Macao Central Library (澳門中央圖書館 / Biblioteca Central de Macau) Macau Public Library

Overview

The Macao Central Library (Chinese: 澳門中央圖書館; Portuguese: Biblioteca Central de Macau) is the flagship institution within the Macao Public Library system, administered by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (Instituto Cultural) of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government. It is located on Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida, adjacent to Tap Seac Square in Macao's historic centre.

History and Founding

The library traces its origins to 28 September 1895, when the National Library of Macao was established in St. Augustine's Church as part of Liceu de Macau, the Lusophone high school. For its first decades it existed in name only, frequently relocated due to scarce resources. It moved to St. Joseph's Seminary in 1917, then to Hotel Bela Vista, the Shelter for the Disabled at Tap Seac, and subsequently to two rooms inside the IACM (now IAM) Building, known as Leal Senado Building, from 1929. In 1952, the government initiated a legal deposit system for books and periodicals from Portugal and overseas provinces. The library moved to its current site at Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida in 1983, and received its present name—Macao Central Library—in 1994. An interior renovation was completed in 2007. Plans for a new Central Library building designed by Dutch firm Mecanoo on the site of the former Hotel Estoril at Tap Seac Square were announced in 2021.

Collections and Holdings

The current two-storey facility of approximately 1,371 square metres holds roughly 107,000 volumes, including approximately 42,848 volumes in the Macao Information Collection, 672 rolls of microfilm, 5,396 audiovisual materials, 80 newspaper titles, and 355 magazine titles. The collection is strongest in Macao local history and information, English and Portuguese literature, and historical materials relating to Portugal in the Far East.

Notable Materials Related to Journalism and Media

The library holds back-issue newspapers and periodicals of local and regional significance. The Macao Information Collection contains periodical and press materials documenting Macao's history. Electronic news and database services are also available.

Access and Usage

The library is open to the public. Hours are Monday 14:00–00:00; Tuesday to Sunday 08:00–00:00. Access is free. Services include lending, microfilm reading, access to the Official Gazette of the Macao SAR, broadband internet, and electronic databases.