Book loans and take away service as people return to Public Municipal Libraries
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Filipa Brito
Porto Municipal Libraries are now open, as of 15th March, owing to the easing of restrictions. The novelty is that Municipal Libraries card holders have access to bookshelves for book loans.
Libraries resume book lending and adopt, as well, the take-away regime as regards books, CDs or DVDs. In-site document consultation is also available (that includes manuscripts and reserved documents), access to study rooms and wireless, and reproduction of documents. Almeida Garret Municipal Library also allows access to the Internet space.
Municipal Libraries also provide their readers free access to 7.400 periodic publications in digital format, namely magazines, newspapers, national and international, via the Press Reader platform.
Users can consult the online catalogue, and look for book titles, CDs and DVDs at https://bmp.cm-porto.pt.
Restrictions have been eased, however, services must be previously scheduled via phone number 225 193 480 or by email bmp@cm-porto.pt. Only after confirmation, can people access the libraries. In-person customer service is done from Monday to Friday, between 10 am and 6 pm, and Saturdays, between 10 am and 12.30 pm
In the beginning of the year, Porto City Hall had suspended financial penalties for any delays in returning documents that were requested to Porto Municipal Libraries. This measure is maintained till the end of 2021.