As bibliotecas na I República : do discurso político à visão dos intelectuais

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to aid in the understanding on the subject of public libraries during the 1st Republic (1910-1926). We focus on the ideas and propositions submitted by the political power and by distinguished scholars about the creation and/or reorganization of public libraries in light of the republican educational doctrine. The documentary analysis was based on the legal diplomas promulgated by the Republican Governments considered most relevant concerning the Librarian sector as well the doctrinal texts versed in articles and essays written by Raul Proença, António de Bettencourt Ataíde e António Ferrão which injected great dynamism into this area. This paper is organized into three chapters. The first chapter briefly approaches the historical and political context that favoured the development of public libraries. In the second chapter we discuss the legislation concerning Erudite, Popular and Mobile Libraries. In the third chapter, we tried to flag the main themes that mobilized the abovementioned authors on what libraries are concerned. Public libraries, in its different typologies, should be seen as complementary to school and at the service of instruction and culture, facilitating the access of all citizens to books, learning, information and knowledge, thus raising their education level. Keywords:

Date of Award	2012
Original language	Portuguese
Supervisor	Maria Neves Leal Gonçalves (Supervisor)