Lisbon's Libraries Expand Hours: A New Era of Community Service Begins This Monday!

Lisbon's Libraries Under New Management Hours

Starting this Monday, libraries managed by the Lisbon City Council will implement new operating hours, including extended periods, to better serve the community, as announced by the municipality on Friday.

For nearly 20 years, the schedules across the network were not uniform, varying from week to week. The city council has identified the expansion and standardization of library hours as a key strategic goal for municipal action.

This objective is being realized from Monday, September 15, with the establishment of new hours affecting nine libraries under the council's management, aimed at enhancing service to the communities they work with and for.

Anchor Libraries with Extended Access

• Alcântara, Marvila, and Palácio Galveias libraries, designated as "anchor libraries" due to their larger size and more functionalities, will now be open from Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 20:00.
• Additionally, the Sala Saramago at Palácio Galveias will operate from Monday to Saturday, 20:00 to 24:00.

Neighborhood Libraries with Tailored Schedules

• Libraries serving immediate local community needs, including Belém, Camões, Coruchéus, Orlando Ribeiro, Penha de França, and the Hemeroteca Municipal, will function from Monday to Friday and on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month, from 10:00 to 18:00.

This expansion adds approximately 40 more days of operation, symbolizing an extra 1,000 hours of public service, providing a more consistent and appropriate response to the needs of all library users in Lisbon.

The council also highlighted the recently inaugurated Biblioteca António Mega Ferreira, which is open 24/7, pioneering this mode of operation.

Lisbon's libraries define themselves as proximity cultural facilities, open and engaged with residents, their territories, and the defense of culture as a fundamental right. These spaces guarantee access to culture, knowledge, and information, working for everyone and each individual.