READING SERVICES:

General Collection
Rare book and manuscript Collection
Iconography collection
Cartography collection
Music Collection
Reading for the visually impaired

General Reference Service

General services for readers

The BNP offers a wide range of services to both readers who visit us in person and those who prefer to use our resources by any remote means. For general information about terms and conditions of library use, see Regulations.

Reading services are available to users over the age of 18 and require a Reader’s Card (see Pricelist). The Card can be applied for at the desk in the General Reference Area. Reading services are subject to the General Access Regulations. For information on opening hours and the terms and conditions for the use of each of the reading rooms, see the pages for the different collections.

Under the reference service, qualified staff help readers use the BNP’s services and support them in their research and investigations. This service is available in both the General Reference Area and the reading rooms belonging to the different collections.

The bibliographic information service is designed to answer single bibliographic questions by post, e-mail or telephone, in which case it is free of charge. Requests for research in relation to given authors or topics are subject to a charge in accordance with the applicable pricelist.

The purpose of the inter-library loan service is to gain access to documents that are not included in the collections of a given library, be it the BNP or other libraries in Portugal or abroad. BNP readers can ask for documents from other institutions (use this Form), while other libraries can ask the BNP for documents for their readers (use this Form). For more information, see the Regulations and Fees for inter-library loans.

The copying service is available in the form of photocopies or digitisation from either the original or microfilm, as well as via the duplication of microfilms. It can be requested in person in the General Reference Area or the reading rooms, or via any means of communication. The General Reading Room is equipped with self-service photocopiers for copying originals and microfilms. The photocopying service is also available in the Rare Books and Manuscripts Reading Room. For more information, see the Document Reproduction Regulations.