ABSTRACT
The National Library of Portugal is located in Lisbon and was created in 1796. It is ruled by a Decree-Law of 1980, and enjoys full administrative and financial autonomy within the general legislation applying to a public institution. The Library enjoys an “optional right” to purchase materials presented at auctions. The Library initiated its automation plan in mid-1985, and has since acquired a GEAC-9000 minicomputer and integrated software for Unimarc records. The Library’s automation plan has been conceived in order to create a cooperative database extended to Portugal’s main libraries, namely university libraries which will be connected to the Library’s minicomputer on-line. The Library is a public institution enjoying full financial autonomy. This means that the Government has a duty to provide the Library with funds for staff, acquisitions, and all other traditional activities, including building maintenance, but the Library is free to raise its own funds and to seek private funds and gifts.
