This document summarizes the history and impact of mobile libraries in Portugal over the past 50 years. It notes that the first Portuguese mobile library began in 1953 and that the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation operated 62 mobile libraries between 1958-2002 that loaned over 97 million books to 29 million readers across Portugal. The mobile libraries provided library services to rural communities, visiting on a periodic basis to deliver books, reference services, and literary programs and establishing a sense of proximity, periodicity, and friendship with patrons.

1. between past…
…and the present!
- Portuguese Mobile Libraries -
- 50 years travelling throughout the roads, lands and people of Portugal -

2. 50 YEARS OF ROADS,LANDS,PEOPLES AND MEMORIES
1st PORTUGUESE MOBILE LIBRARY
Cascais Public Library - 1953
ANTÓNIO JOSÉ BRANQUINHO DA FONSECA

3. CALOUSTE GULBENKIAN FOUNDATION MOBILE LIBRARYS
1958-2002
 62 UNITS
TRAVELING THROUGHOUT THE ROADS, LANDS AND PEOPLE OF
PORTUGAL

4. CALOUSTE GULBENKIAN FOUNDATION MOBILE LIBRARYS
1958-2002
 97 million books borrowed
 29 milion readers
TRAVELING THROUGHOUT THE ROADS, LANDS AND PEOPLE OF
PORTUGAL

5. 50 YEARS OF ROADS,LANDS,PEOPLES AND MEMORIES
between past…

6. 50 YEARS OF ROADS, LANDS,PEOPLES AND MEMORIES
between past…

7. 50 YEARS OF ROADS, LANDS, PEOPLES AND MEMORIES
…and present, with an eye in the future!
 10 555 milion habitants
 194 Libraries
 73/74 Mobile Libraries

8. LIBRARIAN DIMENSION
Home loan (books,magazines,cd,dvd)
“ask the mobile library answers!” - Bibliographic
Reference Service
Librarian support services to nursing homes,
schools, trade (cafes, rural hotels)
Internet
Animation of reading
Workshops
Musical entertainment (accordionists)

9. City Hall's Mobile Command Post
Social Action
Water Supply
Farmer and Entrepreneur
Support
Education
Civil Protection
online delivery of forms and requirements

10. SOCIAL DIMENSION
Proximity
Periodicity
Complicity
Intimacy
FRIENDSHIP
“Request a book in a mobile library is to
borrow a book to a friend or neighboor”
Roberto Soto

11. http://www.cerlalc.org/porleer/porleer.html

12. 50 YEARS OF ROADS,LANDS,PEOPLES AND MEMORIES
…and present, with an eye in future!

13. 50 YEARS OF ROADS,LANDS,PEOPLES AND MEMORIES
…and present, with an eye in future!

14. 50 YEARS OF ROADS,LANDS,PEOPLES AND MEMORIES
…and present, with an eye in the future!

15. Log book of a mobile librarian for roads, land
and people of Proença-a-Nova - Portugal
http://opapalagui.blogspot.com

37. !
THANKS FOR
YOUR
ATTENTION
nuno marçal
opapalagui@gmail.com