Introduction

Welcome to the Iscte Library! This guide will help you with quick tips for getting started with using our services and resources.

The Iscte Library specializes in the areas of Social and Human Sciences, Business and Technology, and has as its main objective to support all the sectors of activity at the Institute, providing textual resources in the best conditions of use for the performance of the functions of teaching, research, continuous education and cultural expansion.

The catalogue of the Library is composed of around 107,000 texts (monographs, reference works, theses and dissertation), 20,000 e-books and 67,000 periodicals, in digital and paper format.

The Library’s facilities are situated in Edifício II and distributed across three floors (the 4th, 5th and 6th of the Edifício).

Wi-Fi is available throughout the Library space, and all the tables provide plugs for connecting laptops to the network.

On the first floor of the Library, there are a total of 18 readings spaces, 5 research terminals, and 1 self-service color photocopier. On this floor are also located:

• The Information Science and Technology and Natural Sciences Area (12 seats);
• The Art, Architecture and Urban Studies Area (6 seats);
• The Reference Services Room.

On the second floor, there are a total of 128 reading spaces, 20 research terminals, 2 black-and-white photocopiers, as well as the following scientific areas:

• African Studies;
• Law;
• History;
• Anthropology;
• Psychology;

The ensemble of General Reference Works is also located on this floor.

Furthermore, the second floor has 4 Group-Study Rooms, each with 20 seats (4 tables with 5 seats each). The conditions for using these rooms may be found in the appropriate Regulation.

On the third floor, there are a total of 82 reading spaces, 14 research terminals, 2 black-and-white photocopiers, as well as the following scientific areas:

• Management;
• Quantitative Methods;
• Economics;
• Information Science.

This floor also features the Periodical Publications in paper format.

The Iscte Library seeks to:

• Establish and apply criteria of organization, management and performance to its services;
• Implement and develop computerized information treatment systems;
• Continue to research, select and acquire necessary textual and informational resources and pursue the technical processing (cataloging, classification and indexing) of all the resources acquired;
• Undertake the quotation and storage of technically treated documentation;
• Ensure the functioning of reading, attendance, and loan services;
• Undertake the dissemination of the collection and available resources and services, employing processes and practices appropriate for different users;
• Create and maintain the necessary technological conditions to enable users to view and consult the documents within the library;
• Create content for and otherwise maintain the online homepage of the Library;
• Develop and provide specific, regular, and continuing training programmes for increasing skills for different types of users, with a view towards maximizing their recovery and use of the available information resources;
• Ensure easier access to national and international textual resources;
• Participate in the School’s cultural activities;
• Administer and manage the human and material resources pertinent to its services;
• Participate in regional, national and international research projects in science and technology, including entering into networks of libraries and bibliographic databases;
• Implement and maintain routine quality-control networks for its services;
• Establish partnership protocols with other similar institutions, with a view towards fostering the exchange of information and the sharing of available resources;
• Ensure the integrity and conservation of the documents in their collection;
• Provide and promote the delivery of services to external entities and/or associates of the Institute, aiming to increase revenues;
• Ensure, in general, all the other tasks of the Library.