Library History
1911-1918 | The Origins
The ISEG Library was founded in 1911, in the context of the foundation of the Instituto Superior do Comércio. It officially began operating on 15 April 1914. Its initial collection was part of the Library of the Industrial and Commercial Institute of Lisbon, bringing together around 650 volumes and titles of great international scientific relevance, such as the Journal of Economists.
1918-1970 | Library and the Green Room
For decades, the library was housed in the current Salão Nobre, which also temporarily housed the Museu Comercial.
In 1918, a veranda was built, dedicated to periodicals.
In December 1972, Room 8, known as the Green Room, was inaugurated on the top floor of the Quelhas building. This new space housed publications from the INE, OECD, UN, Bank of Portugal and scientific journals.
1980-1990 | Transition and Modernisation
With the work on the Quelhas building, the documentation was transferred to the Bento de Jesus Caraça Building on Rua Miguel Lupi.
They started working here:
- The Periodicals Room,
- The storage room (in the 2nd basement, now the garage),
- And Technical Services (Floor 2).
During this phase, the Information and Documentation Centre (CID) was created and the library began to be computerised, with connections to PORBASE and international networks (DIALOG, ECHO, SELEX, SCAD). Bibliographic databases were also made available on CD-ROM - a significant advance for the time.
1998 | The New Francisco Pereira de Moura Library
In 1998, with the expansion of the campus and the refurbishment of the Inglesinhas Convent, the Francisco Pereira de Moura Library was inaugurated.
This modern, five-storey building was designed to house an ever-growing collection and serve an increasingly international scientific community.
Architecture & Campus | Gonçalo Byrne Architects
The library project is part of ISEG's expansion plan, designed by architect Gonçalo Byrne, and is linked to the refurbishment of the Quelhas Convent.
The central concept was to connect the city to the campus, creating a pedestrianised route between Rua das Francesinhas and Rua Miguel Lupi.
In this area, the library plays a key role:
- meeting point,
- circulation node,
- symbolic space of knowledge.
The building has a V-shaped floor plan, a concrete structure and was designed to integrate harmoniously into the historical context. The landscaping project, by Marta Byrne, creates patios and green areas that expand the user experience and open up the university to the city.
Today | An Open Knowledge Centre
Today, the Francisco Pereira de Moura Library is one of the largest specialised economics and management libraries in Portugal, with a vast physical and digital collection, research support services, open access resources and modern, welcoming study spaces.
More than a century after its creation, the library remains true to its mission: to be a space for accessing, preserving and sharing knowledge - an essential pillar of the identity of ISEG and the University of Lisbon.
Opening hours and access
Opening Hours
September to July
▪️ Monday to Friday: 09h30 - 20h00
▪️ Saturday: 09h30 - 17h00
August
▪️ Monday to Friday: 09h30 - 13h00
▪️ Saturday: Closed
Special Closures
▪️Semana Christmas and New Year - Closed on Saturdays.
▪️Semana Easter - Closed the Saturday before and the Saturday after Easter.
▪️Verão (15 July to 15 September) - Closed on Saturdays.
Study Room (Floor 0) - Open 24 hours.
Types of loan
- on-site loan
- home loan
Who Can Borrow
- ISEG students, teachers, researchers and staff
- External users, upon registration at the Library
- Other libraries, via interlibrary loan, upon request by e-mail or form available on the website
What Can Be Borrowed
Most publications are available for home loan, with the exception of:
- Periodicals
- Reference works and dictionaries
- Publications from the reserve and spoils fund
Deadlines, renewals and user responsibility
For detailed information on deadlines, renewals, responsibilities and penalties, please consult the Library Regulations,
Classification Scheme (Summary)
To locate any publication, we recommend consulting the ISEG Library Catalogue, available online:
🔗 https://catalogo-iseg.biblioteca.ulisboa.pt/
If you have any difficulties with your search, the library services are available to help.
Open access publications are organised according to the Library of Congress Classification (LCC), an alphanumeric system, from A to Z, widely used in academic libraries.
This system organises works by subject area, structuring each class progressively: reference and general works, collective publications and conferences, followed by manuals and theoretical works, and then practical applications in each area.
At the ISEG Library, the collection is mainly centred on the areas of Economics, Finance, Management and related sciences, and most of the works are in Class H - Social Sciences.
| H1-H99 | Social Sciences (General) | 2nd floor |
| HA1-HA4737 | Social Statistics (General) | 2nd floor |
| HB1–HB3840 | Economics - Economic Theory | 2nd floor |
| HC10-HC1085 | Economic History and Conditions (General) | 2nd floor |
| HD28- HD9999 | Economic History and Conditions-Sectors | 2nd floor |
| HE1- HE9900 | Transport and Communications | 2nd floor |
| HF1- HF6182 | Business | 2nd floor |
| HG1- HG9999 | finance | 2nd floor |
| HJ9- HJ9995 | Public finances | 3rd floor |
| HM1- HM299 | Sociology | 3rd floor |
| HN1-HN991 | Social History, Social Conditions | 3rd floor |
| HQ1-HQ2044 | Family, Marriage, Women | 3rd floor |
| HS1-HS3369 | Associations, Societies | 3rd floor |
| HT51-HT1595 | Communities, Social Classes, Races | 3rd floor |
| HV1- HV9960 | Social Work, Social Pathology | 3rd floor |
| HX1-HX970.7 | Socialism, Communism, Anarchism | 3rd floor |
Contacts
Address
Rua do Quelhas, nº 6
1200-781 Lisbon
E-mail
biblioteca@iseg.ulisboa.pt
Telephone
(+351) 213 922 888
This guide does not dispense with consulting the Library Regulations