A casa da sabedoria - Uma leitura dos estatutos da Biblioteca Pública de Évora de 1811

Abstract

Évora Public Library owes its foundation and its valuable collection to the initiative of D. Manuel do Cenáculo. The early years of the institution were marked by instability and war, the library was sacked by the French army in 1808 and a substantial part of his collection was destroyed. With the Statutes of 1811, the founder endowed the library of generous funding, a staff who wanted to serve the public and a collection of great value, not just books but also works of art, antiquities and natural products. This paper presents a brief historical account of the library and discussed the ideas in their statutes, in comparison with the legislation and other national and international documents of librarianship. Also assess the fulfillment of a purpose set out in the Statutes, convert the library into a "house of wisdom".