Despite being closed to the public, the Public Library Lúcio Craveiro da Silva (BLCS) in Braga continues to lend books, receive registrations from new readers and offer works, placing them in flower boxes outside the building.
Its director, Aida Alves, revealed to O MINHO that the Library has lent 325 readers since March 20 for home reading. In the period from April 8 to today alone, it lent 218 books.
The number of readers has increased, reaching 27,447 subscribers. “In this period of quarantine, we have seen, on the part of the citizens of the municipality, the desire to request more and more books, whether for study or leisure. We even think that libraries have become social support services. Hence the growing demand for book loans, as well as becoming registered users of BLCS ”, stressed the official.
The organization, which belongs to UMinho and Câmara de Braga, placed three flower boxes next to the facade, with 15 to 20 books on offer, every two days, to encourage reading and attract new readers. That is, between 300 to 400 per month. Yesterday, Thursday, at the end of the afternoon, the librarian added another 15. Anyone who passes by will take whatever interests him.
Photo: O MINHO
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The initiative is called “Reading is always healthy: the library helps by offering”.
These books are the result of the purge that BLCS often carries out of the offers made to it. UMinho vice-chancellor, Manuela Martins, offered 300 titles, including literature for adults, youth and children. The Library also delivered books in boxes to students at UMinho residences. Regarding the loan, the librarian explained that the request is made ‘online’ and the collection at the door. The vast majority of books are of a technical and professional nature, as well as literature for adults, children and young people. The theme of Law is the most sought after, followed by Portuguese and foreign literature, and self-help books.
33 thousand loans
In 2019 it lent 33,729 books, about 160 a day. Now, it continues to do so: 88 works for 35 people, between 20 and 31 March. It is offering 45 to 60 books weekly and free of charge, placing them outside the building. Passers-by will take whatever interests you.
Aida Alves added that, to order books for the home, the reader sends an email with the titles he wants. The answering service schedules a day and time for delivery at the door of the building. The worker on duty applies safety measures, wearing gloves and a mask.
The library, which bears the name of the first rector of the University of Minho, has a collection of 467,880 archived volumes and 467 titles of serial publications.
Photo: O MINHO
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In terms of space for the storage of publications, – added Aida Alves, “to free up physical space in its warehouses, it articulates with the Braga Public Library, managed by UMinho, forwarding the oldest volumes there”. Publications published between 1975 and 1980 have already been migrated in 2019.
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