.html

Opening Hours http://www.bn.pt/sobre-a-bn/horarios.html

How to reach there http://www.bn.pt/sobre-a-bn/informacoes-uteis.html

(Libraries 1, 2, 3, 4 are close to one another, Libraries 2 &  3 are actually side-by-side)

5. Biblioteca de Arte da Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian

Catologue Search http://www.biblartepac.gulbenkian.pt/ipac20/ipac.jsp?profile=ba-en&lang=eng#focus

Access and Opening Hours http://www.biblarte.gulbenkian.pt/content.asp?cod=acesso_horarios&menu=acesso_horarios&parent=home&lang=en 

6. Rede de Bibliotecas Municipais de Lisboa (but most probably the one that you’ll go to is Biblioteca Municipal Central - Palácio Galveias)

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Catologue Search

http://catalogolx.cmlisboa.pt/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1V9W4023927O3.39239&profile=rbml&menu=search&ts=1194402392734#focus

Information on each and every municipal library in Lisbon. http://blx.cm-lisboa.pt/contactos

(Libraries 5 & 6 are near the Campo Pequeno metro station)

Library – the second Home? 

My personal favourite is Library 1, the numbers and sequence actually indicate my preference and priorities.

I spent about one month at the Biblioteca da Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa while researching for my dissertation report. Another reason I had to spend so much time there is because as a student who’s only there for 1 semester, I can’t get a membership and I’m not allowed to take the books out. However I like it because:

- it has what is relevant to my research. If your field is American studies, Cultural Studies, Literature, this library will be very helpful to you.

- super convenient photocopy (and relatively cheap), printing, binding service.

- wireless (it’s the same e-U connection as the Lumiar Residence)

- canteen and a couple of cafes available, conveninet for a person like me who can’t accept sandwiches and cold food for lunch.

- near the Residence, by Metro.

- you don’t need to show anything to enter.

In between, whenever I need to I also walked to the ICS Library, it’s about 10 minutes walking distance. It’s a small library, with 1 or 2 photocopy machines, as the name of the library indicates, the collections are mainly in the area of Social Science, like family, religion etc.

I had also ‘enjoyed’ 2 weeks at the Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal, straining my eyes on microfilms of some Portuguese newspapers of the 1900s. As you can see, it’s the place where you want to find more specific, or antique resources. You won’t see many students here, I think people who go there are mostly postgraduate students, researchers or professors.

The procedure here is a little bit more complicated than other libraries, if you are not carrying a laptop bag, you have to leave them at the locker, and you are not allowed to bring your water into the library. If you have your laptop, usually the bag will be checked by the security.

Important Reminder: Bring your passport if you go there for the first time.

Many of my Mundus colleagues like Biblioteca de Arte da Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian. The book requesting process super efficient if compared to Biblioteca Nacional. I must say that the library has a very pleasant interior, comfortable chairs, and beautiful surrounding- the Gulbenkian Park is lovely. The membership card is issued on the same day while Biblioteca Nacional takes 1-2 weeks.

The Municipal Library is the only library which allows you to borrow and take the books out if you sign up for membership. All the other above-mentioned libraries require you to use the material in the libraries only.

Reminder: Montmartre with D Girard

Don't forget! Check it out.

More on accommodation in Sheffield

My room is available from February. it's small but nice. the house is located at 20 min walking from the university. Anyway there are go plenty of buses, for the university and for the city centre, at 1min walking from home. There is also a big supermaket at the corner and a lot of shops and restaurant on the main road. Probably a double room will be available from mid february but I'd have to check with my flatmate. I found the house on www.gumtree. com but you will not find pictures very often. At the moment I cannot take pictures of the house because i broke my camera but i'll try to do something.

Lorenza Tiberi

Getting started in Perpignan - part 1

     by Poonam Ganglani

All of us have experiences to share about our first few days in Europe, thoughts that ran through our minds thinking about the enormity of the transition, things we learned right from the start, memories that will always be associated to the beginning of their great Mundus adventure….and here’s mine:

It was an unearthly hour in the morning in India when I looked out the tiny window of my Lufthansa flight, watching the Anna International Airport in Chennai recede farther and farther away, feeling my face harden and a headache begin to develop. I remember exactly how I felt too-It was as if I was standing in front of a huge dark hole (wisps of heterology already in my system)--about to jump in with my eyes closed.

Twelve sleepless hours, seven packets of roasted peanuts, four chatty neighbours, three labyrinth-like airports and two connecting flights later, I was finally here…here at Perpignan, and the last one to drag my heavy luggage out of the Rivesaltes airport and into the BMW taxi that was to take me to my new home at the Cité Universitaire. I looked outside, absorbing my first impressions of the city. Finally I could take a deep breath. This however, was cut short when I reached my destination and my taxi driver grandly announced the taxi fare: “Vingt-cinq euros s’il vous plait madame”. That was my Lesson number one and should be yours as well: Be prepared with cash in hand for the taxi ride, 25 euros when you’re travelling from the airport and 10 euros from the SNCF Gare to the Cité U.

I paid of course, relieved that at least that the most difficult part of the trip was over…that was before I met the people at the Secrétariat, so I suppose my naivety could be excused!

Having successfully heaved my back-breaking luggage up the slope of the Cité U, I planted myself in front of the Accueil at the entrance and requested for the keys of my studio. Here’s the reply I got:

“Ah, mais le secretariat est exceptionellement fermé aujourd’hui!“
And here’s the precise thought that went through my mind at that moment :
“Aaarrrggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!”

Lesson number two (to be marked in red!!): Mail the concerned people at the Secrétariat about your date and time of arrival before coming to Perpignan so that they can make the proper arrangements. That’s what I did and fortunately, the initial worry at the thought of having to make other arrangements for the night was replaced by a huge wave of relief when the lady at the Accueil looked up from her register and said “Ah! Mais vous etes Mlle Pounam Gaunglanie! Vous etes dans la liste!” To make a long story short, I got the keys to my studio at Batiment E (which is at the far end of the Résidence Canigou), and finally….FINALLY settled into my new place. It was 15h48 and I lay down on my bed, staring at the ceiling and feeling dizzy with the thoughts zigzagging through my brain, till I drifted off to a long sleep….